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WUSi 


WS'0,1 


Glass. 
Book. 


3 
HISTORY 


1   r  / 

•4  if,  & 


OF 


ANCIENT  WOODBURY, 

CONNECTICUT, 


FROM 


THE  FIRST  INDIAN  DEED  IN  1659  TO  1872, 


INCLUDING    THE 


gment  f  0tons0f  Maslrington,  Sffuthton,  getp^tm,  $0^burg, 
anil  a  prt  0f  ^^forb  ani  flilJbUtruri 


By  WILLIAM  COTHREN. 


"  I  love  thee,  oh  1  my  native  land  I 
I  love  thy  sons,  a  brother  band  I 
Thy  rocks,  and  hills,  and  vales,  to  me. 
Are  temples  of  the  truly  free  I " 


VOL.    II. 


WOODBURY,  CONN.: 

PUBLISHED   BY   WILLIAM   COTHREN. 

1872. 


9,0^^ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 
WILLIAM    COTHREN, 

in  tlie  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress. 


PBBS8  OF  THB  STATPOBD  PRINTING  OPFICB,  NEW  HAVEN,  CT. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


^^j^m.^s.  O^'^^^^^^^rMMM 


OYFULLY  do  I  hrinr^  tl.is  lii^toiy  to 
a  close — a  work  of  most  arduous  labor, 
— long-continued, — and  heartily  cnn  I 
join  in  the  *as}»iration  ; — "  Oh  I  that 
mine  enemy  had  written  a  book  " — 
especially  a  book  of  Town  History  ! 
The  work  has  o;rovvn  upon  my  hands  to  a  volume  more  than  twice 
the  size  contem|)lated  and  promised.  It  became  inevitable.  \Ve 
have  made  histoi-y  faster,  and  more  volutviinously,  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  than  for  the  preceding-  one  hundred  A  faithful  and 
minute  account  of  these  years  has  been  attempted.  At  the  same 
time,  the  careful  inijuiries  and  researches  nf  the  last  twenty  years, 
have  added  to  the  ancient  history  of  the  town  a!i  amount  almost 
equal  to  that  contained  in  the  former  volume,  of  most  valuable 
and  interesting  matter.  In  this  part  of  his  work  the  author  has 
l)een  most  ably  aided  by  several  antiquarian  friends,  and  especially 
by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  of  ()\  ster  Bay,  >7.  Y.,  a  most  care- 
ful and  successful  anti(]uarian  scholai'.  Due  credit  has  l)een  given 
to  each  assistant  in  the  pages  of  the  volume. 


IV  PREFACE. 

No  work  so  elaborate,  extended  and  complete,  has  been  attempt- 
ed in  this  country,  and  it  will  remain  for  the  reader  to  decide, 
whether  the  author  has  accomplished  his  purpose  of  making  it  a 
model  of  its  kind.  Neither  time,  arduous  labor,  nor  expense  has 
been  withheld  by  him. 

A  large  addition  has  been  made  to  almost  every  chapter  of  the 
former  work.  The  statistics  of  the  several  towns  have  been 
brought  down  to  date,  and  include  the  results  of  the  last  election. 
As  a  book  of  statistics,  it  must  remain  for  all  time  invaluable  to 
all.  In  the  genealogical  part  of  the  work,  not  only  lias  all  addi- 
tional information  in  regai'd  to  the  families  in  the  former  volume 
been  added,  but  the  genealogies  of  a  large  number  of  other  lami 
lies  have  been  included. 

Woodbury  has  been  celebrated  for  its  Bi-Centennial  Celebra- 
tions.    A  full  history  of  all  these  has  been  included  in  the  woik- 

A  new  feature  in  the  work  is  exhibited  in  the  illustrations.  Mr. 
Henry  Clay  Curtis,  an  excellent  artist,  residing  in  Hartford,  has 
profusely  illustrated  the  work,  so  that  the  two  volumes  now  con- 
tain about  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  cuts,  of  all  kinds,  inserted 
at  gi-eat  expense,  contributing  immensely  to  the  attractions  and 
and  permanent  value  of  tne  work. 

The  question  of  the  "Church  dissensions  in  Stratford,"  resulting 
in  the  settlement  of  Woodbury,  has  been  seriously  mooted.  Ev- 
ery recorded  item  in  the  records  has  been  carefully  collected,  and 
printed  entire  in  the  work,  with  such  remarks  and  elucidations  as 
seemed  called  for,  placing  the  controvers^y,  as  it  would  seem,  for- 
ever at  rest.  As  the  theory  maintained  in  the  former  work  had 
been  adopted  by  all  subsequent  historians,  State  and  Ecclesiastical, 
it  seemed  necessary  to  thoroughly  examine  the  subject,  and  vin- 
dicate the  "  truth  of  history." 

A  leading  feature  of  the  work  is  a  minute  history  of  the  efforts 
of  the  several  towns  in  the  ancient  territory  to  suppress  the  late 
Rebellion.  The  author  has  treated  this  subject  in  a  maimer  en- 
tirely different  from  that  pursued  by  the  various  historians  of  tile 
war.     The  latter  have   written   general  histories.      The  authors 


PREFACE.  V 

were  obliged  to  say  such  a  General  did  this — such  a  Colonel  did 
that.  The  author  of  this  work  has  attempted  to  write  ^n  individal 
history  of  the  war.  Private  A.  did  this — -Sergeant  I>.  did  that. 
He  has  attempted  to  reveal  tlie  nerve  and  sinew  which  did  most 
to  accomplish  the  great  result.  He  has  given  a  complete  list  of 
all  the  soldiers  from  the  ancient  town,  with  particular  incidents  in 
regard  to  many  of  them.  About  400  pages  of  the  work  are  de 
voted  to  this  history.  It  is  believed  that  it  will  be  one  of  the 
most  satisfiictory  accounts  of  the  incidtnts  of  the  Rebellion  to  the 
private  soldier. 

Finally,  this  work  is  now  jtassed  over  for  the  examination  of  a 
discriminating  public,  upon  its  merits,  and  the  author  awaits  its 
j'^dgment  with  calm  composure,  believing  it  will  be  just. 

WILLIAM  COTHHEN. 
WooDBUBY,  May  I,  1872. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


CHAPTER  I.— PHYSICAL  HISTORY. 


Page. 

Page. 

First  Impressions, 

.     842 

Nonnewaug  River, 

846 

Bestowal  of  names. 

843 

Shepaiig          " 

.      846 

Quassapaug  Lake, 

.     844 

Orenaug  Park, 

847 

Weramnaug  "... 

845 

Shepaug  Falls, 

.     847 

Bantam 

.     845 

Nonnewaug  " 

848 

Kissewaug     "... 

845 

Bacon's  Pond, 

.     849 

Village  Plain, 

.     845 

Kettletown, 

850 

Indian  Names, 

846 

Jack's  Brook  Legend, 

.      852 

Pootatuck  River, 

.     846 

Mine  Hill, 

852 

Pomperaug     "... 

846 

Helicon  Spring, 

.     859 

CHAPTER 

II.— INDIAN  HISTORY. 

Who  were  the  Indians  ? 

861 

Indian  God, 

.     880 

Their  character, 

.     863 

Pomperaug's  Grave, 

881 

Indian  Regulations, 

865 

Nonnewaug's     " 

.      884 

Indian  Watches, 

.     869 

Bethel  Rock  Legend, 

885 

Definition  of  Indian  names,     . 

876 

Reflections, 

.      888 

Indian  Relics, 

.     878 

CHAPTER  III.- 

-ECCLI 

]SIASTICAL  HISTORY. 

General  Ecclesiastical  Review,       890 
"  Stratford  View  "  of  the  religious 
dissensions,  .         .        .        892 


The  "  Woodbury  View  "  re-stated, 
re-atBrmed,  and  proved,      .         895 


CHAPTER  IV.— CIVIL  HISTORY. 


Accuracy  of  American  History, 
Free  Home-Lots, 


929 
930 


Fundamental  Ai-ticles, 
Lower  Nonnewauc;  Falls, 


'.132 
935 


Old  Mill-stones        .     .  . 
Betliel  Rock  church  meetings, 
First  Meeting  House, 
Second  " 

Sabbath  Day  Houses, 
Church  Customs, 
Bear  Hill  and  Rag-Land  Sheep 
Pasture, 


CONTENTS. 

vu 

936 

Church  Drum, 

943 

939 

Wooden  Shoes,    . 

.     944 

94  0 

Ride-and-Tie, 

946 

.     942 

Going  to  Church, 

.     946 

942 

Iron  Kettle, 

946 

.     942 

Quassapaug  Scene, 

.     947 

P 

The  Parson  and  Lawyer- 

-Werau- 

.     942 

maug  Lake. 

950 

CHAPTER  v.— CIVIL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

CENTENNIAL   CELEBRATIONS. 


Town  Bi-Centennial  of  1859,  951 

Ode  of  Invocation,  .         .         958 

N.  Smith's  Welcome,  .         .     959 

William  Cothren's  Address,  9(50 

Rev.  Wm  T.  Bacon's  Poem.  .  965 
Rev.  A.  S.  Atwood's  Speech,  970 

Bi-Centenniel  Ode,  .  .  .  973 
Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers'  Speech,  973 

Dr.  D.  B.  W.  Hard's       "  .975 

Mrs.  Ann  Stephen's  Ode,  .  977 
Hon.  Charles  Chapman's  speech,  978 
Hon.  I.  W.  Stuarts'  Letter,  980 

Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney's  Ode,  9S1 

Geo.  H.  Clark's  Centennial  Poem,  982 
Hon.  Henry  Dutton's  Speech,  988 

Sanuiel  Minor's  "  988 

Mrs.  Ann  S.  Stephens'  Poem,  990 

Rev.  Philo  Judson's  Speech,  993 

Masonic  Centennial.         .         .         998 
AlonzoN.  Lewis' Address,   1000,  1011 
Rev.  Curtiss  T.  Woodruff's  Ser- 
mon,       ....         1008 
William  Cothren's  Address,  1011 

E.  A.  Judd's  Address,  .  .  1018 
First  Church  Bi-Centenniel.  1022 

Covenant  of  167.0,  .         .         1024 

Rev.  W.  T.  Bacon's  Poem,         .     1019 


Rev.  John  Churchell's  Speech,      1020 
List  of  Deacons,         .         .  1026 

Dedication  of  the  Fathers'  Monu- 
ment,      .         .         .         .         Iii40 
Rev.  T.  L.  Shipman's  Prayer,        KHl 
W.   Cothren's     Dedicatory    Ad- 
dress, .  .  1042 
Rev.    W.    T.    Bacon's   dedication 

Poem,  .  .1046 

Rev.    Mr.    Noyes'    Bi-Centenniel 

Sermon,       .         .         .         .     1029 
Communion  Exercises,  .         1038 

Dedication  Hymn,     .  .     1048 

Rev.  Horace  Winslow's  Greeting,  105 1 
Rev.  Wm.  K.  Hall's  Speech,  1052 

Rev.  A.  B.  Smith's        "         .         1056 
Rev.  Geo.  W.  Banks,    "     .  1058 

Dr.  Bellamy's  Letter,     .  1059 

Ret.  Willis  S.  Colton's  Speech,     1062 
Rev.  A.  Goodenougli's        •'  1065 

Rev.  H.  S.  Newcomb's         ■'  1066 

Rev.  John  Churchill's         "  1067 

Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman's  "  1070 

Rev.  C.  E.  Robinson's  Letter,         1071 
Rev.  Chas.  Little's  "  1072 

Rev.  Philo  Judson's       "  1078 

Miss  C.  E.  Andrew's      "  1074 


CHAPTER  VI.— WOODBURY  IN  THE  GREAT  REBELLION. 


Causes  of  the  War, 

Events  of  1860,      . 

Rev.    Noah    Coe's    Buchanan 
Prayer,        .... 

Parson  Champion's  Revolution- 
ary Prayer, 

Events  of  1861, 

First  Union  Meeting, 

"  Woodbury  Reds,'' 

Letters,      ..... 

Events  of  1862.      . 

Amusing  War  Stories,  1149,  1157 


1078 

Woodbury  War  Notes, 

1183 

1087 

Farewell  to  Co.  "  I," 

.     1191 

March  to  Alexandria,     . 

1199 

1102 

Scenes  at        " 

.     1209 

James  C.  PoUey's  death. 

1211 

1103 

Convalescent  Camp, 

.     1213 

1103 

Col.  Elisha  Kellogg, 

1213 

1120 

Lt.  Fred.  Whitlock, 

.     1214 

1123 

H.  H.  Fox's  Death, 

1219 

1127 

Alexandria  Alarm, 

.      1219 

1146 

Events  of   1863,      . 

1223 

War  Notes  of  1863, 

.     1226 

1183 

Events  of  1864. 

1230 

Vlll 


CONTENTS, 


Battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  .  .1230 
Battle  at  Winchester,  .  .  1230 
Battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  .  .1238 
War  Notes  of  1864.        .         .         1254 

War  Letters 1259 

Events  of  1865,  .         .         .     1266 

Soldiers'  Welcome  Home,  .  1283 
Welcome  Ode,  .         .         .     1284 

Dea.  P.  M.  Trowbridge's  Address,  1285 
Woodbury  "  Seceslii'  Flags,  1280 

Rev.  A.  N.  Lewis'  Poem  of  Wel- 
come, .         .         .128(3,  1607 
Wm.  Cothren's  Address  of  Wei 

cor&e,       ....         1287 


Woodbury  Contributions,  1291 

List  of  those  who  sent  Substitutes,  1293 
Decoration  Day,  .  .  .  1294 
W.  Cothren's  Address,  .         1294 

Soldiers'  Monument  Meeting,  1296 
Dedication  of  Soldiers'  Monument,1299 
W.  Cothren's  Address  at  same, 

1300,  1308 
Col.  A.  H.  Fenn's  Speech,  .  1304 
Complete  List  of  Woodbury  Sol- 
diers, .  .  .  .1304 
Woodbury  Roll  of  Honor,  1 31 C,  1313 
Andersonville  Prison,  .  1324 
Final  Remarks  on  the  War,  1343 


CHAPTER  VH.— ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 


Rev.  Lucius  Curtis  dismissed,  1347 
Religious  Revivals,  1347,  1357 

Rev.  Robert  (x  Williams  Settled,  1347 
Rev.  Chas  E.  Robinson  "  1351 
Rev.  Chas.  Little,  .         .         1352 

Rev.  Horace  Winslow,      .  1353 

Rev.  Gurdon  W  Noyes  Settled,    1353 


Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew — Life 

and  Character,  .  .  1354 
Mr.  Andrew's  account  of  his  Set- 
tlement, .  .  .  1357 
Dea.  Matthew  Minor's  Biography,!  365 
Minor  Jubilee,  .  .  .  1369 
Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict's  Will,     1369 


CHAPTER  VIII.— CIVIL  HISTORY  CONTINUED  FROM  PAGE  342. 


Tories,        .... 

.     1372 

Local  School  Fund, 

1372 

Remember  Baker, 

.     1373 

Col.  Seth  Warner, 

1373 

Parson  Stoddard  and   the 

Flint 

Lock, 

.     1375 

Epidemics, 

1376 

Ancient  Burial  Ground,     . 

.     1377 

New  Burial,           " 

1377 

New  County  Proposition, 

.     1378 

Ancient  Tea  Party, 

1879 

Moll  Cramer— the  witch,  .     1380 

Break  Neck  Hill,  .        .         1381 

Parson  Wildman's  Donati'n  Visit, 1383 
Natural  Curiosities,  .        .     1382 

Walker  Headstone.        .         .         1388 
Ram  Pit  Hill.  .         -         .1383 

Parker  Academy,  .  1384 

Woodbury  Bank,      .         .         .1384 
"        Building  Association,    1384 
King  Solomon's  Lodge,  .         1385 


CHAPTER  IX— CIVIL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.— CRIMES  AND  CASU- 
ALTIES. 


Murder  of  Bennet  Ward,  .  1390 

"         "     Matthew  M.  Morriss.  1890 

"     Lucius  H.  Foot,  1392 

Suicide  of  Ralph  Lina,  1396 


Suicide  of  Columbus  W.  Randall,  1397 
Thefts,  .         .         .         .         1397 

Burlaries  in  Curtiss'  Factory  and 

Walker's  Store,      .  1397 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


CHAPTER  X.— HISTORY  OF  THE  SOCIETIES  AND  TOWNS  SET  OFF 
FROM  ANCIENT  WOODBURY— CONTINUED  FROM  PAGE  218. 


Soutlibury  Society, 
Rev.  Jasou  Atwater, 
Rev.  A.  B.  Smith, 
South  Britain  Society, 
Rev.  Johu  W.  Wolcott, 
Rev.  Homer  S.  Newcomb 
Southbury  War  Votes, 
Southbury  Volunteers, 
Bethlehem, 
Rev.  Eph.  M.  Wright, 
Rev.  Geo.  W.  Banks,     . 
Bethlehem  War  Votes, 
Bethlehem  Volunteers, 
Washington, 
Rev.  Ephraim  Lyman, 
Rev.  Wm.  H.  H."  Murray, 
Rev.  Willis  S.  Colton, 


UOO 
1400 
1400 
1401 
1401 
1401 
1401 
1403 
1404 
1404 
1404 
1405 
1405 
1406 
1406 
1407 
1407 


New  Preston  Society,  .         1407 

Washington  War  Votes,  .     1 407 

Washington  Volunteers,  .         1408 
Frederick   W.   Gunn's   Boarding 

School  for  Boys,          .  .     1410 

Roxbury,        .         .         .  .         1413 

Rev.  Austin  Isham,           .  .     1413 

Rev.  Oliver  S.  Dean,      .  .         1413 

Rev.  J.  H.  Varce,       .         .  .1414 

Rev.  A.  Goodenough,  .         1414 

Revivals,             .         .         .  .1414 

Roxbury  Volunteers,     .  .         1415 

Roxbury  War  Votes,         .  .     1415 
North  Congregational  Church,     1416 

St  Paul's  Church,            .  .         1416 

Centennial  of  Same,         .  .     1417 


CHAPTER  XL— BIOGRAPHIES  AND  AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES  OF  NA- 
TIVES, RESIDENTS  AND  DESCENDANTS  OF  ANCIENT  WOOD- 
BURY IN  ALPHABETICAL  ORDER. 


Rev.  Garrett  G.  Brown, 
Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers, 
Hon.  Chas.  Chapman, 
William  Cothren, 
Hon.  Samuel  G.  Goodrich, 
Hon.  Orlando  Hastings,     . 
Hon.  Joel  Hinnian, 
Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Meigs, 
Rev.  John  Purves, 
Dr.  Avery  J.  Skilton, 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  W.  Smith, 
Rev.  Bennet  Tyler, 
Arthur  B.  Warner, 
Hon.  Warren  W.  Guthrie, 


1422 

Edward  J.  Hubbard, 

1432 

.      1423 

Hon.  James  Huntington, 

.     1433 

1423 

Willis  Lambert, 

.     1433 

.      1426 

Henry  Minor 

1434 

1527 

Rev.  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell, 

.     1435 

.      1428 

Hon  Simeon  H.  Minor, 

1443 

14  30 

Hon.  Wm.  T.  Minor. 

.     1444 

.     1444 

Hon.  Chas.  B.  Phelps, 

1445 

1450 

Hon.  Henry  S.  Sanford,     , 

.     1460 

.     1450 

Dr.  Azariah  B.  Shipman, 

1455 

1459 

Dr.  Parson  G.  Shipman, 

.     1458 

.      1461 

Hon.  Isaac  Toucey, 

1464 

1465 

Col.  Seth  Warner, 

.     1465 

.     1366 

CHAPTER  XII.— GENEALOGIES  CONTINUED  FROM  PAGE  481. 
In  Alphabetical  order. 


CHAPTER  Xin.— STATISTICS. 


CONTENTS. 


APPENDIX. 


r^olton  Family,           .         .  .     1605 

Curti&s  Family,       .         .  1605 

Hon.  David  F.  Hollister,  .         1606 

Eev.  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis,  1606 


Rev.  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis'  Poem 

to  Returned  Soldiers,  .     1607 

Rev.  Wra.  T.  Bacon's   Reunion 

Poem,  ....     160& 


TABLE  OF  ERRATA. 


Ifill 


CHAP  T  E  R    I 


PHYSICAL    HISTORY. 


FiEST  Impressions  ;  Bestowal  of  names  ;  Village  Plain  ;  Middle  Quarter  ; 
White  Oak  ;  Indian  names  ;  Quassapacg  ;  Weraumaug  ;  Bantam  ;  Kissewaug; 
PooTATUCK ;  PoMPERAUG  ;  IS'oNNE-WAUG  ;  Shepaug  ;  Orenaug  ;  Bethel  Rock  : 
Nonnewaug  Falls  ;  Shepaug  Falls  ;  Bacon's  Pond  ;  Kettletown  ;  Divers 
Localities  ;  Jack's  Brook  ;  Mine  Hill  ;  Helicon  Spring. 

FTER  a  lapse  of  seventeen  years,  during 
which  history  has  more  than  "repeated 
itself,"  in  great  and  stirring  events,  in  the 
progress  of  living  ideas,  in  the  advance- 
ment of  literature  and  science,  in  the 
spread  of  Christianity,  and  in  the  clear 
understanding  and  final  establishment  of 
^'^^ys^smi^^^^-—-  the  true  principles  of  civil  liberty,  and  the 
enfranchisement  of  the  human  race,  it  would  seem  wise  to  review 
the  whole  ground-work  of  our  history  as  a  nation,  and  as  civil 
communities,  that  we  may  learn  the  true  lessons  of  the  recent 
past,  and  take  prudent  and  judicious  departures  for  the  scenes  and 
events  of  the  future,  through  which  we  are  yet  to  pass.  We  have 
been  so  overwhelmed  with  the  tumultuous  events  which  have  oc- 
curred in  the  last  few  years,  that  we  shall  be  astonished,  on  a 
calm  retrospect,  to  observe  what  strides  we  have  made  in  human 
progress,  and  how  totally  unconscious  we  have  been  of  the  mag- 
nitude and  importance  of  the  histoiy  we  have  been  making,  and 
of  the  share  each  little  hamlet  has  had  in  producing  it.  It  is  from 
the  careful  examination  of  the  elements,  that  go  to  make  up  any 
desirable  event,  or  result,  that  we  are  able  to  understand  and  duly 
appreciate  it,  and  derive  from  it  the  lessons  desirable  for  future  use 
and  improvement. 

It  will  be  our  pleasing  duty,  then,  to  review  the  history  of  our 
ancient  and  honorable  town,  and  gather  for  the  use  of  ourselves, 
and  those  who  shall  succeed  us  in  our  pleasant  abodes,  in  this  val- 


842  HISTORY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

ley  of  valleys,  and  on  these  rejoicing  hills,  so  favored  of  Heaven, 
the  "remnants,  that  remain"  of  the  treasures  not  discovered  be- 
fore tlie  completion  of  our  former  enterprise,  and  to  preserve 
them  in  the  urchives  of  our  local  history,  "  that  nothing  may  be 
lost."  To  accomplish  this,  the  plan  of  the  former  work  will  be 
followed,  recording,  step  by  step,  all  further  facts  obtained,  under 
the  several  heads  employed  before,  sometimes  repeating  facts 
found  in  the  first  volume,  for  greater  clearness  of  statement,  and 
to  save  reference  to  another  volume,  so  inconvenient  in  the  read- 
ing of  any  work. 

Although  our  country  is  so  young,  and  our  experience  so  recent, 
it  is  yet  very  difficult  for  us  to  picture  to  ourselves  the  novelty 
with  which  this  Avilderness  must  have  struck  the  early  gaze  of  our 
forefathers,  as  they  came  here,  "  bearing  the  ark  of  their  covenant 
into  the  wilderness."  The  land  was  all  before  them.  They  had 
full  authority  to  enter  and  possess  it,  by  solemn  conveyance  from 
the  Indian  proprietors,  and  by  the  full  consent  and  endowment  of 
the  General  Court,  encumbered  by  no  conditions,  except  to  receive 
as  many  other  "lionest  inhabitants  "  into  proprietorship  with  them, 
as  the  plantation  would  "  conveniently  entertain  " — a  matter  of 
prime  necessity  in  new  and  feeble  communities.  How  does  our 
most  fertile  imagination  fail  to  grasp  and  comprehend  the  mingled 
emotions  which  must  have  struggled  in  the  bosoms  of  our  stiirdy 
forefathers,  as,  after  a  weary  Avandering  in  the  deep  forests  and 
beside  the  " great  rivers,"  they  stood  upon  the  summit  of  "Good 
Hill,"  first  local  name  selected  and  pronounced  by  their  lips,  in  the 
new  home,  and  gazed  into  the  wild  and  beautiful  valley,  divided 
by  its  lovely,  meandering  river,  seeking  with  the  eye,  even  in  this 
first  moment  of  enraptured  vision,  the  sequestered  nooks  in  which 
they  would  build  their  happy,  moral  abodes,  and  erect  their  family 
altars,  first  offerings  to  their  adorable  God  and  Master,  Like  the 
land  of  Canaan  to  the  Israelites  of  old,  the  new  land  was  all  be- 
fore them,  with  its  woods  and  rocks,  and  hills  and  streams — name- 
less as  yet.  Here  were  a  thousand  hills,  valleys,  streams,  and  beau- 
tiful local  objects  of  eveiy  form  and  style  of  loveliness,  with  no 
names  by  which  they  might  be  called ;  no  appellation  by  which 
they  might  be  described.  They  had  bought  land  at  "Pompe- 
raug ; "  they  had  been  granted  liberty  by  the  General  Court  to 
found  a  new  plantation  there,  and  that  was  all  there  was  of  de- 
signation. Every  thing  betokened  that  the  silence  of  nature  had 
remained  unbroken  by  human  voice,  since  those  early  days,  when 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  I)  1!  U  R  Y  .  843 

"  the  morning  stars  sang  together,"  save  bj'  those  of  nature's  own 
uncultivated  cliildren,  th^  red  hunters  of  the  forest,  Nature,  in 
all  its  grand  magnificence,  met  tlie  enchanted  view  of  the  pale 
face  in  these  sweetly  fertile  plains,  and  mountain  fastnesses.  The 
grim  chiefs  of  the  woody  wilds  alone  roamed  over  these  retired  sol- 
itudes, save  the  wild  beasts,  that  growled  upon  a  thousand  hills. 
Tlie  whole  face  of  the  country  was  one  vast  wilderness,  uncheered 
by  the  benign  rays  of  civilization. 

Such  was  tlie  scene,  and  such  were  the  circumstances  that  greet- 
ed the  eyes  of  Capt,  John  Minor,  the  intrepid  surveyor,  and  his 
sturdy  companions,  as  they  entered  this  territory,  which  was  then 
the  farthest  point  from  "our  coast  and  larger  rivers,  that  liad  been 
explored,  two  hundred  years  ago.  This  wilderness  must  be  re- 
claimed; human  habitations  must  be -erected;  the  church  of  God, 
with  its  accompanying  school-house,  must  be  builded  from  these 
over-arching  forest  trees,  and  all  objects  must  receive  names  and 
designations. 

We  may  imagine  the  first  surveyor,  like  a  second  Adam,  with 
every  living  and  inanimate  object  before  him,  awaiting  the  bestow- 
al of  an  appellation.  And  right  royally  did  he  and  his  associates 
fulfill  this  duty  of  necessity  and  convenience,  as  they  scattered 
among  the  bills  and  valleys,  and  reclaimed  the  waste  lands.  Per- 
haps no  town  anywhere  has  so  successfully  preserved  its  early  de- 
signations as  this.  Everywhere  we  meet  the  "old  landmarks." 
We  will  mention  some  of  them,  that  they  may  be  recorded,  as 
well  as  remembered  forever. 

It  was  natural  that  they  should  then  and  there  name  the  place 
whence  they  had  had  the  pleasure  of  beholding,  their  "land  of  prom- 
ise ;  "  their  future  homes.  They  called  it  Good  Hill.  It  was  good 
and  pleasant  for  them,  in  more  particulars  than  one.  It  was  the  place 
of  good  hopes  and  anticipations.  It  was  the  place  of  good  views.  It 
was  the  place  of  good  lauds,  and,  afterwards,  became  the  location  of 
their  "  Good  Hill  Division,"  in  the  proportionate  distribution  of  the 
lands  of  their  new  territory  among  the  proprietors.  The  place  where 
the  present  village  stands,  which  was,  at  that  date, with  the  adjoin- 
ing intervales,  cultivated  by  the  Indians,  and  planted  with  scant 
crops  of  corn,  beans,  and  some  few  other  productions,  was  called 
by  preeminence  The  Plain,  and  the  designation  has  been  handed 
down  to  the  present  day,  in  the  conveyance  of  lands.  The  fertile 
plateau  where  the  pioneers  spent  their  first  night,  a  little  south  of 
the  village,  they  named  Middle  Quarter.     It  was  so  named,  prob- 


844  HISTORY      OB*     AKCIENT    WOODBURY. 

ably,  because  they  deemed  it  nearly  midway  between  the ,  plaila 
land,  which  they.narfied  Judson  Lane,  and. on  which  the  first  framed 
house  was  built,  and  White  Oak,  a  place  so  designated. by  them, 
in  the  upper  part  of  Southbury,  nearest  the  present  town  of 
Woodbury,  the  place  where  they  spent  the  second  night  of  their 
explorations.  This  spot  has  always  been  one  of  interest.  The 
old  oak  long  since  passed  away,  as  is  stated  on  a  preceding  page, 
but  the  interest  still  lingers  around  the  ancient  locality,  and  our 
artist  has  given  a  sketch  of  it  for  a  future  chapter. 

These  few  names  sufficed  their  first-wants,  as  they  builded  their 
cabins  amid  these  vales  and  hills,  keeping  as  nearly  together  as 
possible.  As  the  settlement  jpxtended  its  limits,  they,  learned  and 
appropriated  the  good  old ,  names,  which  had  been- u:^ed  by  the 
original  native  proprietors,  and  they  have  been  carefuHy  handed 
down  to  the  j)resent.  No  town  of  equal  dimensions  within  the 
writer's  knowedge  has  retained  so  many  of  them,  and  they  are  of 
far  greater  euphony,  for  the  most  part,  than  those  preserved  in 
other  parts  of  the  State.  Many  of  our  towns  long  since  forgot 
the  local  names  of  the  former  occupants  of  the  country.  In  the 
the  neighboring  town  of  Watertown,  for  instance,  it  is  said  that 
not  a  single  Indian  appellation,  or  name  of  local  objects  or  places, 
now  remains.  This  is  the  more  singula!',  as  there  must  ever  be  a 
lingering  interest  or  curiosity  in  all  the  remaining  traces  of  the 
aboriginal  race,  which  preceded  us,  even  in  the  least  observant 
minds. 

Quite  different  from  this  was  the  care  with  which  our  fathers 
gathered  up,  and  applied  the  beautiful  Indian  names  which  abound 
in  our  territory.  This  may,  in  part,  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact, 
that  Capt.  John  Minor,  the  leading  man  among  the  colonists,  had 
been  educated  as  missionary  to  the  Indians,  understood  well  their 
language,  and  seemed  to  take  a  delight  in  fixing  forever  the  abo- 
riginal names  to  the  various  localities,  as  he,  in  his  office  of  sur- 
veyor, parcelled  out  the  lauds  among  the  pioneers.  To  the  lovely 
lake  on  our  eastern  borders  he  applied  the  name  of  Quassapaug, 
or  The  Beautiful  Clear  Water.  This  pleasant  sheet  of  water,  so 
cosily  nestling  among  the  verdant  hills,  furnished  one  of  the  first 
fishing  places  to  the  new  settlers,  cut  oflf  as  they  were  from  the 
seaboard  by  the  boundless  forests  lying  between  them  and  the  sea. 
This  is  an  enchanting  little  water  retreat  among  the  hills,  where 
one  may  'while  Away  an  hour  of  pleasant  thought  and  rest,  seclu- 
ded from  all  obtruding  care,  or  may  unite  with  friends  in  sailing 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEKT    WOODBURY.  845 

over  its  limpid  M-aters,  enjoying  the  "  feast  of  reason  and  the  flow 
of  soul."  It  has  ever  been  a  location  of  interest,  and  is  yearly 
becoming  the  place  of  resort  for  those  who  admire  the  loveliness 
of  nature  secluded  in  its  deep  solitudes.  Werauniaug  is  another 
lake  of  about  the  same  size,  one  mile  by  two  in  dimensions,  loca- 
ted in  the  north-west  corner  of  the  ancient  territory,  to  which  the 
same  remarks  will  apply.  It  has  now  become  the  popular  resort 
of  the  city-heated  denizen,  who  seeks,  for  a  brief  space,  rest  and 
relaxation  during  the  hot  months.  Like  the  former,  it  has  be- 
come the  place  of  sweet  romance  and  many  a  flirtation,  while 
reverend  doctors  of  divinity  and  learned  doctors  of  the  law,  "pass 
stately  by,"  and  form  a  solid  back  ground.  Bantam,  in  the  north- 
ern bounds,  north  of  what  was,  at  a  later  day,  called  "  Woodbury 
Farms,"  is  another  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  and  point  of  much 
attraction.  It  is  one  of  the  principal  boasts  of  the  present  town 
of  Litchfield,  the  County  seat,  which  is  now  in  somewhat  pleasant 
repute  as  a  "summer  resort,"  claiming  attention,  principally,  for 
the  life-invigorating  air  of  its  breezy  hills  and  extended  country 
views.  The  name  of  Bantam  has  usually  been  considered  by  his- 
torians as  the  aboriginal  name  of  this  lake,  together  with  its  river, 
and  surrounding  country.  But  there  is  every  reason  to  doubt  the 
correctness  of  this  opinion.  It  has  neither  the  look  nor  sound  of 
any  other  words  in  our  native  Indian  dialect.'  The  only 
place  called  by  this  name,  now  recollected,  is  Bantam  in  the 
Island  of  Java.  No  reason  can  be  assigned  for  the  transfer  of  the 
name  to  this  locality,  except,  perhaps;  the  fanciful  one,  that  "  like 
the  Bantam  of  the  old  world,  this  was  a  wild  and  almost  unknown 
region,  inhabited  l)y  a  race  of  barb.arians."  It  is  hardly  probable, 
however,  that  our  ancestors,  in  the  necessitous  circumstances  of  a 
new  settlement  in  the  unbroken  wilderness,  had  time  to  make, 
even  if  they  had  the  necessary  geographical  information,  such  far- 
fetched and  philosophical,  not  to  say  poetical  comparisons  in 
diverse  localities.  Kissewaug  is  the  name  bestowed  upon  a  long 
and  narrow  pond  below  Quassapaug  lake,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
present  town  of  Middlebury.  It  also  bears  the  more  modern  name 
of  Long  Meadow  Pond.  There  is  a  somewhat  apocryphal  legend 
connected  with  this  little  lakelet,  from  which  it  is  said  to  have 
derived  its  name,  Kissewaug.  But  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the 
first  syllable  of  that  name,  used  as  as  separate  word,  has  the  same 


'  Kilbouru's  History  of  Litchfield,  p.  24. 


846  HISTORY     OF     A  NCIEN^T    WOODBURY. 

meaning  in  the  native  tongue  as  in  our  own,  and  consequently  it 
becomes  unnecessary  to  relate  it  here. 

Nearly  all  the  rivers  and  streams  of  the  territory  have  retained 
their  Indian  names.  The  principal  river,  called  by  the  early  set- 
tlers at  Stratford,  the  Great  River,  was  called  in  the  early  Indian 
conveyances,  the  Pootatuck  river.  In  later  years,  it  was  called  by 
another  Indian  name,  the  Housatonic,  which  name  it  now  bears* 
The  central  river  of  the  ancient  territory  still  bears  its  original 
Indian  name  of  Pomperaug,  which  was  also  the  name  of  the  last 
powerful  chief  of  the  Woodbury  Indians,  who  flourished  before 
the  advent  of  the  whites  in  the  territory.  This  beautiful  stream 
is  fed  and  formed  by  the  Nonnewaug  river,  coming  in  from  the 
north-east,  and  joining  it  near  the  central  village ;  the  "  Wecup- 
peme "  river,  as  it  is  called  in  one  of  the  earliest  Indian  deeds, 
which  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  town  of  Bethle- 
hem ;  and  the  West  Sprain  river,  which  rises  in  the  south-easterly 
part  of  the  present  town  of  Washington.  In  the  western  portion  of 
the  territory  flows  the  Shepaug  river,  taking  its  rise  in  Bantam  lake, 
as  one  of  its  sources.  This  river  runs  through  a  wild,  romantic  and 
mountainous  region,  to  its  junction  with  the  Housatonic.  All  the 
streams  of  Ancient  Woodbury  flow  southerly,  and  empty  into  the 
Housatonic.  The  Quassapaug  river,  taking  its  rise  in  Quassapaug 
lake,  flows  south  and  joins  the  Housatonic  below  Quaker's  Farms. 
In  later  year^  this  stream  has  been  called  the  Eight  Mile  brook. 
Quanopaug  is  the  name  of  a  brook  that  flows  into  the  Nonnewaug 
river,  near  the  north  end  of  the  village.  On  this  stream,^  which 
flow's  through  wliat  was  early  named  the  East  Meadow  where  the 
settlers  had  desirable  divisions  laid  out  to  them,  is  a  very  beautiful 
cascade,  which  was  much  visited  by  people  years  ago,  but  which 
has  been  greatly  injured,  of  late,  by  diverting  the  water  for  irri- 
gating purposes,  upon  the  adjacent  lands.  Yanunipaug  brook 
flows  into  the  Housatonic  river,  from  its  Newtown  side,  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Shepaug  river.  Pootatuck  brook  flows 
north,  into  the  same  river,  from  the  same  side,  nearly  opposite  to 
the  "Pootatuck  Wigwams,"  about  two  miles  above  Bennett's 
Bridge.  A  little  below  is  Cockshure's  Island,  in  the  Housatonic 
river.  This  has,  in  a  later  day,  been  known  as  Hubbell's  Island, 
from  Peter  Hubbell,  who  owned  it,  and  to  whom  the  General 
Court  granted  the  right  to  ''  keep  a  ferry,"  at  the  north  end  of  the 
Island,  May  session,  1730.  This  Island  was  0A\aied  by  an  Indian 
Sachem,  of  the  name  of  Cockshure,  at  the  time  our  fathers  moved 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    M'OODBUEY.  847 

into  the  wilderness,  and  long  after.  He  did  not  convey  it  away 
till  June  18,  1733.  His  name  figured  in  several  of  the  later  In- 
dian conveyances.  Paquabaug  is  the  name  of  a  small  island  in 
the  Shepaug  river,  above  Mine  Hill,  in  Roxbury.  At  the  south- 
west corner  of  Roxbury,  at  the  mouth,  and  west  of  the  Shepaug 
river,  is  the  place  called  Promiseck,  bought  of  the  Indians  by  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Warner,  in  1728-9.  Aurang-eatuck  Plain  is  situated 
southerly  of  the  present  village  of  Southbury. 

Orenaug  is  the  name  of  the  beautiful  trap-rock  cliffs,  which 
bound  the  village  on  the  east.  The  front  cliff  has  been  recently 
purchased  aud  improved  by  the  writer,  as  a  mountain  park.  Oak, 
maple,  hickory,  chestnut,  aud  cedar  trees  are  scattered  over  the 
mountain-top,  and  in  the  beautiful  ravine  beyond,  while  the  crest 
is  covered  by  a  beautiful  grove  of  pine  trees,  in  the  midst  of 
which  a  tower,  thirty  feet  in  height,  has  been  erected,  from  which 
views  of  six  surrounding  towns  may  be  obtained.  It  has  been 
named  the  Orenaug  Park.  Here  one  can  always  catch  a  delight- 
ful breeze,  and  enjoy  a  beautiful  panoramic  view  of  the  village, 
valley  and  meandering  river  below,  while  the  whispering  pines 
above  his  head  sooth  the  perturbed,  wearied  and  overworked 
mind.  The  beautiful  evergreens  suggest  thoughts  of  peace,  and 
the  beatitude  of.  the  eternal  rest  on  high : 

"  As  the  softened  land-breeze  marches, 
Through  the  pine's  cathedral  arches." 

A  few  moments  walk  to  the  south-east,  through  a  pleasant 
grove,  over  the  second  clift',  brings  the  visitor  to  the  celebrated 
'•Bethel  Rock,"  in  the  bosom  of  tliese  cliffs,  of  which  more  Avill 
be  said  hereafter.  A  more  lovely  and  romantic  spot,  even  with- 
out its  sacred  associations,  cannot  easily  be  found. 

On  the  Shepaug  river,  about  two  miles  from  its  junction  with 
the  Housatonic,  is  the  "  Falls  "  of  that  river.  The  river,  at  this 
place,  has  forced  and  worn  its  way  through  the  rocks  of  the  pri- 
mary formation,  in  a  hill  of  considerable  size.  The  channel  cut 
through  these  rocks  is,  in  some  places,  very  narrow,  and  often  only 
a  few  feet  in  width,  hemmed  in  by  precipitous  rocky  banks, 
covered  with  evergreen  and  other  trees,  rising  a  hundred  or  two 
feet,  from  the  bed  of  the  stream.  In  time  of  floods,  the  view  of 
these  falls  has  been  magnificent,  with  the  madly  rushing  and  roar- 
ing waters.  Below  the  falls  has  always  been,  both  in  the  abori- 
ginal days,  and  now,  a  f;ivorite  and  abundant  fishing  place.  Shad 
have  rarely  ascended  as  high  as  this  place.     But  trout,  suckers 


848  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  N  T    W  O  6  D  B  U  E  Y  . 

and  lamprey  eels,  of  enormous  size,  are  caught  in  great  abundance. 
Occasionally,  even  in  these  later  years,  a  trout  of  very  great  size, 
and  of  the  true  speckled  variety,  strays  into  the  pools  below  the 
falls.  A  few  years  ago,  Mr,  Thomas  Tyrrell,  who  owns  the  land 
and  mill  at  tlie  falls,  captured  in  a  brook-pool  near  the  river,  by 
using  a  shad  seine,  a  trout  of  large  dimensions,  for  these  waters. 
It  was  37^  inches  in  length,  measuring  16  inches  around  the  body 
in  front  of  the  fins,  being  the  largest  part,  and  weighed  17-^  pounds. 
This  account  is  vouched  for  by  several  Avitnesses,  and  is  no  doubt 
correct.  But  the  beauty  of  these  falls  has  just  been  destroyed, 
by  blasting  down  the  cliffs,  to  make  way  for  the  road-bed  of  the 
Shepaug  Valley  Railroad,  leading  from  Litchfield  to  a  junction 
with  the  Housatonic  Railroad  at  Ilawleyville.  The  rocks  have  been 
skillfully  and  ruthlessly  blasted  out,  and  thrown  into  the  river, 
and  across  it,  cutting  down  large  trees  two  feet  in  diameter,  and 
far  into  the  fields  beyond.  The  rock  is  thrown  down  the  side  of 
the  mountain  in  large  masses,  some  of  them  weighing  a  hundred 
and  thirty  tons  to  the  boulder.  It  is  a  fine  display  of  the  power 
of  man  in  his  war  with  nature.  The  building  of  this  Railroad, 
which  I'uns  the  whole  length  of  the  ancient  territory,  from  north 
to  south,  through  the  Shepaug  valley,  with  terminus  at  Litchfield, 
is  a  remarkable  result  of  the  enterprize  of  our  people^  If  one  had 
been  asked  a  year  ago  to  name  a  locality  which  was  least  likely 
to  be  traversed  by  a  Railroad  in  this  region,  the  unhesitating  an- 
swer would  have  been,  one  through  the  Shepaug  valley.  And  yet 
such  has  been  the  indomitable  spirit  displayed,  that  the  cars  will 
be  running  on  the  road  by  August,  1871,  a  little  less  than  a  year 
from  the  time  when  the  first  spade  full  of  earth  was  thrown  out 
to  grade  the  way. 

At  the  upper  end  of  Nonnewaug  Plain,  in  the  deep  recesses  of  the 
forests,  are  located  the  Nonnewaug  Falls.  These  falls  are  quite 
fully  described  on  page  02,  but  are  referred  to  here  for  the  pur- 
pose of  collecting  all  the  references  and  descriptions  of  places  to- 
gether. Since  the  publication  of  the  former  edition  of  this  work, 
this  beautiful  retreat  of  nature  has  been  more  and  more  a  place  of 
resort  for  pleasure  parties,  and  for  those  who  delight  to  retire  from 
the  busy  haunts  of  men,  and  commune  with  nature  iu  her  sacred 
solitudes.  And  yet,  as  has  often  been  observed  in  other  cases  of 
the  Avonderful  works  of  nature,  like  the  falls  of  Xiagara,  for  in- 
stance, people  in  their  vicinity  have  never  seen  them,  and  more 
singular  still,  have  never  heard  of  them.     In  this  very  case,  an  old 


UPPER  NONNEWAUG  FALLS,  WOODBUKY,  CONN. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  849 

gentleman,  aged  87,  living  within  lialf  a  mile  of  these  Mis  all  his 
life,  and  in  fnll  ear-shot  of  their  roaring  in  flood-time,  had  never 
known,  or  heard  of  them,  np  to  the  issne  of  the  former  edition  of 
this  history,  in  1854.  This  is  one  of  those  peculiar  instances 
where  the  grand  and  the  sublime  objects  in  nature,  which  always 
attract  the  attention  and  the  admiration  of  men,  and  sway  the 
heart  with  great  emotions,  have  been  unheeded  by  those  who 
have  readiest  access  to  them,  while  a  view  of  them  has  been 
sought  by  pilgrims  from  the  most  distant  parts. 

Such  were  some  of  the  Indian  names  retained  by  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  handed  down  to  the  present  time.  As  their  families 
increased,  and  new  inhabitants  were  admitted,  they  continued  to 
apply  new  names  to  the  different  localities.  The  hill  south  of 
Good  Hill  was  called  Grassy  Hill,  from  its  abundant  grass,  which 
made  a  good  grazing,  or  "Pasture  Division."  The  valley  east  of 
Grassy  Hill,  they  called  Transylvania.  The  hill  at  the  south  end 
of  the  village,  across  the  river,  west,  was  called  Castle  Rock,  from 
the  fact  that  Pomperaug,  the  last  sachem  before  the  advent  of  the 
whites,  had  there  his  principal  wigwam,  or  castle.  Beyond  is 
Bear  Hill  and  Ragland,  a  rugged  country.  North-east  of  the  Ore- 
naug  Rocks,  is  a  small  artificial  pond,  covering  an  area  of  six  or 
eight  acres,  which  was  formed  by  damming  up  a  small  stream 
that  empties  into  the  Nonnewaug  river.  This  was  done  by  the 
late  Daniel  Bacon,  long  years  ago,  and  continues  to  bear  his  name. 
Until  three  or  four  years  ago,  it  was  owned  by  his  son,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam T.  Bacon,  the  celebrated  poet  of  our  ancient  territory,  who 
had  a  strong  reverence  for  tlie  old  homestead,  and  all  its  appurte- 
nances and  surroundings.  To  this  romantic,  quiet  lake,  embo- 
somed among  the  rugged  hills,  and  to  the  pleasant  groves  around, 
has  he  often  retired  for  meditation,  and  here  has  he  composed 
some  of  his  best  verses.  A  road  passing  near  this  sheet  of  water 
leads  quite  around  the  Orenaug  group  of  clifls,  from  and  to  the 
main  street,  making  a  pleasant  and  convenient  drive,  which  is 
often  taken  by  citizen  and  stranger.  East  Meadow  lies  north  of 
the  village  on  the  Quanopaug  stream,  and  was  much  esteemed 
for  its  fertility  by  the  fathers,  insomuch  that  it  was  divided  into 
small  parcels  among  them.  Steep  Rock  is  a  romantic  hill  some 
two  miles  south-west  of  the  village  of  Washington,  on  the  She- 
paug  river.  The  Shepaug  Valley  Railroad,  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made,  runs  through  this  hill.  A  tunnel  some  thirty 
rods  long  has  been  excavated  for  its  accommodation,  and  its  for- 


850  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

mer  romantic  beauty  has  been  somewhat  marred  by  the  ceaseless 
energy  of  man.  Moose  Horn  Hill,  so-called,  fi'om  the  large  quan- 
tity of  the  horns  of  the  moose  found  in  that  locality,  lies  about 
two  miles  north-west  of  Roxbury  center.  Cat  Swamp,  so-called, 
from  the  numbers  of  wildcats  that  lurked  in  that  vicinity,  is  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  north-east  of  the  village,  and  the  White  Deer 
Rocks  are  about  two  miles  farther  on,  near  the  head  of  Quassa- 
paug  Lake.  These  were  so  named  from  the  numbers  of  white 
deer  that  made  these  rocks  their  hiding  place,  and  found  their 
way  cautiously  to  the  lake,  to  obtain  water.  Wolf  Pit  Hill  is  sit- 
uate near  the  junction  of  the  Weekeepeemee  and  West  Sprain  riv- 
ers, at  Hotchkissville.  The  place  in  South  Britain  near  the  junc- 
tion of  tlie  Transylvania  Biook  with  the  Pomperaug  river,  is 
called  "The  Bent."  Kettletown  lies  in  the  south-east  part  of 
Southbury,  and  was  so  named  from  the  tact  that  the  consideration 
of  its  first  purchase  from  the  Indians  was  a  brass  kettle.  But  this 
consideration  did  not  last  long,  for  the  proprietors  were  obliged 
to  purchase  it  over  again  several  times  afterwards,  to  prevent  con- 
troversies with  the  numerous  claimants.  There  seems  to  have  been 
a  fatality  connected  with  this  locality,  for  it  has  been  pre-eminenly 
a  place  of  dissensions,  and  conflicting  opinions,  and  it  has  always 
been  more  prolific  in  senseless  lawsuits  than  any  similar  extent  of 
square  acres  within  the  writer's  knowledge.  And,  although  there 
have  been  "  prophets "  in  that  land,  yet  they  must  have  been 
"  without  honor,"  or  influence  in  "  their  own  country,"  if  we  are 
to  judge  by  the  fruits  which  have  come  from  that  region,  or  the 
heart  must  have  been  more  desperately  wicked  there  than  else- 
where. Salt  Tooth  Rock  Hill  lies  in  Southbury,  and  twenty-five 
acres  of  land  there  was  set  out  to  the  wife  of  Col.  Ethan  Allen, 
from  the  estate  of  licr  father,  Coi'nelius  Brownson,  previous  to  1781, 
when  they  sold  it. 

Transylvania  lies  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town,  and  Flan- 
ders in  the  north,  bordering  on  Bethlehem.  Weekeepeemee  is  a 
little  hamlet  in  ihe  north-west  part  of  the  town,  on  the  river  of 
that  name.  Carmel  Hill  lies  still  further  on,  in  the  edge  of  Beth- 
lehem, and  is  noted  for  its  excellent  land.  Hazle  Plain  lies  west 
of  Hotchkissville,  on  the  West  Sprain,  and  Hell  Hollow  still  fur- 
ther on,  near  W.ashington  line.  Making  an  inquiry  for  the  reason 
of  this  name,  many  years  ago,  the  writer  was  informed,  that  it 
was  so  called  from  the  peculiari'  y  of  its  appearance,  as  viewed 
from  the  village  and  surrounding  country.     That  as  it  lay  sunk  in 


HISTORY      OF     AN  01  EXT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  .  851 

•its  gorge  among  the  hills,  "  it  always  had  a  smoke  vising  from  or 
hanging  over  it,  as  if  ascending  from  the  bottomless  pit."     Non- 
newaug  lies  in  the  north  east,  on  the  river  of  the  same  name.     Tlie 
lower  part  of  this  locality,  at  Burton's   mills,  has,  in  later  years, 
been  called  Minortown,  from  the  large  number  of  Minors  residing 
in  that  vicinity.     West  Side  is  the  street  beyond  the  river,  running 
parallel  to  the  main  street  of  the  village.     Quassapaug  is  a  small 
settlement  at  the  outlet  of  the  Quassapaug   lake.     Break  Neck 
Hill  lies  near  the  north  end  of  the  lake,  in  Middlebury,     It  is  not 
known  how  the  hill  became  thus  named.    It  could  hardly  come  from 
the  rapidity  of  its  descent,  for  it  is  not  more  steep  than  a  multi- 
tude of  other  hills  in  Ancient   VVoodbury,     At  the  date  of  the 
former  edition,  there  was  a  ruuior  current  among  the  old  people, 
that  it  was  so  named  from  an  occurrence  which  took  plo.ce  when 
Rochambeau's  French  army  passed  through  our  town  during  the 
Revolutionary  war ;  that  it  was  so  called  because  an  ox  broke  his 
neck  while  descending  the  hill,  drawing  heavy  cannon.     Such  an 
accident  may  have  occurred,  but  it  was  called  by  this  name,  in  the 
ancient  conveyances,  more  than  eighty  years  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion.    The   Purchase,  so-called,   because  it  was  among  the   last 
purchases  from  the  Indian  reservation  at  Pootatuck,  lies  in  the 
western  part  of  South  Britain.     White  Oak  Plain  is  the  level  land 
by  the  river   below  the   Whitlock   place,  in   which  was   the  old 
White  Oak,  to  which  reference  has   been  so  often  made.     Bullet 
Hill  lies  east  of  Southbury  village.     Pork   Hollow,  where   large 
quantities  of  provisions  were  concealed  in   the  Revolution,  is  a 
ravine  in  the  hills  beyond.     The  Lightning's  Playground  lies  east 
of  Orenaug  Rocks,  west  of  Quassapaug  Lake,  and  is  so  called  be- 
cause no  thunder-storm  has   ever  been  known  to    pass  over  the 
town  without  one  or  more  bolts  of  lightning   descending  in   that 
locality.   Alder  Swamp  lies  between  Woodbury  north,  and  Hotch- 
kissville.     Hooppole  is  a  hill  south-west  of  the  latter  place.    Scup- 
po  is  a  hill  in  the  south-easterly  part  of  Woodbury,  opposite  the 
village  of  Pomperaug,  and  is  so  called  from  its  having  been  the 
location  of  the  cabin  of  an  Indian  of  that  name,  living  there  long 
after  the  fathers  settled  in  this  village.     Puckshire  is  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town.    The  Poorhouse  is  located  there.     The  street 
west,  and  running  parallel  with  the  main  street,  in  Southbury,  is 
called  Poverty;    for  what  reason   is  not  now  known.      Jeremy 
Swamp  lies  east  of  Kettletown.     George's  Hill  lies  north-west  of 
Kettletown.     Horse  Hill  is  south-east  of  Shepaug  Falls.     Tousey 


852  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBUKY. 

lies  north-west  of  William  Hayes'  house,  in  the  south-east  part  of- 
Bethlehem,  and  is  so  called  from  a  Christian  Indian,  who  lived 
there  for  a  time.  His  full  name  was  Hachet  Tousey.  A  further 
account  of*  him  will  be  found  on  page  101.  South  and  west  of 
Good  Hill,  in  Roxbury,  lies  a  large  tract  of  land  called  Rucum, 
South-west  of  that  is  Wildcat  Rock.  Still  further  to  the  south- 
west is  Flag  Swamp,  lying  between  Roxbury  and  Southbury. 
West  of  Flag  Swamp  runs  Brown's  Brook.  The  mountain  north 
of  Good  Hiil  is  called  West  Mountain.  West  of  Good  Hill  lies 
a  deep  and  long  ravine,  called  Tophet  Hollow.  It  Avas  a  dark, 
damp,  heavily  wooded,  dismal  place,  and  hence  its  name.  West 
of  this  is  Josiah,  or  Booth's  Hill,  and  north  of  the  latter  is  Pain- 
ter Hill ;  all  in  Roxbury.  Moosehorn  Brook  rises  in  Painter  Hill, 
and  flows  into  the  Shepaug,  near  Treat  Davidson's.  West  of 
this  brpok  is  Center  Hill,  and  in  its  rocks  is  a  cave,  called  Gama- 
liel Den.  Bottle  Swamp  Brook  runs  through  the  north-western 
part  of  Roxbury,  into  the  Shepaug  river,  and  west  of  this  brook, 
West  of  James  Wakeley's  house,  is  Raven  Rock.  .Tack's  Brook 
rises  in  Tophet  Hollow,  flows  southerly  through  Pul ford's  Swamp, 
and  then  westerly  to  the  Shepaug,  near  Warner's  Mills.  This 
stream  is  said  to  have  received  its  name  from  a  native  African 
slave,  who  committed  suicide  on  its  banks,  by  hanging,  at  a  place 
south-east  of  the  residence  of  Hon.  Harmon  B.  Eastman,  of  Rox- 
bury. He  pined  in  his  servitude,  and,  like  all  of  his  race,  was 
very  superstitious.  He  longed  to  return  to  his  native  land,  and, 
having  become  possessed  of  the  idea  that  he  should  immediately 
return  to  his  beloved  Africa  at  death,  he  took  this  means  of  rejoin- 
ing his  fathers,  and  revisiting  his  native  shores.  Hedgehog 
Swamp  is  east  of  Warner's  Mills,  and  is  said  to  have  been  so 
named  from  a  canine  contest  with  a  porcupine  there.  This  state- 
ment may  be  taken  "  with  many  grains  of  allowance."  Hop 
Brook,  so  called  from  the  enormous  quantities  of  wild  hops  found 
growing  on  its  banks,  in  the  early  days,  rises  in  Second  Hill,  in 
New  Milford,  and  flows  south-easterly,  to  the  Shepaug,  near  the 
house  of  Charles  Trowbridge.  North  of  this  is  the  Pine  Cobble, 
and  east  of  the  latter  is  situate  the  village  of  Chalybes,  at  the 
foot  of  Mine  Hill.  This  name  was  given  to  the  village  a  few 
years  ago  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bushnell,  of  Hartford ;  is  derived  from  a 
Greek  word,  and  signifies  something  "  pertaining  to  steel."  It 
was  so  named  from  the  steel  works  located  there. 

Mine  Hill,  which  is  situated  here,  along  the  New  Milford  line. 


H  I  S  T  O  K  Y      OF      A  N  <    1  E  N  T     W  O  O  1>  i;  U  i:  Y  .  ^53 

and  is  about  two  luiles  in  leiiirilu  north  ami  s^outh,  by  one  iniU'  in 
width,  east  and  west,  bounded  west  by  Xew  Milt'ord  line,  and 
east  by  the  Shepauir.  is  at  present,  and  indeed  lias  always  betii, 
from  the  early  days,  a  most  interesting  locality,  from  the  mineral 
wealth  concealed  in  its  bosom.  The  hill  was  known  to  contain 
niinen^ls  of  some  kind  almost  from  the  tirst  advent  of  the  settlers. 
But  although  it  has  been  alternately  workeil  and  litigated  for  mere 
than  one  hundred  and  titty  years,  its  true  character  as  a  mine,  has 
been  but  vaguely  understood,  till  (piite  recently.  Its  chief  attrac- 
tion for  more  than  a  century  was  as  a  silver  mine.  Its  reputation 
was  highest,  in  this  respect,  while  it  was  worked  by  a  C^onnan 
company,  for  a  few  years,  previous  to  the  llevolutionary  war. 
When  that  company  broke  up,  it  was  believed  that  the  superin- 
tendent, named  Feuchter,  carried  away  for  his  vnvn  use  a  large 
amount  of  silver  in  bars,  which  he  had  smelted  in  secret,  while 
pretending  to  be  running  the  mine  for  iron  ore  for  the  companv. 
The  mine  has  been  thoroughly  worked  for  the  last  four  or  five 
years,  by  thecompany  which  now  owns  it,  and  although  they  find 
small  quantities  of  silver  lead  of  considerable  richness,  in  various 
parts  of  the  vein,  yet  they  do  not  tind  it  sutliciently  abundant  to 
p.ay  the  expense  of  working  the  mine  for  that  ore.  Aiul  yet  they 
have  driven  their  drifts  more  th.an  twenty  feet  lower  than  the 
main  shaft  left  by  the  iTermans,  and  drained  the  water  t'rom  it, 
making  its  total  depth  nearly  one  hundred  ami  tifty  t'eet.  The 
vein  increases  a  little  in  width  as  it  descends  into  the  mountain, 
and  there  is  a  slightly  perceptible  increase  in  the  quantity  ot"  the 
silver  lead  ore.  There  is  no  probability  that  this  mine  will  iver 
prove  v.aluable  for  its  production  of  silver,  for  the  main  >hatt, 
above  alluded  to,  is  the  one  in  which  the  su}ierintemlent,  Feuch- 
ter, was  supposed  to  have  amassed  his  heavy  silver  bars. 

But  in  spathic  iron  ore,  this  mine  is  the  richest  in  the  I'nited 
States,  and  .is  good  as  any  elsewhere  on  the  face  ot'  the  earth,  so 
tar  as  discovered.  A  very  full  account  of  it  will  be  found  on 
pages  15  to  10,  inclusive,  and  a  further  account  on  page  l">r\  It 
is,  in  all  the  details  of  its  history,  a  most  remarkable  mine  tor 
steel-bearing  ore.  It  becomes  steel  in  one  operation  from  the  pig. 
It  is  of  such  tenacity  and  purity,  that  the  manufacturers  caimot 
atlbrd  to  use  it  alone  for  common  brands  of  steel,  but  are  obliged 
to  mix  it  with  other  less  valuable  ores,  or  with  scraps  of  various 
sorts,  to  bring  it  down  to  the  desired  grade.  Although  the  works 
for  manufacturing  this  ore  into  steel  have  not   been  in  (Operation 


W4  H  I  S  T  1>  K  Y      OF     A  N  »•  I    E  X  T     WOOD  H  l     R  Y  . 

more  than  two  years,  yet  it  has  acquiretl  the  very  hijjhest  rank  in 
the  market  for  fineness,  tenacity,  temper,  and  all  the  other  desira- 
ble qualities  in  the  best  brands  of  steel,  and  is  being  rapidly  in- 
troduced into  the  various  manufactures  requiring  the  purest  qual- 
ities of  steel. 

In  the  month  «»f  May,  1SC5,  Mine  Hill,  with  all  its  minerals,  w^s 
pui  chased  of  Mr.  David  J.  Stiles,  whose  title  thereto  had  now  be- 
come quieted  and  perfected,  after  a  series  of  bitter  lawsuits,  reach- 
ing through   the  period  of  thirty  years,  in  the  State  and   Ignited 
States  Courts,  by  the  present  owners,  who  had  procured  a  special 
charter  from  the   Legislature  of  Connecticut,  under  the  name  of 
"  Tlie  Shejtaug  Spathic  Iron  and  Steel  Company,"  with  a  capital 
of  1:350,000.     The  price  of  the  hill  was  ;?! 00.000.     The  company 
proceeded  to  build   an  extensive  smelting  furnace,  and   the  neces- 
sary dwellings  for  workmen.     The  point  of  failure  in  all  the  pre- 
ceding eflorts  to  -imelt  this  ore,  was  in  the  explosive  gases  which 
it   contained.     When    smelted   in   the  common  blast  furnace,  the 
gases    would    accumulate,    and    the  first   thing    the    men   would 
know,  the  furnace  would  "  blow  out,"  and  all  their  labor  would  be 
lost.     The  })resent  company  has  overcome  that  ditticulty,  by  means 
of  "  sweating  the  ore,"  previous  to  smelting.     This  is  accomplish- 
ed by  placing  alternate  layers  of  the  ore  and  charcoal,  in   large 
open  circular  vats,  which  are  much  the  largest  at  the  toi>,  lik&a  tea- 
cup, and  igniting  the  mass,  thus  heating  the  ore,  and  throwing  off 
the  explosive  elements.     The  ore  is  then  smelted  in  the  ordinary 
way,  as  readily  and  safely,  as  any  other  ore.     In  making  all  these 
improvements,  the  company  must   have  more  than  expended  its 
original  capital.     They  have  mined  and  smelted  large  quantitias 
of  the  ore  into  the  pig,  employing,  for  that  purpose,  men  brought 
from  Prussia,  who  were  skilled  in  the  working  of  spathic  ore,  and 
the  making  ot  steel  after  the  Prussian  method.     Finding  the  iron 
adai>ted   to    the  making  of  a  superior  quality  of  cast-steel,   the 
company  decided,  in    1807,  to  erect  complete  works  for  its  manu- 
facture, at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  having  made  an  application   to  the 
Legislature  for  power  to  increase  its  capit.al  to  one  million  dollars, 
and  for  a  change  of  name  to   that  of  the   American  Silver  Steel 
Company,   which  was  granted.     These  works  were  finished  and 
put  in  operation  in  1869,  and  have  steadily  increased  their  produc- 
tion of  steel  of  various  kinds,  some  of  which  are  claimed  to  be 
superior  to  any  steel  of  foreign  manufacture. 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  N  r     AA'  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  855 

Mining  in  the  hill  has  been  progressing  for  several  years,  night 
and  day,  until  openings  have  been  made  more  than  two  thousand 
feet  in  length,  in  the  aggregate,  the  lowest  of  which  is  about 
twenty  feet  below  the  bottom  of  the  old  shaft,  or  145  feet  below 
the  surface  of  the  hill.  The  quality  of  the  ore  continues  quite 
satisfactory,  and  some  thousands  of  tons  of  it  are  now  (June, 
1871)  ready  for  smelting,  in  addition  to  all  that  has  been  smelted 
before.  A  cut  of  the  works  at  Bridgeport  accompanies  this  ac- 
count. They  consist  of  three  buildings,  located  on  a  point  of 
land  jutting  out  into  the  harbor,  making  a  very  couvenint  place 
for  loading  and  unloading  their  heavy  freight.  The  larger  build- 
ing contains  the  furnaces,  rolls,  lathes  and  all  the  machinery  for 
making  and  finishing  the  steel ;  the  next  is  the  house  covering  the 
engine,  which  furnishes  the  motive  power  to  the  works  ;  and  the 
third  is  the  gas-house,  iu  which  they  manufacture  all  the  gas  used 
in  the  production  of  the  steel.  All  the  heating  operations  required 
in  making  the  steel,  is  accomplished  by  this  gas,,  which  has  greater 
heating  with  less  lighting  power  than  ordinary  coal  gas.  It  is 
made  by  a  process  of  their  own,  and,  in  its  manufacture,  they  can 
use  not  only  the  ordinary  coal  for  making  gns,  but  refuse  coal,  fine 
coal,  coal  dust,  and  coal  "  siftings,"  or  cinders,  and  every  thing 
combustible  in  the  coal  is  made  into  gas,  leaving  no  coke — nothing 
but  ashes. 

The  Bridgeport  site  was  purchased  for  ^40,000,  and  was  a  good 
bargain.  It  would  now  readily  bring  $60,000.  The  works  have 
cost  $1*70,000,  including  $30,000  worth  of  machinery  removed 
from  the  works  at  Mine  Hill,  making  an  outlay  of  $210,000.  It 
is  a  great  pleasure  for  one  who  delights  in  seeing  the  operation  of 
perfect  machinery,  to  go  through  these  works,  and  observe  the 
several  processes  from  the  melting  of  the  pig  iron,  to  the  turning 
out  of  the  same  in  the  perfect  article,  ready  for  the  market — all 
being  accomplished  in  a  brief  space. 

The  legal  history  of  Mine  Hill  is  very  interesting.  In  the  va- 
rious litigations  that  have  grown  out  of  conflicting  interests,  in 
the  title  to  it,  for  the  last  150  years,  many  of  the  most  eminent 
lawyers  in  Connecticut,  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  have  been 
employed,  and  there  have  been  many  able  and  brilliant  forensic 
contests.  As  has  been  stated,  the  existence  of  mineral  treasures 
there,  of  some  kind,  has  been  known  from  the  first  settlement  of 
the  territouy.  It  was  owned  by  Hon.  John  Sherman,  ancestor  of 
the  General  Wm.  T.  Sherman,  the  present  head  of  our  armies,  be- 


856  II  IS  TO  II Y     OF     ATSrCIEXT     WOODBURY. 

fore  1724,  and  was  by  him  leased  to  Thomas  Cranne,  of  Stratford, 
and  others,  May  16,  1724,  for  a  terra  of  years,  reserving  to  himself 
one-  sixteenth  part  of  all  the  ore  which  should  be  there  raised.  John 
Crissey,  and  his  wife  Mary,  also  had  some  riglits  in  the  hill.  Still 
later,' Thomas  and  John  Wheeler,  Doctor  Jonathan  Atwood,  and 
Doctor  Thomas  Leavenworth,  acquired  rights,  by  lease,  or  other- 
wise, to  said  mine.  The  mining  tract,  at  this  time,  was  supposed 
to  contain  six  acres,  and  that  is  the  number  of  acres  mentioned  in 
the  various  deeds  and  mining  leases  that  were  then  executed.  It 
was  at  this  early  day  worked  to  some  extent,  but  with  what  suc- 
cess, is  not  now  known.  The  next  digging  at  this  place  was  by 
Hurlbut  and  Hawley,  but  the  history  of  their  operations  is  sub- 
stantially lost. 

The  next  company  was  organized  by  the  Messrs.  Bronson  Broth- 
ers, about  the  year  1764,  and  many  persons  became  interested  in 
the  mining  right.  This  right,  at  that  date,  was  supposed  to  cover 
forty  acres.  Col.  Ethan  Allen  purchased  two  and  a  half  acres  of 
land  on  Mine  Hill,  or  one  sixteenth  part  of  the  mining  title,  in 
1764,  and  was  interested  in  the  Bronson  operations.  It  was  this 
company  that  sunk  the  "  old  shaft "  125  feet  into  the  mountain,  and 
another  lateral  one  for  the  purposes  of  ventilation.  The  working 
was  carried  on  under  the  direction  of  the  German  goldsmith, 
Feuchter,  to  whom  reference  has  been  made,  who  conducted  his 
processes  of  pretended  separation  and  refining  with  great  secresy, 
occasionally  producing  small  quantities  of  silver,  which  kept  the 
hopes  of  his  employers  alive.  But  after  several  years  this  under- 
taking collapsed,  like  the  othei's  before  them.  Still  later,  the  mine 
was  worked  by  a  company  organized  in  New  York,  which  ob- 
tained a  lease  for  42  years.  This  effort  failed.  Later  still,  Asahel 
Bacon  tried  the  experiment,  with  no  better  success.  Finally, 
David  J.  Stiles,  of  Southbury,  began  to  collect  the  scattered  titles 
in  1824,  and  then  the  legal  contests  broke  out  afresh,  and  there  was 
no  ''  rest  for  the  sole  of  his  foot,"  till  after  he  had  repeatedly  passed 
through  the  highest  Court  of  Connecticut,  and  the  Circuit  Court 
of  the  L^nited  States,  when  his  title  was  finally  quieted,  and  no 
enemy  any  longer  wagged  his  tongue  in  all  the  Mine  Hill  Moun- 
tains. 

But  perhaps  the  history  of  this  long  warfare,  and  the  state  of  tiic 
title,  cannot  be  better  elucidated,  than  by  giving  an  epitome  of 
the  findings  in  the  last  legal  decision  before  the  Circuit  Court  of 
the  United  States,  held  by  the  late   Hon.  Charles  A.  lugersoll,  at 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  857 

New  Haven,  .at  the  April  term  of  the  Court,  185G,  which  was  ar- 
rived at  after  a  closely  contested  trial,  running  through  nine  davs. 
Certain  parties  in  New  York,  claiming  title  under  the  old  mining 
leases,  sued  Mr,  Stiles  in  ejectment,  and  thus  the  title  to  the  prem- 
ises became  the  only  issue,  Stiles  being  in  undoubted  possession. 
The  case,  from  its  antiquity  and  complicpitions,  had  consumed 
months  in  its  preparation,  on  each  side.  lion.  Ralph  I.  Ingersoll, 
of  New  Haven,  Hon.  Norton  J.  Buel,  of  Waterbury,  Henry  S.  San- 
ford  and  John  M.  Buckingham,  Esqrs.  of  New  Milford,  appeared 
as  attorneys  for  the  New  York  claimants,  and  ex-Gov.  Roger  S. 
Baldwin,  of  New  Haven,  and  the  writer,  appeared  as  attorneys 
for  Stiles.  To  state  it  in  vulgar  phrase,  it  was  a  "  tiger-fight,"  and 
Stiles  succeeded  in  fully  and  forever  establishing  his  title  to  the 
spathic  mine. 

As  a  result  of  the  trial,  it  was  found  that  the  plaintiff,  the  New 
York  party,  claimed  title  by  a  series  of  conveyances  from 'one 
Sampson  Simson,  a  Jew  in  New  York,  who  Avas  the  nephew  of  a 
man  of  the  same  name,  and  who,  with  his  brother,  Solomon  Sim- 
son,  and  brother-in-law,  Myer  Myers,  worked  the  mine  on  said 
premises  as  early  as  1764.  This  Simson  supposed  he  had  some 
title  to  convey,  the  other  two  being  dead,  but  on  the  trial  of  the 
case  it  was  discovered  that  his  interest  was  never  any  other  than 
that  of  a  lessee. 

The  disputed  premises  contain  a  very  rich  mine  of  spathic  iron 
ore,  the  richest,  and  perhaps,  the  only  mine  of  that  valuable  ore 
for  the  manufacture  of  steel  in  the  United  States.  It  also  con- 
tains a  vein  of  silver,  yielding  a  small  qiiantity  of  silver,  Avith  a 
large  per  cent  of  the  pure  metal.  The  extent  of  this  deposit  has 
not  been  sufficiently  tested  to  j^ronounce  upon  its  value  as  a  silver 
mine.  The  title  to  the  mine  has  been  more  or  less  litigated  since 
the  year  1724,  and  large  sums  of  money  have  been  expended,  both 
in  litigating  and  working  the  mine. 

It  was  proved  to  the  jury  that  the  mining  tract  was  laid  out  as 
as  common  land,  on  the  original  proprietors'  rights  in  Woodbury, 
and  that  it  was  thus  laid  out  because  it  was  discovered  that  there 
was  a  mine  there.  It  was  laid  out  to  Moses  Huidbut  and  Abel 
Hawley,  in  1751.  Previous  to  1762,  Hurlbut  and  Hawley  sold  it 
to  Abrara  and  Israel  Bronson,  who  laid  out  an  addition  to  it, 
making  the  whole  tract  sixty-seven  acres,  in  the  early  part  of 
1764.  Soon  after  this,  Abram  and  Israel  Bronson  leased  seven- 
eighths  of  the  mine  to  Sampson  Simson,  Myer  Myers,  and  George 
3 


858  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Trail,  of  New  York,  for  the  term  of  forty-two  years,  ending  in 
1806.  They  entered  into  possession  under  the  lease,  and  worked 
it  from  1764  to  1766,  wljen,  from  some  unknown  cause,  they 
abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  returned  to  New  York,  The  title 
to  the  premises  continued  to  be  bought  up  in  fractions  by  various 
parties,  till  1781,  when  Cyprian  Collins  and  others,  of  Gosheri 
Conn.,  who  were  then  owners  of  a  considerable  interest  in  the 
premises,  commenced  working  the  mine,  the  main  shaft  of  which 
had  been  sunk  by  the  Sampson  Simson  company,  to  the  depth  of 
125  feet,  and  continued  it  two  seasons,  when,  meeting  with  bad 
luck,  they  in  turn  deserted  the  enterprise.  In  1792,  Sampson 
Simson  &  Co.  underlet  the  remaining  portion  of  their  forty-two 
years'  lease  to  Israel  Holmes,  of  Salisbury.  He  commenced  work, 
had  bad  luck,  and  after  staying  two  years,  abandoned  the  under- 
taking in  the  same  manner  as  his  predecessors  had  done  before. 
About  1780,  Jabez  Bacon,  of  Woodbury,  commenced  buying  up 
the  shreds  of  title  which  were  scattered,  and  before  his  death,  in 
1806,  had  succeeded  in  perfecting  the  title  to  the  entire  premises 
in  himself,  and  the  same  descended  to  his  seven  heirs,  through  the 
Probate  Court,  Asahel  Bacon,  one  of  the  heirs  of  Jabez,  bought 
out  all  the  rest  of  the  heirs,  took  possession  of  the  premises, 
and  maintained  the  exclusive  possession  thereof,  until  he  sold  it  to 
the  present  defendent,  David  J.  Stiles,  in  1824.  Immediately 
upon  his  purchase.  Stiles  took  possession  of  the  premises.  He 
cut  wood  and  pealed  bark  all  over  them,  experimented  with  the 
ores,  enclosed  the  whole  hill  with  fences,  built  a  road  all  over  and 
around  the  place  in  dispute,  and  built  a  small  bain  directly  by  the 
main  shaft  excavation.  From  the  day  of  his  purchase  till  the  day 
of  the  trial,  he  had  kept  one  or  more  men  near  the  premises,  to 
watch  and  warn  off  trespassers,  and  had  exercised  every  act  of 
ownership,  that  a  man  could  exercise  over  forest  property.  Yet, 
at  three  several  times,  had  Stiles  been  put  out  of  the  possession  of 
this  property  by  trespassers,  and  had  been  as  often  restored  by  writ 
of  forcible  entry  and  detainer.  Since  1824,  he  had  thus  kept 
strict  possession  of  the  premises.  Meanwhile  Simson  and  his  as- 
sociates never  returned  to  make  any  claim  to  the  property,  nor 
any  claim  to  use  it  under  their  lease,  till  1 85 U,  forty-four  years 
after  it  had  expired  by  its  own  limitation,  when  said  Simson's 
nephew,  Sampson  Simson,  deeded  to  one  Josiah  K.  Sturges,  his 
supposed  interest,  as  heir  of  his  uncle.  Sturges  received  his  deed 
from  Simson,  when  he  was  in  possession  under  Stiles,  and  for  this 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  859 

reason,  could  not  receive  a  title  even  though  Simson  had  one  to 
sell.  The  same  objection  existed  against  all  the  deeds  of  the 
plaintiff.  He  could  not,  therefore,  "show  a  better  title,"  and  the 
jury  rendered  a  verdict  for  the  defendent,  Stiles,  thus  establishing 
his  title  forever.  So  that  Stiles,  when  he  sold  to  the  American 
Silver  Steel  Company,  was  able  to  give  them  a  warranty  deed. 

Thiis  have  we  recorded  the  various  items  in  the  physical  liistory 
of  our  ancient  town.  A  single  item  remains.  A  few  rods  south 
of  the  "  Old  Stoddard  Parsonage"  of  1700,  is  a  boggy  piece  of 
water,  covering,  perhaps,  an  acre  of  ground,  filled  with  bushes, 
bogs,  turtles  and  frogs.  Twenty-five  years  ago,  a  young  man 
passed  by  this  pond,  which  is  called  Cranberry  Pond,  and  noti- 
cing that  the  frogs  were  very  musical,  the  odd  fancy  of  the  mo- 
ment suggested  to  him,  that  Ife  should  name  it  the  "Helicon 
Spring."  Acting  upon  the  thought,  he  immediately  wrote  a  sol- 
emn, classical  poem,  calling  this  the  true  fount  of  poesy,  and  its 
musical  inhabitants,  the  veritable  Muses,  the  goddesses  and  in- 
spirers  of  song.  This  little  effort  attracted  some  attention  at  the 
time,  and  has,  occasionally,  ever  since,  been  the  subject  of  jocose 
remark  among  friends,  from  the  odd  conceit.  And,  in  truth,  this 
conceit  is  not  more  whimsical,  or  illy-applied,  than  some  other 
names,  that  have  been  given  to  the  other  localities.  An  extract 
from  the  enthusiast  ran  thus; — 

Fair  spring  within  whose  sweetly  gushing  fount 
The  Goddesses  of  Song  are  wont  to  dwell, 
And  nightly  sing  in  notes  harmonious, 
When  all's  serene  around,  and  quiet  yeigns, 
Thou  mind'st  nae  of  those  olden  days  in  whicb 
The  poets  all  of  high  and  low  degree 
Came  forth  from  places  far  remote  and  near 
To  drink  thy  soul-inspiring  water  e'er, 
And  breathe  the  air  poetic,  which  always. 
Then  as  now,  bestowed  the  vital  power 
Melodious,  tliat  ever  moves  the  world, — 


Hark  !  there's  musi-c  here,  and  melody  hatfa 
Charms  for  mortal  cars  with  which,  on  eartb, 
There'8  nought  that  can  compare.     Sweet  harmony. 
And  chaunts  unearthly,  rise  on  every  hand. 


860 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY 


The  very  atmosphere  is  filled  with  sounds 
Of  concord  sweet.     List  the  tuneful  lyres,  that 
Strike  their  joyful  notes  in  highest  glee 
While  all  conspire  to  fill  the  chorus  grand. 


CHAPTER    II. 


INDIAN    HISTORY. 


Who  were  the  Indians  ;  Their  character  ;  Comparison  with  modern  nations  ; 
Military  enactments  ;  Watches  ;  Definitions  of  Indian  names  ;  Nonnewaug's 
grave;  Pomperadg's  grate;  Legend  of  Bethel  Rock  ;  Anecdotes;  Reflec- 
tions. 

HE  history  of  the  aboriginal  occupants 
of  our  hills,  and  vales  and  waters,  in 
New  England,  will  always  be  one  of 
sad  though  pleasing  interest  to  the 
thoughtful  and  truthful  historian.  It 
is  now  a  long  time  since  their  "  light 
went  out  on  the  shore,"  and  the  white 
actors  on  the  stage  of  life,  in  the  early 
days,  in  the  order  of  nature,  also  passed 
^  away  with  them,  and  we  can  now  form 
a  true  estimate  of  their  character,  and 
the  right  and  wrong  of  their  conduct, 
since  all  passion  and  prejudice  have 
long  since  been  buried  in  the  grave  of 
years.  Still,  there  is  yet  great  diver- 
sity in  the  views  of  writers  upon  this 
theme,  shaded  and  tinged,  perhaps,  by 
the  savage  enormities,  ever  recurring 
between  our  people  and  the  powerful 
tribes  in  our  western  borders.  But  in 
New  England,  the  bitterness  of  the 
early  days  has  passed  away,  and  histo- 
rians, and,  educated  people  generally, 
take  a  kindly  interest  in  each  faintest 
trace  of  authentic  history  of  the  for- 
mer wild  children  of  the  forest.  And 
it  speaks  well  for  our  common  human- 

for  our  advance  in  knowledge  aud  true  civilization. 

y  full  history  of  the  Indians  of  Woodbury  was  contained 


ity,  and 
A  ver 


862  UISTOKY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODiiUBT. 

in  tlie  former  edition  of  tliis  work,  but  the  iivterest  thf^t  will  ever 
linger  around  all  that  pertains  to  the  dim  and  shadowy  days,  in 
which  the  red  man  was  sole  "  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed,"  will 
warrant  the  record  here  of  the  remaining  fragments,  that  have 
come  to  hand  since  the  former  issue.  In  a  letter  received  by  the 
writer  from  the  late  most  gifted  poetess  of  Connecticut,  who  has 
done  so  much  for  humanity,  and  for  the  honor  of  her  native  State» 
Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Sigourney,  of  Hartford,  refen-ing  to  the  chapter  oa 
Indian  History  in  the  former  edition,  she  writes : — 

''  I  was  particularly  pleased  with  the  sj^xice  and  spirit  you  have 
devoted  to  our  aborigines,  who,  in  my  earlier  days,  seemed  sub- 
jects of  romance, — as  in  later  ones,  they  have  been  of  sympathy." 
This  thought  touches  the  key-note  of  the  subject  in  our  hearts. 
The  wasting  away,  and  final  extinction  of  the  race  within  our 
borders,  is  a  meet  subject  for  sympathetic  contemplation. 

And  who  were  the  strange  people  that  occupied  these  pleasant 
dwelling  places  in  the  woods,  when  the  white  man  reached  these 
shores  ?  They  were,  indeed,  a  strange  race,  beginning  in  mystery 
and  ending  in  annihilation.  Their  origin  and  mission  on  earth 
seem  to  be  one  of  the  secrets  of  the  Great  Creator.  The  race 
found  inhabiting  these  new  regions,  did  not  live  in  comfortable- 
dwellings,  surrounded  by  verdant  fields,  which  they  cultivated,  but 
semi-nude,  or  clad  in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  they  wandered  in 
small  clans,  in  the  dense  forests,  among  the  lofty  mountains,  by 
the  murmuring  streams,  and  along  the  meandering  rivers.  They 
were  destitute  of  the  arts  of  civilized  life ;  had  strange  rites,  and 
unheard-of  customs.  They  engaged  in  fierce  conflicts  and  exter- 
minating wars.  They  were  men  of  iron  will,  who  knew  no  fear,, 
had  strongest  fortitude,  and  whom  severest  tortures  covild  not 
move.  They  never  forgot  a  kindness,  nor  forgave  an  injury.  They 
were  idolaters,  and,  on  our  now  peaceful  and  happy  plains,  they 
offered  human  sacrifices  to  appease  the  God  of  evil,  created  by 
their  own  superstitious  imaginations.  This  rude  and  barbai-ous 
people  was  scattered  all  over  our  extended  continent,  and  yet  they 
had  hitherto  been  unkiiown — insulated  from  the  rest  of  the  world,. 
Our  fathers  tried  to  civilize  and  Christianize  them  with  little  suc- 
cess, though  they  granted  them  the  privilege  of  attending  their 
schools  and  religious  assemblies.  Some  of  them,  indeed,  profited 
by  these  pi'ivileges,  gained  the  rudiments  of  knowledge,  put  them- 
selves under  the  care  of  the  ministers,  and  became  approved  mem- 
bers of  the  churches.     But  the  great  majority  adhered  to  tlieir 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  863 

dark  and  cheerless  faith,  and  cruel  rites,  believed  and  practiced  by 
their  forefathers.  Let  it  be  taken  for  granted,  then,  as  many 
have  asserted,  that  the  Indian  was  fierce,  vindictive,  cruel,  immor- 
al, uncultivated,  and  untamable,  copying  the  vices  ratlier  than  the 
virtues  of  our  people;  yet  with  all  his  faults  and  failings,  he  stood 
erect,  in  the  midst  of  nature's  leafy  temple,  God's  original  free- 
man !  He  believed  in  the  existence  of  the  Great  Spirit.  He  could 
never  be  enslaved.  No  superior  intelligence,  or  cunning,  ctnild 
make  him  wear  the  bondsman's  chain  ! 

But  the  great  complaint  of  those  who  denounce  the  character 
of  the  Indian,  iahis  cruelty,  and  relentless  ferocity.  Now  nothing 
can  be  said  in  favor  of  this  habit  in  the  red  man — scarcely  any- 
thing by  way  of  mitigation  of  judgment,  save  the  ignorance  with 
which  he  had  been  enveloped — the  legacy  of  long,  dark  ages. 
But  should  not  Ave,  who  live  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and  boast 
loudly  of  our  civilization,  our  progress,  our  intelligence,  our 
Christianity  and  our  humanity,  hide  our  faces  in  very  shame  in 
the  light  of  recent  events,  instead  of  casting  odium,  or  sharp  crit- 
icism upon  the  memory  of  the  poor,  departed  denizen  of  the  for- 
est? In  what  page  of  authentic  history  do  we  read  of  the  Indians 
of  this  land  being  guilty  of  deeds  so  dark,  cruel,  malignant  and 
damning,  as  the  horrors  inflicted  by  the  white  men  of  the  south, 
in  the  late  civil  war,  upon  their  bretliren  of  the  north — who  were 
bone  of  their  bone  and  flesh  of  their  flesh.  Talk  you  of  tortures? 
What  torture  was  ever  inflicted  by  the  Indians  upon  their  ene- 
mies that  could,  for  a  moment,  compare  with  the  slow,  malignant 
tortues  of  filth,  starvation,  disease  and  death,  inflicted  by  those 
who  claimed  to  be  of  the  highest  chivalry  of  civilization,  educa- 
tion and  refinement,  in  those  loathsome,  open  sepulcres,  the  prison 
pens  of  Belle  Isle,  Salisbury  and  Andersonville?  Too  inhuman 
to  be  content  with  the  swift  vengeance  of  the  Indian — the  run- 
ning of  the  gauntlet,  the  poisoned  arrow,  the  scalping,  or  flaying 
process,  or  death  at  the  stake,  all  of  which  brought  speedy  death 
and  the  end  of  their  torments,  the  heroes  of  our  boasted  civiliza- 
tion, in  these  latter,  effulgent  days,  could  be  satisfied  with  nothing 
less  than  the  tortures  of  demons,  long  drawn  out  before  their 
gloating  eyes  and  remorseless  liearts.  And  what  are  we  now  be- 
holding, as  these  pages  are  passing  through  the  press,  in  these 
pleasant,  May  days,  in  the  face  of  the  world,  under  the  eye  of 
Heaven,  in  the  vaunted  metro|)olis  of  the  wo)-ld,  which  pride  itself 
on  the  perfection  of  its  civilization,  refinement,  reason   and  hu- 


864  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 

maiiity — in  Paris?  Churches,  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God, 
are  sacked,  their  sacred  implements  taken  away  or  destroyed,  and 
the  officiating  priests,  bishops  and  arch-bishops  are  slain  at  the 
altar,  or  shot  like  dogs  in  the  courts,  and  carried  away  to  Potter's 
field  in  carts.  Not  content  wnth  the  carnage  produced  by  the 
most  ingenious,  effective  and  deadly  of  modern  weapons  of  war 
in  legalized  combat,  prisoners  are  collected  by  the  thousand,  and 
either  shot  on  sight,  or  gathered  in  groups,  and  mowed  down  by 
revolving  cannon,  or  cast  into  prison  pens,  that  A'ie  in  horrers  with 
our  Andersonville.  Splendid  works  of  art,  that  have  been  for 
long  years  the  pride  of  the  nation,  are  ruthlessly  thrown  down 
and  destroyed.  The  palaces  and  public  buildings  are  burned  to 
the  ground.  Furious,  mad  men  and  women  ply  the  torch  every- 
where, indiscriminately.  A  city  of  two  and  a  half  millions  of 
souls  is  in  flames — mined  and  fired  by  the  most  deadly,  explosive, 
and  destructive  of  substances.  Friendship  has  fled  the  earth. 
No  man  trusts  his  brother.  Life  is  utterly  insecure,  and  society 
seems  dissolving  into  utter  chaos.  Less  religious  and  reverent 
than  the  Indian,  in  addition  to  these  untold  horrors,  they  say  in 
their  hearts,  as  well  as  by  their  acts,  there  is  no  God!  Hence- 
forth, let  there  be  no  prating  about  the  ferocity  and  cruelty  of  the 
Indian.  In  comparison  with  such  acts  of  the  two  foremost  civil- 
ized nations,  the  character  of  the  benighted  red  man,  in  his  native 
forests,  stands  redeemed  ! 

So  far  as  the  Indians  of  Woodbury  were  concerned,  they  were 
always  the  friends  of  our  fathers,  and  maintained  with  them  a 
a  perpetual  peace.  None  ever  kept  the  faith  of  treaties  better 
than  they.  There  were  some  Indian  conflicts  here,  but  they  arose 
from  the  incursions  of  the  Mohawks,  who,  previous  to  the  arrival 
of  the  settlers,  held  the  Indians  of  this  territory  as  tributaries,  by 
superior  prowess.  As  early  as  1675,  during  King  Philip's  war, 
they  made  a  treaty  with  the  pioneers  in  these  valleys,  in  which 
they  covenanted  to  continue  in  "  friendship  with  the  white  settlers, 
and  be  enemies  to  their  enemies,  and  discover  them  timely,  or  de- 
stroy them."  This  treaty  was  ever  kept,  as  a  perpetual  league, 
with  entire  good  faith,  by  both  the  contracting  parties,  and  many 
were  the  mutual  ofljces  of  kindness  they  performed  for  each  other. 

Notwithstanding  this  treaty,  and  the  aid  of  the  native  Indians, 
our  fathers  were  not  able  to  maintain  their  settlement  during 
King  Philip's  war,  but  were  driven  back  to  Stratford,  as  we  have 
seen,  on  pages  46-47,  and  were  kept  there  for  some  two  years,  or 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  865 

until  King  Piiilip's  death.  In  all  the  subsequent  Indian  and 
French  wars,  Woodbury,  as  a  frontier  town,  far  removed  from 
succor,  was  exposed  to  continued  dangers.  It  was  obliged  to 
maintain  pallisaded,  or  fortified  houses,  for  more  than  fifty  years 
after  the  first  settlement.  These,  be  it  remembered,  were  not 
erected  for  fear  of  the  native  Indians,  but  for  fear  of  the  French 
and  their  Indian  allies,  at  times,  and  of  the  Mohaws,  at  all  times, 
on  their  own  account,  as  long  as  they  existed  as  a  tribe.  In  1690 
there  was  another  war  alarm,  and  it  was  enacted  by  the  General 
Court,  '•  For  the  better  maintenance  of  the  military  watches 
throughout  this  Colony  in  times  of  danger,  which  is  of  so  great 
importance,  this  Court  doe  order,  that  all  male  persons  whatsoever, 
except  negroes  and  Indians,  upwards  of  sixteen  years  of  age, 
shall  serve  and  doe  duty  equally  on  the  military  watch,  whoe  are 
resident  on  the  place  where  such  watches  are  to  be  kept,  and  that 
all  male  persons  aforesaid,  inhabiting  in  this  Colony,  being  absent 
at  sea,  or  elsewhere,  shall,  by  those  of  their  family  left  at  home, 
provide  a  person  to  watch,  instead  of  the  absent  person,  or  per- 
sons, and  also  that  all  widowes  whose  estates  in  the  publique  list 
amounteth  to  fifty  pounds,  shall  each  of  them  provide  a  man  to 
watch  in  their  steads,  and,  if  there  be  any  old  or  impotent  men, 
that  by  such  disability  cannot  watch,  if  there  estates  in  the  pub- 
lique list  amounteth  to  fifty  pounds,  they  shall  find  a  man  to  watch 
in  their  steads,  provided  this  order  shall  not  extend  to  the  Assist- 
ants, nor  ministers,  nor  such  impotent  men  as  the  respective  com- 
mission officers  of  the  sayd  town  judg  incapable  of  it,  and  who 
have  not  estate  of  fifty  pounds  in  the  publique  list,  and  that  all 
'defects  on  these  military  watches,  shall  be  i>unishable  by  the  com- 
mission ofiicers,  or  any  one  of  them,  in  the  same  measure  and 
manner,  as  is  by  law  provided  in  the  constable  watches,  and  the 
commission  officers  in  the  exercise  of  their  offices  by  commission 
are  by  this  order  freed  from  watching." 

"This  Court  appoynts  the  commission  officers  in  each  towne  to 
list  and  appoynt  every  seventh  man  in  each  company  to  be  a  fly- 
ing army  of  dragoons,  to  be  listed  under  the  officers  appoynted  by 
this  Court  in  each  county,  to  lead  them  forth  against  the  enimie, 
if  any  occasion  shall  be.  Derby,  Danbury,  Woodbury,  Water- 
bury  and  Simsbury,  are  exempted  from  this  order.'" 

We  cannot,  at  this  day,  in  our  peaceful  communities,  picture  to 

'  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  4  vol.  18. 


866  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

ourselves  the  urgency  for  the  public  safety  which  must  exist  to 
force  the  wise  men  of  the  General  Court  to  order,  not  only  every 
person  avIio  was  present,  to  take  his  place  as  sentinel,  and  his  share 
of  the  common  danger,  but  the  families  of  the  absent,  and  even 
widows  and  impotent  old  men,  to  furnish  their  sentinel  in  turn, 
by  substitute,  unless  they  were  so  poverty-stricken  that  they  had 
not  the  means  wherewith  to  hire  one.  After  all,  there  is  a  mani" 
fest  equity  in  this  distribution,  and  comports  well  with  a  late  legal 
decision  by  our  Supreme  Court,  in  Booth  vs.  Town  of  Woodbury. 
It  is  not  certain  but  that  the  Court  obtained  light  from  this  old 
statute. 

A  very  curious  order  was  issued  at  the  same  session,  showing 
that  the  early  colonial  legislators  were  careful  and  '*  troubled 
about  many  things."  They  left  little  to  the  discretion  of  the  com- 
mon scout.  Perhaps  this  was  the  more  necessary,  because  the 
watch  did  not  consist  of  enlisted  men,  set  apart  and  educated  for 
the  purpose,  but  every  able  bodied  man  must  take  his  turn,  Avhile 
earning  his  daily  bread,  and  might  well  be  considered  less  likely 
to  be  judicious  and  skillful  in  the  various  emergencies  that  might 
arise  in  the  irregularity  of  savage  warfare.     The  order  runs  thus : 

"  This  Court  orders,  that  the  charge,  that  shall  be  given  to  the 
military  watch,  shall  be  as  follows,  viz : — that  they  shall  charge 
the  watch  in  his  Ma  <'es  name,  that  tlie)  faythfully  attend  the  watch, 
by  W'alkeing  or  standing  in  such  place  or  places  where  they  may 
best  discover  danger  by  the  approach  of  an  enemie,  or  by  fire 
which,  if  they  discover,  they  are  to  give  notice  thereof  by  crying 
Fire,  Fire,  or  Arme,  Arme ;  they  are  allso  to  examine  all  such  per- 
sons as  they  meet  with  unseasonably,  and  they  are  to  command' 
them  to  stand  twice,  and  the  third  time,  to  command  them  to 
stand  on  their  perill,  but  if  they  will  not  stand,  but  oppose 
them,  or  fly  from  them,  they  may  slioot  at  them,  but  to  shoot  low, 
unless  they  judg  him  to  be  an  enemie,  and  then  they  are  to  shoot 
as  directly  at  them  as  they  may,  and  all  such  persons  as  they  find 
out  unseasonably,  they  are  to  examine  them,  and  if  they  give  no 
good  occasions,  they  are  to  return  them  to  the  Court  of  guarde,  to 
be  secured  till  the  morning,  and  then  they  are  to  carry  them  to 
the  next  authority,  to  be  examined  and  disposed  of  according  to 
law,  and  they  are  to  give  the  next  watch  notice  to  watch  them 
the  night  following." 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  if  the  town  should  now  be  placed  under 
the  care  of  such  a  "  watch,"  with  power  to   examine  all  persons 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  867 

who  are  out  "unseasonably,"  and  require  them  to  "give  a  good 
account  of  their  occasions,"  that  tlie  magistrates  would  have  more 
to  do  each  morning,  on  the  report  of  the  "  watch,"  than  they 
would  be  able  to  perform  well,  and  the  parties  themselves  would 
be  as  little  able  to  give  a  satisfactory  account  of  themselves,  as  the 
lurking  "tramps"  of  the  early  days.  In  this  time  of  general 
alarm  and  danger,  it  was  further  ordered  by  the  General  Court, 
''  that  soldiers  in  all  plantations  bring  their  arms  and  ammunition 
to  meeting  on  Sabbath  days,  and  days  of  publique  woi*ship,  when 
and  as  often  as  the  County  major,  or  chief  military  officers  in  any 
town  shall  appoint,  upon  the  penalty  of  five  shillings,  to  be  paid 
to  the  town  treasury  by  every  soldier  convict  of  neglect  hereof 
before  authority,  to  be  levied  by  distress  upon  their  estate."^ 

Some  twelve  years  had  elapsed  since  the  dispersions  and  alarms 
occasioned  by  King  Phllijys  war  had  ceased,  and  it  would  seem, 
from  the  above  order,  that  the  former  custom  of  carrying  arms  to 
the  church  had  fallen  into  disuse,  and  it  had  become  necessary  to 
cause  its  resumption  by  the  somewhat  sharp  general  enactment 
just  cited.  The  first  church,  being  located  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  Hon.  X.  1j.  Smith's  carriage  house,  was  admirably  situated 
for  the  purpose  of  being  guarded  against  surprise.  Sentinels 
placed  on  Lodge  Rock,  were  in  full  view  of  the  approaches  in 
every  direction,  while  a  large  fortified  house  was  near  by,  on  the 
homestead  of  the  late  Erastus  Minor,  a  little  south  of  his  dwel- 
ling house. 

In  Feb.  1G93-4,  a  unique  order  was  promulgated  for  the  im- 
pressing, making  and  storing  of  what  the  soldier  of  the  present 
day  would  call  "hardtack."  It  shows  vividly  with  what  anxious 
care  the  authorities  guarded  the  safety  of  the  plantations.  It 
enacts: — "  Whereas  it  is  a  time  of  warr,  and  there  are  fears  of  sud- 
dain  surprizalls  of  the  enemie,  which  may  occasion  suddain  march- 
es of  the  soldiery  to  repell  the  enemies  of  their  Maj  ''**,  and  a 
provissiou  of  biskit  to  that  end  is  necessary,  this  Court  doe  there- 
fore order,  that  in  each  of  the  countyes  of  this  colony,  fifty  bush- 
ells  of  good  winter  wheat  be  forthwith  empressed  by  warrant 
from  some  of  the  majestraies  of  the  respective  countyes,  and  that 
the  same  be  by  their  order  made  into  biskit  as  soon  as  is  possible, 
and  kept  by  their  order  in  convenient  places,  to  be  used  as  occa- 
sion and  lawfull  order  shall  require  the  same,  and  the  wheat  so 

'  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  p.  41. 


868  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

impressed  to  be  repayd  in  specia  out  of  the  country  rate  as  soone 
as  may  be."' 

After  the  treaty  of  ICZS  with  our  Woodbury  Indians,  they  seem 
to  have  been  close  allies  in  time  of  war,  and  to  have  been  under 
the  entire  direction  of  the  whites.  This  is  shown  by  an  act  passed 
by  the  General  Assembly,  at  its  October  Session,  1703.  Ii  also 
gives  us  an  idea  of  the  labor  and  care  of  fortifying  the  frontier 
towns.  It  enacts:  "that  the  civill  and  commission  officers  of 
each  towne  shall  take  all  due  care  concerning  the  friend  Indians 
belonging  to  their  townes,  and  assign  them  their  limitts,  to  the 
intent  that  none  of  them  be  exposed,  or  the  enemies  escape  under 
pretence  of  being  friends  ;  and  that  said  officers  doe  strictly  charge 
said  fi'iend  Indians,  not  to  move  out  of  their  respective  limitts,  or 
bounds  assigned  them,  without  order  in  writing  under  the  hands 
of  such  officers,  as  they  tender  their  own  safetie  and  at  their  per- 
ill ;  and  all  friend  Indians  are  hereby  forbidden  to  hold  any  com- 
munication with,  harbour,  or  conceal,  any  of  the  enemie  Indians, 
requiring  them  to  seize  and  secure  all  such  as  may  come  among 
them,  and  to  deliver  them  up  to  justice;  and  for  their  incourage- 
raent,  they  shall  have  ten  pounds  for  every  Indian  enemie,  they 
shall  so  seize  and  deliver  up.  And  what  extraordinarie  charge 
there  shall  be  about  Wiantonuck  and  Potatuck  Indians  shall  be 
born  by  the  Colonic,  and  that  Capt.  Ebenezer  Johnson  have  the 
care  and  ordering  of  the  Paugassuck  Indians." 

"  It  is  ordered  and  enacted  by  this  Court :  That  the  inhabitants 
of  every  town  in  this  Colonie  shall  be  called  together  with  as  con- 
venient speed  as  may  be,  to  consider  wliat  houses  shall  be  fortified, 
and  if  the  towne  do  not  agree  to  fortifie  any  house  or  houses, 
then  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  civill  and  militarie  officers  in 
commission,  with  the  selectmen,  or  major  part  of  them,  if  they 
thinke  it  necessaire,  to  oider  what  house  or  houses  shall  be  forti- 
fied ;  and  what  they  do  order  to  be  fortified,  shall  be  done  forth- 
with, and  shall  also  order  on  whose  charge ;  and  if  any  persons 
doe  refuse  or  neglect  to  make  their  proportions,  they  shall  pay  a 
fine  answerable  to  their  proportions,  to  be  levied  by  the  constable 
by  warrant  from  civill  authority.  The  proportion  of  each  person 
to  be  ordered  according  to  their  estate  in  the  common  list  of  es- 
tates." 

"It  is  ordered  and  enacted  by  this  Court:  That  there  shall  be 

'  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Rec.,  119. 


HISTOEY     OF     ANCIENT    WO  OD  BU  RY  .  869 

constantly  eight  men  upon  the  scout,  untill  the  grand  scout  be 
settled,  viz:  two  from  Symsbury,  two  from  Woodbury,  and  two 
from  Waterbury,  and  two  from  Danbury,  to  be  ordered  by  the 
discretion  of  the  civill  and  militarie  commission  officers  in  each 
towne,  as  also  a  scout  from  Windzor,  to  meet  with  the  scouts  from 
Newroxbury,  to  be  ordered  by  the  councill  of  Warre."  ' 

It  was,  very  properly,  the  constant  care  and  anxiety  of  the 
founders  of  the  colony  to  protect  and  maintain  the  frontier  towns, 
as  the  best  and  most  reliable  defence  to  the  remaining  towns.  If 
an  enemy  met  with  stern  and  effective  resistance  on  the  borders, 
he  would  have  less  hope  of  successful  invasion  and  victory  over 
the  whole.  This  thought  was  forcibly  stated  in  the  letter  of  Rev. 
John  Bowers,  of  Derby,  and  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker  of  Wood- 
bury, in  their  letter  of  1676  urging  the  protection  of  their  respec- 
tive towns,  as  printed  on  page. 49.  "The  securing  of  those  two 
plantations,"  they  say,  "  of  Woodbury  and  Darby,  will,  according 
to  second  causes,  be  one  of  ye  most  considerable  securities,  in  a 
time  of  such  dangers,  unto  ye  two  western  counties,  viz:  of  New 
Haven  and  Fairfield :  for  it  can  hardly  be  expected  y '  any  strength 
of  indians  will  adventure  to  set  upon  any  lower  plantation,  till  they 
have  attempted  ones  above,  and  if  they  fail,  they  will  be  ye  more 
shy  of  pounding  themselves  by  coming  lower,"  Acting  upon  this 
theory,  Ave  find  our  colonial  legislators,  at  their  May  session,  1704, 
enacting  as  follows  : — 

"Forasmuch  as  the  maintaining  and  defending  of  the  frontiers 
in  time  of  warre  is  of  very  great  importance,  and  in  regard  it 
would  greatly  prejudice  her  Majesties  interest  and  encourage  an 
enemy,  if  any  of  the  outposts  should  be  quitted,  or  exposed  by 
lessening  the  strength  thereof, — 

"It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  Court:  That  the  frontier  towns 
hereafter  named  are  to  be  so  accounted,  that  is  to  say,  Symsbury, 
Waterbury,  Woodbury,  Danbury,  Colchester,  Windham,  Mans- 
field and  Plainfield,  and  should  not  be  broken  up,  or  voluntarily 
deserted  without  application  first  made  by  the  inhabitants  and 
allowance  had  and  obtained  from  this  Court ;  nor  shall  any  inhab- 
itant of  the  frontiers  mentioned,  having  an  estate  of  freehold  in 
lands  and  tenements  within  the  same,  at  the  time  of  any  insurrec- 
tion or  breaking  forth  of  warre,  remove  from  thence  with  inten+ 
to  sojourn  elsewhere,  without   ]il)erty  as  aforesaid,  on  penalty  of 


*  Hoadlej's  Goiiii.  Col.  Rec.  1  vol.  455. 


S70  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

forfeiting  all  his  estate  in  lands  and  tenements  lying  within  such 
township,  to  be  recoveied  by  information  of  and  proof  made  by 
the  Selectmen  of  such  towne." 

"  And  it  is  further  enacted  :  Tliat  no  male  person  of  sixteen 
years  old  r>nd  upwards,  that  should  be  an  inhabitant  of  or  belong- 
ing to  any  of  the  townes  aforementioned  at  the  time  of  such  warre 
or  insurrection,  shall  presume  to  leave  such  place  on  penaltie  of 
ten  pounds,  to  be  recovrred  as  aforesaid ;  all  which  penalties  to  be 
improved  towards  the  defence  of  such  place,  or  places  whereof 
such  person  or  persons  were  inhabitants." 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court :  That  ten  men  shall  be  put  in  gar- 
rison in  each  of  these  townes  liereafter  mentioned,  that  is  to  say, 
Danbury,  Woodbury,  Waterbury  and  Symsbury,  and  that  the  rest 
of  the  men  to  be  raised  out  of  the  Counties  of  New  Haven  and 
Fairfield,  with  such  Indians  as  can.be  procured,  shall  be  put  under 
sufKcient  commanders,  and  have  their  chief  headquarters  at  West- 
field,  unlessa  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Couucill  of  Warre  in  the 
.Countie  of  Hartford ;  and  said  compan}''  of  Euglish  and  Indians 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  at  the  discretion  of  their  chief  command- 
er, range  the  woods  to  endeavour  the  discovery  of  an  approaching 
enemy,  and  in  an  especial  manner  fi-om  Westfield  to  Ousatun- 
imck." 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  as  many  of  our  friend  In- 
'dians  as  are  fit  for  warre  and  can  be  prevailed  with,  and  furnished 
with  all  things  suitable,  shall  goe  with  our  forces  against  the  com- 
mon enemie;  and  Major  Ebenezer  John?on  is  hereby  impowered 
and  ordered  to  imploy  suitable  persons  to  acquaint  the  Indians  in 
the  counties  of  New  Haven  and  Fairfield,  of  this  conclusion  con- 
cerning them,  and  to  furnish  such  of  said  Indians  as  shall  offer 
themselves  for  the  service  as  abovesaid,  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  what  else  may  be  needful  to  fitt  them  out  for  warre,  and 
cause  them  forthwith  to  repair  to  Derby,  to  march  with  our  Eng- 
lish forces  under  the  command  of  the  chief  officer  for  the  said 
service.  The  like  to  be  done  with  respect  to  raising  Indians  in 
the  Countie  of  New  London  by  the  may^  of  said  Countie.  And 
this  Court  allows  the  wages  to  such  Indian  volunteers  as  those 
have  that  are  gone  to  the  eastward.  And  the  superiour  offi- 
cer of  the  forces  now  to  be  raised  shall  have  power  to  release  so 
many  English  from  the  service  as  the  -e  are  Indians  added  to  them, 
so  that  the  whole  number  be  still  four  hundred.  And  for  the  in- 
couragement  of  our  forces  gone,  or  going  against  the  enemy,  this 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  87l 

Court  will  allow  out  of  the  public  treasiirie  the  sum  of  five  pounds 
for  every  man's  scalp  of  the  enemy  killed  in  this  Colony,  to  be 
paid  to  the  person  that  doth  that  service,  over  and  above  his  or 
their  wages,  and  the  plunder  taken  by  them."  ' 

The  people  of  our  day  have  little  idea  of  the  mode  or  the  ardu- 
ousness  of  the  service  of  our  forefathers  in  those  early  aboriginal 
wars.  The  savages  had  no  rules  of  war — no  recognized  code  of 
dealing  death  to  their  enemies,  as  modern  nations  have — no  rule 
requiring  them  to  proclaim  war  before  making  it.  But  they  made 
secret  and  sudden  irruptions  upon  peaceable  communities,  when 
all  was  apparently  peaceful  and  harmonious,  by  deadly  ambuscades, 
or  by  the  midnight  torch,  in  the  deep  snows  of  mid-winter,  in 
these  northern  lands,  where  there  were  no  roads  and  marchinar 
was  impossible.  Though  they  had  few  arts  in  their  savage  igno- 
rance, they  were  yet  provided  with  means  of  attack  and  annoy- 
ance, and  at  the  same  time  with  avenues  of  escape  when  over- 
matched, or  overpowered,  not  open  to  the  whites.  The  early 
white  settlers  had  to  learn  these,  and  prepare  themselves  to  meet 
them.  With  our  iiresent  ideas  of  warfare,  after  our  late  great 
civil  conflict,  it  would  be  difficult  for  us  to  conceive  of  a  army  on 
snow-shoes,  Avhether  it  were  large  or  small.  If  the  early  soldiers 
thus  provided,  kept  step,  their  march  must,  indeed,  have  been  ma- 
jestic, and  their  line  of  battle  impressive.  But  the  line  of  battle 
was  not  much  in  vogue  in  those  days,  when  it  became  necessary 
to  fight  an  enemy  that  did  not  stand  up  in  open  field,  but  sought 
every  shelter  and  protection,  and  where  it  was  necessary  for  each 
man  to  select  his  particular  tree,  rock,  or  other  protection,  behind 
which  to  fight,  and  pick  oft"  liis  unwary  foe.  The  inhabitants 
early  learned  to  fight  the  Indians,  and  later,  the  French  with  them, 
after  their  own  fashion.  Accordingly,  we  find  the  following  order 
passed  at  the  October  session  of  the  General  Court,  1704  : — ''  It  is 
ordered  and  enacted  by  this  Court ;  That  every  towne  and  plant- 
ation in  this  Colonic  shall  be  provided  with  a  number  of  snow- 
shoes  and  Indian  shoes,  no  less  than  one  pair  of  snow-shoes  with 
two  pair  of  Indian  shoes  for  every  thousand  pounds  in  the  list  of 
estate  in  such  towne,  which  snow-shoes  and  Indian  shoes  shall  be 
provided  at  or  before  the  tenth  day  of  December  next,  by  the 
selectmen  in  every  towne,  at  the  charge  of  the  Colonic,  and  shall 
be  kept  by  them  in  good  refjair  and  fit  for  service  when  there  may 


'  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Records,  1  vol.  462. 


872  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

be  occasion  to  make  use  of  them.  And  the  selectmen  of  the  sev- 
eral townes  who  shall  neglect  to  j)rovide  such  a  number  of  snow- 
shoes  and  Indian  shoes,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  repair  as  above- 
said,  shall  each  of  them  pay  a  fine  to  the  Colonic  treasurie,  the 
sume  of  ten  shillings."  ' 

In  these  early  days  of  frequent  alarm,  the  General  Court  found 
it  necessary,  in  order  to  avoid  the  too  frequent  meeting  of  their 
whole  body,  to  appoint  a  number  out  of  it  to  meet  as  occasion 
might  require,  for  instant  action  in  cases  of  emergency,  and  their 
orders  were  as  binding  as  though  enacted  by  the  full  Court.  In 
the  early  part  of  1707,  there  was  a  special  alarm  sounded  through- 
out New  England,  and  the  ever-vigilant  officers  of  tlie  frontier 
town  of  Woodbury,  were  quick  to  take  action,  for  the  protection 
of  this  most  north-western  town  in  the  colony. 

The  record  of  the  Council,  held  at  Hartford,  Feb.  6th  1706-7, 
runs  thus : — 

"A  letter  from  Deputy  Governour  Treat  to  the  Governour's 
Council,  and  also  a  letter  from  Colonel  Schuyler,  signifying  that  he 
was  informed  that  the  French  and  enemy  Indians,  were  preparing  to 
make  a  descent  upon  the  frontier  towns  of  New  England  ;  also  a 
letter  from  Capt.  John  Minor  and  Mr.  John  Sherman,  to  the  Dep- 
uty Governour,  signifying  their  suspicion  that  the  Pohtatuck  and 
Owiantonuck  Indiang,  were  invited  to  joyn  with  the  enemy;  as 
also  the  examination  of  the  Owiantonuck  and  Politatuck  Indians, 
before  his  honour  our  Deputy  GovernouV,  and  other  gentlemen, 
with  divers  other  writings  relating  to  the  matter,  with  the  opin- 
ion of  our  Deputy  Governour,  what  might  be  needful  to  be  done 
to  prevent  the  defection  of  those  Indians,  and  to  secure  their 
fidelitie,  and  for  the  preservation  of  the  small  frontier  towns. — 

Resolved  by  the  Hon"  the  Governour  and  Council,  in  order  to 
prevent  the  defection  ot  the  Pohtatuck  and  Owiantonuck  Indians 
to  the  common  enemy  and  to  secure  their  tidelitie,  that  order  be 
sent  to  Capt.  John  Minor  and  Mr.  John  Sherman,  of  Woodbury, 
•  with  all  convenient  speed  to  remove  the  said  Indians  down  to 
Fairfield  or  Stratford,  or  both,  as  should  be  judged  most  conven- 
ient. But  if,  by  reason  of  sickness  prevailing  among  them, 
they  cannot  at  present  be  removed,  then  to  take  two  of  their  prin- 
cipal persons,  and  convey  them  to  Fairfield,  there  to  be  kept  safely 
as  hostages,  to  secure  the  fidelity  of  those  that  remain  at  those 
inland  places." 

*  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Records,  ]  vol.  p.  486. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  8*73 

^'^  Resolved,  for  the  preservation  of  the  frontier  towns  of  Syras- 
bury,  W.aterbury,  Wood)bury  and  Danbury,  that  order  be  sent  to 
the  inhabitants  of  those  towns  to  provide  with  all  possible  speed 
a  sufficient  number  of  well  fortified  houses  for  the  safetie  of  them- 
selves and  families  in  their  respective  towns.  The  houses  for  for- 
tification to  be  appointed  by  the  vote. of  the  major  part  ot  the 
inhabitants  of  each  respective  town  assembled,  if  they  can  agree ; 
in  case  of  their  disagreement,  to  be  appointed  by  the  commission 
officers  of  the  town." 

"  Mesolved,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbury,  Waterbury  and 
Danbury,  do  every  of  them  maintain  a  good  scout  out  every  day 
from  their  respective  towns,  of  two  faithful  and  trusty  men,  to 
observe  the  motions  of  the  enemy.  The  scouts  in  Woodbury  and 
Waterbury  to  be  appointed  and  directed  by  the  commission  offi- 
cers in  each  town.  The  scouts  in  Symsbury  to  be  appointed  and 
directed  by  the  major  of  the  countie.  The  charges  of  the  several 
scouts  to  be  borne  by  the  countrie,  as  by  law  provided." ' 

Till  the  peace  of  1*713,  our  fathers  in  the  frontier  towns  Avere 
kept  in  a  state  of  continual  worry  from  fear  of  attack  and  am- 
buscade on  the  part  of  the  foreign  Indians,  and  their  allies,  the 
French,  who  had  early  imbibed  all  the  evil  and  irresponsible  modes 
of  warfare  and  revenge,  for  which  the  Indians  have  been  criticised 
by  all  historians.  There  was  a  constant  hurrying  forth  of  the 
''grand  scout"  and  the  town  scout,  watching,  fighting  and  forti- 
fying. Orders  were  continually  proclaimed  by  the  General  Court 
and  by  the  Council.  In  Oct.,  1707,  Woodbury  was  granted 
"seven  pounds,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  country  rate,  in  considera- 
tion of  their  charge  of  fortifying."  In  Oct.  1708,  the  Deputy 
Governor  was  ordered  to  ''  cause  to  be  erected  such  and  so  many 
garrisons  at  Woodbury,  Danbury  and  Oweantinuck  (New  Mil- 
ford)  and  support  them  with  men  and  provisions,  as  he  shall  judge 
necessary,  at  the  Colony's  charge.  Provided  there  shall  not  be 
any  other  than  two  garrisons  at  Woodbury,  and  one  at  Danbury, 
erected  at  the  Colony's  charge.''  At  the  same  session  it  was 
enacted  "  that  there  should  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  pub- 
lic treasury  of  this  Qolony,  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds,  in  pay  for  the 
bringing  up  and  maintaining  of  Dogs  in  the  Northern"  frontier 
towns  in  this  Colony,  to  hunt  after  the  Indian  enemy."  '  So  great 
was  the  fear  that  weapons  would  get  into  the  hands  of  hostile 

'  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Records,  2  vol.  15. 
^  Hoadley's  Conn.  Col.  Records,  2  vol.  p.  86. 

3 


874  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

Indians,  that  it  was  ordered  that  no  person  whatsoever,  upon  any 
pretence  whatsoever,  should  "furnislj,  lend  or  sell  to  any  of  our 
/Hcnf?  Indians,  any  gun,  for  any  time,  longer  or  shorter."  In  May, 
1709,  an  expedition  against  the  French  and  Indians,  for  tlie  reduc- 
tion of  Montreal  and  Quebec,  was  organized  by  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  The  latter  colony  fur- 
nished 350  men,  and  of  this  number,  Woodbury  sent  its  quota  of 
nine,  the  quota  of  Hartford,  in  the  same  expedition,  being  but 
twenty-two.  So  that  this  frontier  town,  besides  attending  to  its 
own  "  watching  and  warding,"  sent  nearly  one  half  as  many  men 
as  the  pioneer  town  and  capital  of  the  colony.  This  fact  shows 
the  importance  of  our  town  to  the  colony,  even  at  that  early  day. 
Two  of  this  quota  of  Woodbury,  viz : — Sergeant  Thomas  Skeel 
and  John  J.  Johnson,  died  a  few  days  after  their  return  home,  of 
disease  contracted  by  exposure  in  the  camp. 

Long  before  these  several  enactments,  requiring  the  erection  of 
fortifications  in  the  frontier  towns,  our  fathers  had  proceeded  to 
the  erection  of  defensive  structures,  called  pallasaded  houses. 
Indeed,  they  were  coeval  with  the  first  settlement  of  the  town. 
Houses  were  pallasaded  by  digging  a  ditch  around  them,  and 
placing  logs,  sharpened  at  the  top,  perpendicularly  in  the  ditch, 
and  firmly  securing  them  there.  The  logs  were  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  feet  in  height,  and,  with  a  strong,  well  fastened  gate,  fur- 
nished a  very  good  protection  against  a  sudden  attack  of  the  In- 
dians, with  such  weapons  as  they  had,  previous  to  obtaining  the 
arras  used  by  the  white  men.  Tiie  location  of  these  fortified 
houses  has  been  well  preserved.  Capt.  John  Minor's  house,  being 
the  first  one  completed,  and  built  of  logs,  was  located  six  or  eight 
rods  south  of  the  late  Erastus  Minor's  residence,  on  a  little  knoll. 
The  well  used  by  him  was  discovered  at  this  place  in  the  spring 
of  1869,  its  walls  being  still  in  pretty  good  preservation,  though 
it  had  been  covered  over  and  its  exact  location  unknown,  for 
more  than  one  hundred  years.  By  the  tradition  handed  down 
in  the  family,  the  pallasades  about  this  house  were  fifteen  feet  in 
height  above  tlie  surface  of  the  ground  after  being  set  in  place. 
The  fortified  house  of  Isaac  Judson  was  located,  in  Judson  Lane, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  highway  from  Nathan  Warner's  resi- 
dence. Another  pallasaded  house  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied 
by  the  dwelling  house  of  Horace  Hnrd,  in  West  Side.  A  later 
fortified  house,  occupied  by  one  of  the  lironsons,  in  Transylvania, 
is  still  in  existence.     It  had  a  look-out,  for  the  purpose  of  obser- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  875 

vation,  on  its  top,  by  the  chimney.  The  okl  Stoddard  Parsonage 
House,  built  in  ITOO,  now  occupied  by  George  W.  DeWolf,  and 
still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  was  the  most  thorouglily  for- 
tified house  in  the  plantation.  One  ot  the  bounds  in  a  deed  of 
land  next  north  of  this,  dated  Marcli  31,  1702,  was  laid  witliin  a 
foot  of  "y*  pallasadoes  in  Mr.  Stoddard's  fence." 

When,  in  1707,  the  order  came  to  fortify  the  town,  the  people, 
with  great  alacrity,  set  about  the  work  of  preparing  tlie  defences. 
They  repaired  the  fortified  houses  of  Capt.  John  Minor  and  Isaac 
Judson,  the  one  at  Horace  Hurd's,  and  the  Bronson  house,  in 
Transylvania.  They  also  strengtliened  the  defences  of  the  par- 
sonage. So  great  was  the  promptitude  and  zeal  displayed  by  the 
town,  that  the  General  Court  made  tliem  a  liberal  compensation, 
as  we  have  seen,  as  a  due  acknowledgment  of  their  services  for 
the  common  defence.  It  will  be  seen  by  one  of  the  preceding 
votes,  tliat  the  colonial  authoiities,  the  next  year,  furnished,  or 
paid  for  a  small  standing  garrison,  in  addition  to  the  alternate 
watch  furnished  by  the  inhabitants.  It  was  in  this  year  (1708) 
that  a  body  of  Indian  "  appeared  in  West  Side,  and  drove  the  peo- 
ple, by  their  sudden  and  formidable  appearance,  into  the  fortified 
houses.  What  was  tlieir  intention  in  coming  is  not  known,  as 
they  made  no  demonstration  beyond  showing  tliemselves.  If  the 
design  of  their  demonstration  had  been  a  hostile  one,  no  doubt 
the  watchfulness  of  the  little  garrison  and  of  the  people,  together 
with  the  strength  of  their  fortifications,  sliowed  them  it  was  bet- 
ter for  them  to  desist  and  depart,  which  they  accordingly  did.  It 
was  during  the  continuance  of  these  hostilities  that  Parson  Stod- 
dard is  related  to  have  killed  two  Indians  in  the  bushes  by  Cran- 
berry Pond,  near  his  house,  as  detailed  on  page  79.  During  the 
war  with  the  Maine  Indians,  in  1723  and  1724,  the  inhabitants 
were  obliged  to  keep  garrisons  for  protection  against  such  attacks, 
several  of  which  occurred.  Our  limits  had  by  this  time  extended, 
and  one  of  these  garrisons  was  located  on  the  Shepaug  river, 
where  six  men  were  stationed.  In  Oct.,  1 720,  the  General  Court 
resolved  to  station  five  men  under  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Warner,  for 
"  tlie  defence  of  the  village  of  Shepaug." 

It  will  have  been  seen,  by  the  acts  and  orders  quoted,  that  the 
military  officer  i  of  the  town  were  of  great  importance  and  author- 
ity. Their  powers,  subject  only  to  the  letter  of  their  instructions, 
were  autocratic.  Not  only  was  the  safety  of  the  town,  but,  in 
some  sense,  the  welfare  of  the  colony,  was  entrusted  to  their  cour- 


876  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

age  and  sagacity.  If  the  savages  drove  in  the  inliabitants  of  a 
frontier  town,  the  central  towns  were  placed  in  still  greater  jeop- 
ardy. Accordingly,  these  officers  were  held  in  high  esteem,  and 
military  offices,  even  of  the  grade  of  corporal,  were  sought  with 
great  avidity.  Only  the  most  deserving  could  obtain  any  military 
position,  even  the  lowest. 

During  all  these  troubled  years  of  Indian  wars  and  depreda- 
tions, the  first  forty  after  the  outbreak  cf  King  Philip's  war  in 
1675,  the  officei's  bearing  the  military  offices,  the  heavy  burdens 
and  responsibilities  of  the  times,  were,  first  and  foremost,  Capt, 
John  Minor,  who  held  the  office  more  than  thirty  years,  his  suc- 
cessor, Hon.  John  Sherman,  having  been  appointed  in  1711.  Jo- 
seph Judson  was  Minor's  1st  Lieutenant,  till  Israel  Curtiss  was 
appointed  to  the  place,  in  1690,  with  Samuel  Stiles  as  ensign. 
Stiles  was  promoted  1st  lieutenant  in  1705,  with  John  Mitchell 
as  ensign.  Titus  Hinman  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  1710,  and 
promoted  Captain  in  17 14.  Joseph  Minor  was  appointed  ensign 
in  1710,  lieutenant  1714,  with  John  Curtiss  as  ensign,  and  was  pro- 
moted rapidly,  for  those  days,  through  the  regular  grades,  till  he 
rose  to  the  dignity  and  importance  of  a  Colonel,  in  1728. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  a  large*  number  of  Indian  names  of 
local  objects  were  given.  They  are  beautiful  in  themselves,  and 
worthy  ot  the  preservation  which  they  have  received  for  their 
intrinsic  value,  as  proper  names.  But  there  is  a  still  greater  inte- 
rest attached  to  them  from  another  circumstance.  They  are  all 
words  of  the  language,  possessing  a  definition  and  meaning  ap- 
plicable to  the  objects  to  which  they  are  attached.  In  the  Eng- 
lish language,  such  is  not  the  case.  "  A  proper  nam§  has  been 
defined  to  be,  a  mere  mark  put  upon  an  individual,  and  of  which 
it  is  the  characteristic  property,  to  be  destitute  of  meaning.  But 
the  "Indian  languages"  tolerated  no  such  'mere  marks.'  Every 
name  described  the  locality  to  which  it  is  affixed.  The  description 
was  sometimes  topographical  •  sometimes  historical,  preserving 
the  memory  of  a  battle,  a  feast,  the  dwelling  place  of  a  great 
sachem,  or  the  like;  sometimes  it  indicates  one  of  the  natural 
products  of  the  place,  or  of  the  animals  which  resorted  to  it ;  oc- 
casionally, it^  positio7i  or  direction  from  a  place  previously  known, 
or  from  the  territory  of  the  nation  by  which  the  name  was  given."  ' 
So  that  each  of  the  aboriginal  names  of  places  in  these  regions 

'  Vol.  2  CoUectioDB  of  Conn.  Hist.  Soc. 


HISTOKY      OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  877 

had  a  definite  meaning,  such  as  seemed  called  for  by  the  object 
named,  or  the  circumstances  surrounding  it.  As  the  Indians  had 
no  written  language,  and  our  fathers  had  to  learn  the  names  by  the 
sounds,  and  represent  them  by  our  characters,  each  according  to 
his  own  fancy,  or  the  way  in  whicli  he  caught  the  sound,  and  as  the 
same  words  sounded  difterently  to  different  ears,  nobody  at  that 
day  caring  what  they  meant,  it  is  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to 
give  even  an  approximate  translation  to  the  Indian  names  still 
preserved  in  our  territory.  But  after  giving  the  known  meaning 
of  certain  words,  sounds,  or  particles,  we  shall  hazard  a  transla- 
tion of  our  local  names,  which  may  at  least  suffice  to  engage  our 
curiosity  and  interest,  till  some  more  authoritative  interpretation 
shall  come  to  hand. 

OiiKE,  AUKE,  signifies  Land,  Place,  country. 

TuK,  denotes  a  river,  whose  waters  are  driven  in  waves  by 
tides  and  rivers.  This  may  be  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  river 
Naugatuck,  and  others,  though  not  tidal  rivers. 

Paug,  Pog,  Bog,  denote  water  at  rest.  But  in  New  England, 
in  some  instances,  it  is  applied  to  brooks,  rivers,  and  running 
streams. 

Amaug,  denotes  a  fishing  place. 

QussuK,  means  rock,  stone,  or  stony. 

PoHQui,  means  open,  clear,  and  in  connection  with — 

OiiKE,  cleared  land,  or  an  open  space. 

Pahke,  means  clear,  pure. 

Pemi,  Peeme,  means  sloping,  aslant,  twisted. 

From  these  particles,  and  others,  out  of  which  the  local  names 
of  our  territory  were  constructed,  as  well  as  from  local  tradition, 
we  may,  perhaps,  translate  our  Indian  appellations  as  follows  : — 

PoMPERAUG,  the  great  or  noble  river. 

SiiEPAUG,  the  rocky  river. 

Paquebaug,  the  clear  or  pure  water  place. 

Weraumaitu,  the  crooked  fishing  place. 

QuASSAPAUG,  the  beautiful  clear  water,  or  rocky  pond. 

KissEWAUG,  the  laughing  water. 

QuANOPAUG,  the  roaring  water. 

NoNNEWAUG,  the  fresh  pond  or  fresh  fishing  place. 

Weekeepee.viee,  or  Wecuppeme,  the  twisted  river. 

Orenaug,  the  sunny  place. 

Such  were  the  names  given  to  the  rivers,  hills,  and  lakes  of  the 
territory  we  now  inhabit.     Such-  were  the  appellations  so  fitly  ap- 


878 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


plied  by  the  uncultivated  mind  of  the  children  of  nature.  Wild 
rovers  of  Pootatuck,  Wyantenuck,  Pomperaug,  Weraumaug,  Ban- 
tam ;  ye  have  passed  away !  Your  lights  have  gone  out  on  the 
shore  !  Your  thin  smokes  no  longer  curl  faintly  amid  the  thick 
woods !  Well  do  we  love  your  good  old  Indian  names,  and 
would  that  more  of  them,  almost  the  sole  relic  of  your  once  pow- 
erful people,  had  bepn  adopted  by  our  fathers  to  designate  the 
places  where  your    lights  went  out  forever! 

\  A  few  relics  of  the  departed  race  are  occa- 

/  \  sionally  found, to  tell  us  that  here  a  former  peo- 

*        i;,';  \         pie  flourished,  scarce  sufficient,  so  transient  is 

their  nature,  to  arrest  our  attention.  Arrow- 
heads, stone-chisels,  hatchets,  -axes,  gouges, 
knives,  mortars  and  pestles,  are  found  in  the 
ancient  territory.  One  of  these  localities  is 
on  Mr.  Anthony  Strong's  land,  where  they  had 
a  hunting  village,  and  another  very  prolific  one 
on  Mr.  Frederick  M.  Minor's  land,  in  Transyl- 
vania, a  few  rods  in  the  rear  of  his  dwelling 
house.  All  these  are  more  particularly  descri- 
bed on  page  109.  Some  very  perfect  speci- 
mens of  these  relics  are  now  the  property  of 
the  author.  He  has  a  large  quantity  of  arrow- 
heads, of  various  sizes,  of  flint,  quartz,  and  oth- 
er kinds  of  stone,  showing  a  widely  difit'rent  de- 
[ChiMi,  M  size.]  gree  of  skill  in  the  worknianship.  He  has  a  chisel 
from  near  Frederick  S.  Atwood's,  another  from  near  Stephen  S. 
Galpin's,  and  a  very  excellent  specimen  from  near  F.  M.  Minor's ;  a 


%: 


[Knife,  14  size.] 

slate  knife  for  skinning  wild    animals;  a  very   fine  specimen  of 
gouge   from    near   Quassapaug  lake;    a   slale    chopping-knife,  or 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 


879 


*' cleavei',"  found   at  Jack's   Brook,  in   Roxbury,  in    1852;  a  very 
skillfully   wrought    tomahawk,  made  of  serpentine  rock,   found 


[Gouge,  1-4  size. 


[PesUe,  1-4  size.] 

while  digging  a  ditch,  near  tlie  factory  of  the  American  Shear  Co.. 
at  Ilotchkissville ;  and  an  Indian  axe,  of  the  size  of  a  common  axe 
of  the  present  day,  only  more  blunt.  This  was  also  made  of  ser- 
pentine rock,  and  may  be  said  to  have  been  imported  by  the  In- 
dians, if  such  a  word  is  allowable  in  this  connection,  as  there  is  no 
rock  of  this  kind  in  all  these  regions.  But  by  far  the  most  curious 
aiul  interesting  relic  that  has  been  found  in  the  ancient  territory,  is 


880 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOUBUKY. 


also  in  the  writer's  possession. 
It  is  710  less  than  an  Indian  idol 
or  charm,  artistically  cut  from  a 
piece  of  rock,  which  appears  to 
have  been  originally  a  piece  of 
petrified  walnut  wood.  It  was 
found  in  1800,  on  the  lot  near  F. 
M  .  Minor's,  before  mentioned  as 
the  place  where  the  most  perfect 
specimens  have  been  found.  It 
was  discovered  while  hoeing  corn. 
It  evidently  represents  some  ani- 
mal, but  it  is  difficult  to  divine 
what.  It  has  a  pretty  well  form- 
ed head  and  body,  with  large, 
round  ears,  and  holes  for  the  in- 
sertion of  four  legs,  but  the  latter 
are  missing.  It  looks  as  much 
like  the  representative  of  an 
enormous  lizard,  as  any  thing.  It 
can  hardly  represent  the  Goo( 
Spirit.  It  is  not  of  a  sufficiently 
attractive  conception  for  that.  It 
may,  therefore,  be  presumed  to 
be  the  likeness  of  Ilobbamocko,  or 
their  Spirit  of  Evil,  whom  they 
feared,  and  worshijjped  more  as- 
siduously than  the  Good  Spirit, 
whom  they  supposed  lived  quite 
at  his  ease,  caring  little  for  the 
actions  or  affairs  of  his  red  child- 
ren, after  having  given  them  their 
corn,  beans  and  squash,  and  taught 
them  the  mode  of  their  cultiva- 
tion. Some  of  these  relics  our 
artist  has  endeavored  to  make 
plain  to  the  "  mind's  eye." 

It  is  not  known  when  Pompe-  a 
raug,  from  whom  this  valley  was  .- 
named,  became  sachem  of  the  Po-  e 
otatucks.     At  the  date  of  the  set-  g 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 


881 


tleraent   of  Milford   and  Stratford,  in   1639,    he    was  a   chief  of 
note  amono-  the   western   clans,  his  tribe   at  that  time  being  the 


[Tomahawk,  1-4  size.] 

most  considerable  of  them,  and  had  a  strong  fortress  on  Castle 
Kock,  whence  the  name  to  this  day.  His  reign  was  a  long  one, 
being  succeeded  by  Aquiomp,  in  1662.  Although  the  principal 
seat  of  this  tribe  was  at  the  Pootatuck  Village,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Housatonic,  about  two  miles  above  Bennett's  Bridge? 
in  the  present  town  of  Southbury,  yet,  from  some  cause,  he  chose 
to  be  buried  by  a  large  rock,  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  street, 
just  south  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith's  carriage  house.  The  Indians 
always  laid  out  a  trail,  or  path,  from  village  to  village,  by  the 
graves  of  their  chieftains. 


[Pomperaug's  Grave,] 

The  Indians  had  a  very  beautifid  custom  of  honoring  their  dead 
chiefs,  when  laid  in  their  last  repose.  As  each  Indian,  whether  he 
was  on  his  hunting  expeditions  or  the  war-path,  passed  the  grave 


882  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     AVOODBURY. 

of  his  lionored  chief,  he  reverently  cast  thereon  a  small  stone,  se- 
lected for  that  purpose,  in  token  of  liis  respect  and  remembrance. 
At  tliG  first  settlement  of  tlie  town,  a  large  heap  of  stones  had 
accumulated  in  this  way,  and  a  considerable  quantity  yet  remain, 
after  the  tillage  of  the  field  in  its  vicinity  for  the  long  period  of 
two  hundred  years.  These  stones,  thus  accumulated,  \vere  of 
majiy  different  varieties,  a  large  number  of  them  not  to  be  found 
in  this  valley,  nor  within  long  distances,  showing  clearly,  that 
there  was  a  purpose  in  their  accumulation,  and  verifying  the  "  tra- 
dition of  the  elders,"  that  they  were  gathered  there  as  a  monument 
of  respect  and  honor  to  a  buried  chieftain.  There  can  be  uo  doubt 
of  the  correctness  of  the  statement  as  to  where  Pompei-aug,  Xon- 
newaug,  Wecuppemee  and  Mauquash  were  buried.  Pomperaug  had 
been  dead  only  about  ten  or  twelve  years,  when  our  fxthers  came 
hither.  Nothing  is  more  natural  than  that  his  grave  should  be 
pointed  out  to  them.  Their  first  church  was  built  within  eight 
rods  of  the  place,  and  the  first  minister's  house  was  not  more  than 
twenty  rods  away.  Nonnewaug  lived  for  more  than  forty  years 
after  the  first  "settlement,  and  Mauquash,  the  last  sachem  of  the 
Pootatucks,  died  about  1758. 

The  latter  was  buried  under  an  apple-tree,  in  the  "old  chimney 
lot,"  so-called,  now  belonging  to  Amos  Mitchell,  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  old  "Eleazur  Mitchell  House,"  and  a  short  distance 
from  the  elevated  ])lain  on  which  stood  the  principal  and  last  vil- 
lage of  the  Pootatucks  in  our  territory,  the  last  sad  remnant  of 
them  having  removed  in  1759,  and  joined  the  Scaticooks  at  Kent, 
where  there  are  still  a  few  individuals,  now  (1871)  remaining,  on 
their  reservations  in  the  mountains,  under  the  care  of  a  white 
overseer,  appointed  by  the  State.  There  w^as  still  quite  a  mound 
remaining  over  him  a  few  years  since.  His  burial  place  is  near 
"  Tummaseete's  old  orchard."  There  are  a  dozen  of  these  trees 
still  remaining,  seeming  to  flourish  quite  well,  there  being  apples 
now  (June  1871)  growing  on  them.  Several  of  them  are  more 
than  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  were  disposed  around  the  area  or 
plaza  of  the  village  of  wigwams.  This  orchard  was  called  an 
"  old  orchard,"  in  several  conveyances,  dated  more  than  1 50  years 
ago,  and  was  no  doubt  planted  by  the  Indians  sooti  after  the  ad- 
vent of  the  whites  within  the  bounds  of  Stratibrd,  in  1639. 

It  is  not  known  when  the  death  of  Wecuppemee  occurred.  He 
was  a  Avitness  to  a  deed  (p.  24)  dated  July  14th,  1073,  His  mark, 
or  totem,  was  the  representation  of  a  snake — a  pretty  good  imi- 
tation— and  his  name  was  spelled  Wecuppemee,  instead  of  Wee- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  883 

cu])pcenicc,  the  modern  spelling.  The  former  mode  of  spelling, 
used  by  Capt.  John  Minor  in  this  deed,  is  believed  to  be  the  cor- 
rect one,  because  he  so  spelled  it,  and  because  it  truly  rcin-esents 
the  sound  of  the  name  as  uttered  to  this  day.  Wecuppemee  was 
buried  on  a  little  knoll,  near  the  river  called  by  his  name,  a  little 
west  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Willis  Lambert.  Several  small 
mounds  mark  the  spot  to  this  day.  In  the  adjoining  meadow, 
numerous  and  quite  perfect  flint  and  quartz  arrow-heads  are  plow- 
ed up  yearly.  The  same  is  true  of  a  meadow  near  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Theodore  Judson,  in  Harle  Plain,  a  mile  or  two  distant. 

The  Indians  were  more  particular  than  our  fathers  in  the  selec- 
tion of  their  burial  places.  They  always  selected  the  most  attrac- 
tive places  for  their  villages  and  burial  grounds,  and  took  great 
pains  in  arraying  the  corpse  and  preparing  it  for  the  necessities  of 
the  long  journey  before  the  deceased,  on  his  way  to  the  happy 
"  hunting  grounds."  This  chief,  as  was  often  the  case,  was  buried 
at  a  place  removed  from  the  beautiful  burial  place  on  the  plain  be- 
low, by  the  murmuring  waters  of  the  Housatonic.  From  the  vil- 
lage above,  and  the  spot  Mhere  the  sachem  was  buried,  is  obtained 
some  of  the  most  delightful  views,  south  and  west.  A  series  of 
hills,  with  vales  between,  and  now  and  then  a  cultivated  field,  as 
in  the  early  days,  rise,  one  above  another,  in  every  direction,  mel- 
lowed and  softened  by  the  varying  tints  of  the  ever-changing  sky. 
Below,  the  noble  river  ripples  on,  in  haste  to  join  the  ocean-tides. 
Uncultivated  as  was  the  savage,  he  had  a  mind  to  appreciate  the 
loveliness  of  nature,  and  an  eye  to  select  the  most  roniantic  places. 
Said  a  young  lady,  while  contemplating  this  enchanting  scene,  on 
a  recent  occasion,  "  the  Indians  found  out  all  the  most  beautiful 
places."  None  need  wonder  that  the  poor  native  left  this  most 
lovely  spot  with  sad,  lingering  stejis,  to  make  room  for  the  steady 
advance,  of  the  pale  face.  , 

Nonnewaug,  the  last  chief  of  the  clan  of  his  name,  conveyed 
to  our  fathers  the  territory  of  Nonnewaug,  belonging  to  his  peo- 
ple, in  1700,  and  joined  with  others  in  a  confirmatory  deed  in  1'706. 
Though  on  friendly  terms  with  his  white  neighbors,  he  had  till 
then  sternly  resisted  all  advances  towards  the  purchase  of  his 
lands,  yet  he  now  yielded,  giving  as  one  reason  for  so  doing: — 

"  Y«  desire  y  '  is  w  *''  in  us  of  a  friendly  correspondency  w  *''  y°  English  in- 
habitants of  Woodbury." 

After  the  sale  of  all  his  possessions,  reserving  only  the  right  to 
fish  and  hunt  over  all  of  the  granted  lands,  his  haughty  spirit 
seems  to  have  become  humbled,  and  his  ambition  after  any  won':-- 


884 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      "WOODBURY, 


object  to  have  been  lost.  It  could  not  be  otherwise  nnder  the 
disheartening  prospects  before  him — the  waning  of  his  race — the 
loss  of  his  wealth  and  hopes  in  life.  The  Indians  now  remaining 
within  the  territory,  after  this  sale,  became  fully  amenable,  with 
other  inhabitants,  to  the  laws  of  the  whites.  Without  other  so- 
lace, tlie  dispossessed  sachem  occasionally  wandered  to  the  village, 
and  partook  too  freely  of  the  "  fire-water,"  which  was  even,  in 
those  early  days  of  apple-orchards,  to  be  obtained,  despite  a  some- 
what rigorous  law  against  the  vending,  or  drinking  of  intoxica- 
ting liquors.  On  one  occasion,  being  '"  overtaken  in  a  fault  "of 
this  kind,  he  was  arrested  therefor,  and  taken  before  a  magistrate. 
But  he  was  so  thoroughly  intoxicated,  his  trial  was  put  oif  till  the 
next  morning.  He  was  then  brought  before  the  Court  for  exam- 
ination. The  magistrate  informed  him,  that  all  the  plea  he  could 
induce  him  to  make  the  preceding  day  was,  "  Your  Honor's  very 
wise,  very  wise."  "  Is  that  so  ?"  said  the  dilapidated  chief,  in  true 
Yankee  phrase  of  the  modern  stamp.  The  magistrate  assured 
him  he  so  said.  ''Then,"  responded  the  fallen  sagamore,  "  I  must 
have  been  drunk,  very  drunk!''''  Tliis  was  a  somewhat  unique 
way  of  pleading  guilty,  and  the  stern  tribunal  was  so  much  pleas- 
ed with  the  witty  retort,  that  he  dismissed  him  with  an  injunction 
to  "  sin  no  more." 

And  Nonnewaug,  too,  at  the  appointed  time,  slept  with  his  fa- 
thers, and  the  small  remnant  of  his  people  buried  him  in  the  beau- 
tiful plain  at  the  foot  of  the  musical  falls  that  are  called  by  his 
name,  where  his  fathers'  people  had  been  buried  before  him,  true 
to  their  instinct  of  selecting  the  most  beautiful  places  by  the  river- 
side, by  the  silvery  cascade,  or  in  the  verdant  plain.  An  apple- 
tree  was  planted  at  the  head  of  his  grave, 
which  still  stands  there,  the  faithful  guar- 
dian of  tiie  ash^s  that  repose  beneath  its 
grateful  shade.  It  is  a  venerable  tree, 
some  150  years  old,  but  does  not  bear  the 
marks  of  so  great  an  age,  though  there 
are  several  decayed  places  in  it,  so  per- 
fectly shown  in  the  accompanying  cut  of 
-  ^  ^  "■^"^"'^  Y^x::*  ''  the  grave  and  tree,  taken  by  the  artist  on 
«i^%^  'W;/%  "^  ^^^^  ''POt  during  the  last  summer.  When 
"v  ,'',  '     .  the  writer  first  visited  it,  twenty 

-N^  \  '  -  years  ago,  there  was  a  large  hillock, 

~^  or   mound,  raised   over  the  gr.ave, 

^.,  which  remained,  distinguishing  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  885 

sachem's,  by  its  size,  from  the  other  graves  around  liim,  till  a  few 
years  ago,  when  the  present  owner  of  the  field  committed  the 
sacrilege  of  plowing  it  down,  saying  he  was  not  going  to  have 
such  an  old  "hummock  in  his  field,"  much  to  the  regret  of  every 
true  antiquarian,  and  lover  of  ancient  things.  The  mound  thus 
destroyed  was  some  ten  feet  long,  six  feet  wide,  and  four  feet 
high,  having  been  gradually  formed,  in  the  same  way,  as  in  the 
case  of  Pomperaug's  grave. 

Two  events  will  ever  render  the  vale  of  Bethel  Rock  memora- 
ble ;  one,  because  it  was  the  meeting  place,  or  Bethel  of  our  fo- 
thers  during  the  first  few  years  after  the  settlement ;.  and  the  other, 
because  it  is  the 'locality  of  a  sorrowful  legend  connected  with  it* 
It  is  a  tale  of  sad  romance,  told  and  believed  by  many  from  the 
earlier  days  of  the  town.  The  rock  is  situated  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Orenaug  cliffs,  and  is  the  point  of  much  attraction.  Beneath 
the  overhanging  crag,  a  hundred  feet  below,  in  the  deep  dell,  is 
space  sufiicient  to  screen  two  hundred  people  from  storm,  and 
danger  from  a  lurking  foe.  At  its  woody  top  is  a  delightful 
place,  to  which  we  may  wander  through  the  pine  grove,  at  twi- 
light hour,  for  contemplation,  rest,  peace.  In  the  rapture  of  the 
moment,  well  may  w^e  exclaim, — 

"  How  sweet  the  moonlight  sleeps  upon  this  bank. 
Here  will  we  sit,  and  let  the  sounds  of  music 
Creep  in  our  ears ;  soft  stillness,  and  the  night 
Become  the  touches  of  sweet  harmony  ! " 

This  legend  of  Bethel  Rock  is  somewhat  minutely  told,  and  the 
reasons  given  why  it  may  receive  credence,  on  page  90,  and  is 
alluded  to  again  here,  to  introduce  the  vivid  conception  of  the 
scene  by  the  artist,  who  has  visited  the  })lace  since  the  former  ac- 
count was  Avriiten.  The  picture  gives  a  very  accurate  view  of 
the  scene  as  related  in  the  universally  received  legend.  Referring 
to  the  former  account  for  full  details,  a  brief  statement  only  will 
be  inserted  here. 

Some  ten  years  after  the  return  of  the  inhabitants  to  Woodlniry 
from  their  enforced  residence  at  Stratford  during  King  Pliilip's 
w  ar,  it  is  related  that  Waraumaukeag,  a  young  Pootatuck  sachem, 
fell  in  love  with  Sarah  Walker,  a  young  girl  of  seventeen  years, 
a  niece  of  the  venerable  pastor,  who  was  in  Woodbury  on  a  visit 
to  her  uncle,  of  some  months  duration.  He  was  a  youth  of  mnnlv 
proportions,  of  graceful  figure,  and  finely  moulded  limbs.  He  was 
far  in  advance  of  the  other  Indians  in  intelligence  and  in  all  the 
manly  virtues,  and,  from  their  return  from  Stratford,  an  unwaver- 


886 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


ing  friend  of  the  white  settlers.     It  seemed  to  be  liis  and)ition  to 
adopt  their  liabits  and  costumes,  and  in  tlie  end,  as  it  turned  out, 

he  sought  matrimonial  con- 
nexion witli  them,  aiming 
to  bind  in  'firm  alliance  and 
mutual  good  offices  and  in- 
terests, the  two  races, 
whose    lots    in    life    then 


'I  seemed  cast  together.  He 
erected  for  himself  a  cabin 
of  unusual  elegance,  and 
adopted  tnany  of  the  arts 
of  civilization.  He  sought 
the  acquaintance  of  the  old 
pastoi-,  and  of  the  other 
leading  citizens,  and  seem- 
ed fully  inaugurated  in  the 
ways  of  civilized  life. 

The  young  lady  was  the 
possessor  of  great  personal 
beauty,  and  womanly  at- 
tractions. She  seemed  the 
"  rare  ideal  of  feminine  love- 
liness, such  as  often  haunts 
the  dreams  of  tlie  imagin- 
ative and  young,  but  sel- 


doni  meets  us  in  the  walks  ot  hie."    felie  wan  the;  type  .-t  innv^concc 
and   purity.     She  was  possessed  of  unaffected  piety,  and  loved  to 


II  I  S  T  O  K  Y      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  8£7 

wander  in  tlio  beautiful  sylvan  i-etreats  in  the  vicinity  of  tlie  vil- 
lac^e.  For  tlie  quiet  contemplation  of  nature,  and  private  devo- 
tion, she  often,  at  sunset  hour,  retired  by  the  shady  path  from 
*her  uncle's  house  to  the  over-hanging,  mossy  cliff,  of  Bethel 
Rock.  It  was  natural  for  the  romantic  and  religious  child  to 
wander  to  the  place  of  prayer  fi-equented  by  all  the  people,  at 
stated  intervals. 

Warauinaukeag  was  often  at  the  pastor's  house,  and  became 
more  and  more  enamored  of  his  niece.  Not  yet  having  forgotten  the 
aboriginal  custom  of  wooing,  he  brought  many  a  rich  and  rare 
present,  and  lay  at  her  feet  to  win  her  favor,  but  she,  understand- 
ing their  import,  and  being  unimpressed  by  the  fervor  of  his  pas- 
sion, declined  them  all,  with  dignity, and  kindness,  desiring  to  give 
no  offence,  to  arouse  his  anger.  Meeting  with  no  success  with 
the  maiden,  he  pressed  his  suit  upon  the  uncle,  desiring  his  good 
oflices  on  his  behalf.  The  old  pastor  tried  to  show  him  the  impro- 
priety of  the  alliance,  and  declined  to  influence  his  niece  to  accept 
the  marriage  proposed.  Yet  he  did  this  with  great  kindness,  as 
well  as  firmness,  for  it  was  a  matter  of  first  im|)ortance  to  all  the 
settlers,  to  be  on  friendly  and  intimate  terms  with  the  Indians. 

Thus  failing,  on  all  hands,  in  the  prusecution  of  his  suit,  he  de- 
parted, and  was  seen  no  more  at  the  parsonage.  Ilis  pi'oud  na- 
ture could  not  endure  the  slight  put  upon  him,  the  leader  of  the 
red  men.  No  offer  of  violence  followed,  and  the  pastor's  house- 
hold was  for  some  time  in  doubt  as  to  what  might  result  from  this 
imforluuate  attachment  on  the  Indian's  part,  though  revenge  was 
feared.  One  deliglitful  evening  in  the  gorgeous  "  Indian  summer," 
the  young  girl  left  her  home,  as  usual,  for  Bethel  Rock,  just  as  the 
'•sun  set  behind  the  western  hills,"  to  engage  in  her  eveuing  med- 
itation and  devotion,  but  failed  to  retm-n.  Next  morning,  after 
diligent  search  had  been  made,  her  dead  body  was  discovered,  at 
the  foot  of  tlie  rock,  mangled  by  the  fall,  but  with  her  limbs  de- 
cently arianged,  her  hands  folded,  and  her  clothing  wrapped 
carefully  about  her.  Beside  her  was  t^e  lifeless  body  of  the 
chieitaiu,  evidently  lying  just  as  he  had  fallen  from  the  cliff.  It 
is  supposed  that  after  she  reached  the  tup  of  the  rock,  she  saw 
Waram.vukeag,  who  had  followed  her  to  tliis  retreat,  and,  sup- 
posing him  still  angry,  and  coining  to  wreak  his  vengeance,  started 
back  iu  al;irm,  falling  from  the  great  height  upon  the  jagged  rocks 
below,  and   was  killed  by  the  fall.     By  a  secure  path   the  chiet 


888  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUEY. 

reached  the  scene  below,  and  finding  lici'  dead,  lie  adjusted  the 
form  and  dress  in  a  comely  way,  re-ascended  the  rock,  and  sought 
death  by  casting  hini.self  from  the  dizzy  height  upon  the  rocks 
by  her  side,  thus  atoning  his  responsibility  for  the  occurrence  by, 
sharing  her  fate. 

Let  us  pause  a  moment  to  drop  a  tear  over  the  obliterated 
graves  of  a  buried  race.  Tliey  are  all  gone  to  meet  the  Great 
Spirit,  and,  perhaps,  as  they  desired  while  in  life,  to  revel  in 
"happy  hunting  grounds."  By  the  romantic  falls  of  his  own 
ever-murmuring  stream,  is  the  grave  of  Nonnewaug.  In  his  own 
orchard,  at  Pootatuck,  near  the  noble  Housaton'ic,  rest  the  re- 
mains of  Tummaseete.  Within  the  fertile  meadows  of  Wecup- 
pemee  reposes  the  brave  of  that  name,  in  his  last  quiet  sleep. 
And  thei-e,  by  that  rock,  in  our  very  midst,  they  buried  Pompe- 
raug,  the  renowned  chief  of  our  valley,  who  gave  his  name  to 
our  beautiful  meandering  river.  There,  too,  shall  remain,  perhaps 
for  ages  yet,  the  little  hillock  of  stones  which  now  mark  the  spot, 
dropped  there,  one  by  one,  with  a  tear  to  each,  by  his  remaining 
braves,  as  they  sadly  passed  the  halloAved  spot  on  their  hunting 
and  fishing  excursions.  The  children  of  the  forest  have  ])asscd 
away — faded  from  the  view,  and  abnost  from  the  memory  of  man. 
In  their  Ioav,  unnoticed  and  unknown  graves,  they  sleep  well ! 
Their  existence  has  become  a  matter  of  antiquarian  research,  and 
oft  told  legend.     Their  history  has  been  written  in  desolation. 

"The  moon,  ractliiiiks,  looks  with  a  watery  eye, 
And  wht-n  she  weeps,  weeps  every  little  flower." 

^Ye  may  look  on  this  sad  history  with  sympathy,  for,  in  the 
"fullness  of  time,"  a  similar  fate  will  be  ours.  Our  nation  will 
leave  more  enduring  "foot-prints  on  the  sands  of  time,"  but  with 
all  that  is  noble  and  hopeful,  it  may  not  last  forever.  As  individ- 
uals, at  least,  our  heads  shall  lie  as  low  in  the  dust  as  theirs. 
"  Generation  after  generation,"  says  an  eloquent  writer,  "  has  felt  as 
we  now  feel,  and  theii*  lives  were  as  active  as  our  own.  They 
passed  away  like  a  vapor,  while  nature  wore  the  same  aspect  of 
beauty,  as  now,  and  loveliness  crowned  the  hour.  The  heavens 
shall  be  as  bright  over  our  graves,  as  they  are  now-  around  our  paths. 
The  world  will  have  the  same  attractions  for  our  offspring  yet  un- 
born, as  she  had  for  us  when  children.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  all 
will  have  happened.     The  throbbing  heart  will  be  at  rest.      Our 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


889 


funeral  will  wind  its  way,  and  prayers  will  be  said ;  and  then  we 
shall  be  left  alone,  in  silence  and  darkness  for  the  worms ;  and,  it 
may  be,  a  short  time  we  shall  be  spoken  of,  but  the  things  of  life 
will  creep  in,  and  our  names  will  soon  be  forgotten.  Days  will 
continue  to  move  on,  and  laughter  and  song  will  be  heard  in  the 
room  in  which  we  died;  and  the  eyes  that  mourned  for  us  will  be 
dried,  and  glisten  again  for  joy ;  and  even  our  children  will  cease 
to  think  of  us,  and  will  not  remember  to  lisp  our  names." 


CHAPTER    III 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 


General    ecclesiastical  review  ;  The    "  Stratford  view  "  of  the  Woodbury 
Church  organization;  The  "  Woodbury  View"  re-stated,  re  affirmkd,  and 

PROVED, 

LTHOUGII  the  l)istory  of  the  immediate 
causes  tliat  led  to  the  settlement  of  Wood- 
bury, were  very  fully  set  forth  in  the  first  vol- 
ume, yet  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to 
recur  to  the  subject  again,  carefully  review 
tlie  evidence  in  the  case,  and  see  if  any  er- 
ror has  intervened,  or  any  inaccurate  infer- 
ence has  been  drawn.  Almost  immediately 
after  the  former  edition  was  issued  from 
the  press,  thf  author  learned  that  his  state- 
ments and  conelusiuns  in  relation  to  the 
Church  difficulties  at  Stratford,  were  not  deemed  to  be  entirely  cor- 
rect by  our  good  friends  of  the  First  Church  in  tliat  town,  and,  on 
several  public  occasions,  allusions  have  been  made  to  the  matter, 
and  the  opposite  opinion  has  come  to  be  known  as  the  "Stratford 
View"  of  the  church  difficulties  which  led  to  tlie  division  of  the 
church,  and  the  settlement  of  Woodbury. 

It  was  stated  in  the  first  volume,  p.  32,  that  "  the  settlement  of 
Woodbury  was  tlie  result  of  diilerence  in  religious  opinions  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Stratford.  The  first  ministers  of  the  colony 
being  dead,  and  a  new  generation  coming  on  the  stage  of  action, 
alterations  in  respect  to  church  membership,  baptism,  and  the  mode 
of  church  discipline,  were  imi>eratively  demanded.  Great  dissen- 
sions on  these  subjects  accordingly  arose  in  the  churches  at  Hart- 
ford, Windsor,  Wethersfield,  and  oilier  places,  and  continued  in 
various  parts  of  the  colony  from  1660  to  about  lOTO.  The  discord 
not  only  afl'ectedall  the  churches, but  it  "insinuated  itself  into  all 
the  affairs  of  societies,  towns,  and  tlie  whole  commonweallli." 
About  1064,  while  these  contentions  were  going  on  at  Uartford, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY-  891 

and  otlier  places,  the  people  at  Stratford  fell  into  the  same  un- 
happy divisions  and  controversies  in  regard  to  the  same  sub- 
jects." And  on  page  113,  it  was  stated,  that  the  "principal  cause 
of  difterenee  was  in  regard  to  church  membership,  baptism,  and 
the  discipline  of  church  members.  What  the  precise  nature  of 
the  controversy  was  could  not  be  distinctly  understood  by  the 
most  learned  and  pious,  even  of  that  day.  It  was  the  same  as 
that  which  existed  at  Hartford,  Wethersfield,  and  other  places. 
One  would  say,  at  this  distance  of  time,  that  the  question  to  be 
decided  was,  whether  the  "Half-way  Covenant  Practice  should  be 
introduced  into  the  church,  or  not.  Upon  this  question,  there 
was  the  most  grave  diflerence  of  opinion  among  the  best  and  most 
distinguished  men  in  New  England." 

It  is  not  denied  that  the  foregoing,  taken  together,  is  a  substan- 
tially accurate  statement  of  the  differences  among  the  people  of 
Stratford  at  that  date.  But  the  writer,  from  all  the  evidence  then 
at  his  control,  and  brought  to  his  attention,  inferi-ed,  that  the 
"  Half-way  Covenant"  doctrine  was  the  principal  cause  of  the 
dissension,  and  his  history  of  the  matter  proceeded  on  that  theory. 
The  "Stratford  View"  docs  not  admit  that  the  "Half-way  Cove- 
nant "  practice  had  much,  if  any  thing,  to  do  with  the  controversy, 
for  two  reasons.  First,  because  that  system  was  practiced  in  the 
first  church,  from  the  earliest  records  of  the  church  now  extant, 
till  after  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  to\v*n 
was  planted  in  1039,  and  the  church  was  no  doubt  coeval  in  date, 
as  all  the  early  towns  had  an  ecclesiastical  foundation.  It  was  the 
first  thing  attended  to.  But,  unfortunately,  the  records  of  the 
church  were  burned  in  the  meeting-house,  which  was  struck  by 
lightning,  in  1V85,  and  all  the  records  previous  to  16*75  were  de- 
stroyed, while  the  records  of  the  towni,  to  the  year  1050,  are  also 
not  extant.  This  is  a  great  misfortune,  for  if  the  records  of  the 
church  from  its  foundation  had  been  preserved,  the  question  now 
under  discussion  could  not  have  arisen.  So  far  as  the  history  of 
the  Second  church  of  Stratford,  now  the  First  church  of  Wood- 
bury, is  concerned,  its  records  have  been  preserved  from  the  day 
of  its  organization.  May  5th,  1070.  No  dispute  has  arisen,  or  can 
arise  on  them,  and  they  have  the  advantage  over  those  of  the 
First  church,  in  reaching  back  to  a  date  five  years  earlier.  It  has 
always  been  a  matter  of  wonder  to  the  writer  tliat  there  should 
be  any  sensitiveness  on  the  part  of  any  in  Stratford  in  regard  to 
the  view  taken  by  him,  as  he  gave  the  First  church  the  credit  of 


892  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

having  adhered  to  the  "  old  landmarks,"  set  np  by  the  fothers  in 
the  colony,  and  as  the  "JIalf-way  Covenant"  ])lan  has  been  gen- 
erally repudiated  as  unsound  for  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  cen- 
tury. 

But  to  those  who  are  interested  in  tracing  the  ancient  records, 
the  truth  of  history  is  a  more  controlling  consideration  than  mere 
pride  of  opinion,  or  indeed  any  other.  While  an  opinion,  once 
deliberately  formed,  on  due  examination  of  all  the  facts,  should 
not  be  lightly  thrown  aside  by  an  opposing  opinion,  yet  it  may 
often  furnish  the  occasion  for  a  re-examination  of  the  matter,  as 
well  as  for  the  search  for  additional  facts  and  further  light.  With 
this  view,  the  Avriter  has  carefully  re-examined  the  question,  in  all 
its  bearings,  and  has  decided  to  introduce  here  the  "Stratford 
View,"  as  well  as  all  other  documents  and  information  which  have 
been  any  where  preserved,  that  throw  any  light  upon  the  subject, 
with  such  observations  as  occur  to  him. 

The  sole  aim  of  every  writer  should  be  to  discover  and  perpetu- 
ate the  truth,  esi)ecially  in  matters  religious  and  historical.  There 
can  be  no  inducement  to  follow  any  other  course. 

In  order  to  carry  out  this  design,  the  writer  applied  to  Rev. 
Benjamin  L.  Swan,  of  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y.,  Avho  was  for  five  years 
pastor  of  the  First  church  in  Stratford,  who  gave  great  attention, 
during  his  stay  there,  to  antiquarian,  archaeological  and  genelogi- 
cal  inquiries,  and  who  is,  withal,  a  most  cai-eful,  thoughtful,  and 
judicious  investigator  of  the  "ancient  ways," — to  furnish  him  the 
"  Stratford  View  "  of  this  subject.  Mr.  Swan  very  kindly  consent- 
ed, and  it  is  as  follows : — 

"  On  the  part  of  the  Church  in  Strafford,  a  ihfi'crent  view  is  taken  of  the  con- 
troversy, that  issued  in  the  settlement  of  Woodbury,  from  that  given  in  the  His- 
tory of  Ancient  Woodbury,  That  the  "  Half-way  Covenant,"  as  bein<ij  held  by 
one  party  and  rejected  by  the  other,  was  not  the  ground  of  dispute,  we  feel  as- 
-eured  for  several  reasons." 

"  It  appears  by  Town  Record  in  Stratford,  that  1.  Mr.  Chauncey  was  not  set- 
tled as  minister  of  the  pari.^h  in  1665,  but  on  April  20th  of  that  year,  'the 
town  did  consider  of  giving  Mr.  Chancie  a  call  to  help  Mr.  Blakeman  in  the  min- 
ietry  for  a  year,'  and  voted  so  to  do.  Mr,  Blakeman  died  Sept.  7,  1665.  In 
March,  1665®,  upon  the  question  of  a  parsonage  lot  and  house,  the  vote  of  the 
town  was  divided,  '  not  that  they  were  against  the  Ministry,'  i.  e.  of  Mr.  Chauncey. 

"Jun«l,  1666.  At  a  lawfull  Town  meeting,  the  inhabitants  generally  prea- 
"  ent,  a  paper  was  offered  containing  divers  propositions  to  Mr.  Israel  Chauncey, 
*'in  order  to  a  mutual  agreement  for  his  settling  among  us  in  Stratford."  "It 
"  was  voted  and  agreed,  that  the  said  papers  should  by  the  townsmen  of  Strat. 
"ford  be  subscribed  in  the  name  of  the  town,  and  presented  to  Mr.  Chauncy." 
Sigaed,  John  Minor,  Recorder. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBUEY.  893 

"The  foregoing  extract,  verbatim  from  the  Town  Record,  is  of  vital  import- 
ance, because  the  paper  and  agreement  to  which-  it  relatas  is  that  given  on  page 
119  of  Hist,  of  Woodbury,  as  prepared  May  13,  1669,  by  the  dissentient  towns- 
men, not  members  of  the  church ;  whereas  it  was  the  original  overture  of  the 
town  (for  all  the  ecclesiastical  business  was  then  done  town-wise,  bo  far  as  re- 
lated to  the  settlement  or  dismission  of  a  minister)  to  Mr.  Chauncy,  in  June, 
1666,  and  follows  immediately,  on  the  record,  the  foregoing  vote,  and  is  entitled 
both  'Town  propositions  to  Mr.  Chauncy,'  and  'Church  Covenant'  with  Mr. 
Cbauncey.  He  accepted  the  propositions,  and  was  settled  as  pastor,  remaining 
such  till  his  death,  in  1703. 

"  A  copy  of  this  '  Call '  is  on  file  in  Hartford  State  Archives,  where  it  is  en- 
dorsed as  filed  by  Secretary  Allyn,  May  13,  '69.  Some  one,  mistaking  this  for 
the  date  of  the  paper  itself,  copied  it  for  Mr.  Cothrcn  as  belonging  to  a  period 
after  Mr.  Chauncy's  settlement,  and  as  being  an  overture  from  those  aggrieved 
by  his  settlement.  On  the  Town  record,  it  dates  June  1,  1666,  and  was  recorded 
by  John  Minor,  Recorder,  June  25,  1666.  The  church  and  town  of  Stratford 
voted  together,  parish-wise,  in  town  meeting  in  all  things  relating  to  the  minia- 
try,  until  Episcopacy  was  established,  after  1700." 

"  It  is  not  disputed  that  these  "  Town  propositions  "  embrace  the  principles  of 
the  half-way  covenant.  T/iat,  therefore,  could  not  have  been  the  ground  of  dis- 
sension. Moreover,  the  earliest  records  now  extant  of  Mr.  Chauncy's  ministry 
show  that  he  did  practice  on  these  principles.," 

"Again,  uniform  tradition  in  Stratford,  even  in  families  of  important  men  in 
Mr.  Walker's  party,  (such  as  Joseph  Judson,  of  whom  the  late  Dea.  D.  P.  Judson 
was  a  descendant.)  denies  that  the  half-way  covenant  made  the  difficulty. 

"Again,  in  none  of  the  papers  extiant,  which  passed  between  the  parties,  is 
that  measure  set  forth  as  in  dispute.  There  is,  however,  frequent  allusion  to 
principles  of  church  government,  discipline,  &c.,  in  which,  beyond  doubt  the 
mystery  lies.  Too  much  space  would  be  required  for  exhibition  here  of  the  evi- 
dence in  point. 

"The  papers  on  pages  115 — 117  of  Hist.  Anc.  Woodbury,  bearing  dates  in 
old  style,  belong  to  January  and  February,  1866,  and  with  the  next  ensuing  pa- 
per, pp.  117,  118,  preceded  the  parish  call  of  June  1,  1666,  on  Mr.  Chauncy  to 
settle.  The  remark,  therefore,  on  page  118,  "Mr.  Chauncy  had  been  settled  by 
a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  church  alone,"  is  doubly  incorrect,  for,  at  that 
date,  April,  1666,  he  had  not  even  been  called  to  settle,  and  his  call,  when  given  in 
June,  was  given  by  a  large  majority  of  the  whole  parish  acting  in  town  meeting. 
Indeed,  by  inspection  of  the  list  of  inhabitants,  it  would  seem  that  Mr.  Walker's 
adherents  polled  but  nineteen  votes  out  of  eighty-three,  who  were  freemen  of 
Strafford.  There  is  no  instance,  during  the  whole  discussion  between  the  two 
parties,  of  a  majority  in  town  meeting  adverse  to  Mr.  Chauncy. 

"It  appears,  by  a  vote  Dec.  18,  1666,  that  the  opponents  of  Mr.  Chauncy  la- 
bored, at  first,  to  obtain  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  for  their  pastor, 
and,  only  after  he  declined,  settled  on  Mr.  Walker. 

The  differences  between  the  two  churches  are  declared  by  Mr.  Chauncy's  peo- 
ple, June  14,  16G9,  '  to  be  not  doctrinal.'  If  it  is  said,  what  are  our  differences? 
'  We  conceive  they  are  matters  of  civil  concernment.'  If  our  differences  are  ec- 
clesiastical, what  are  they  ?     Mr.  Walker's  statement,  May,  1670,   'nothing  had 


894  HISTORY    OF    ancient  woodbury. 

appeared  of  any  such  great  distance  in  our  apprehensions  as  might  be  inconsist- 
ent'with  '  an  union,'  and  his  adherents  in  their  letter  to  the  church,  Feb.  9' 
1665®,  distinctly  point  at  the  chief  cause,  of  dissension  in  specifications,  which 
involve  the  controversy  between  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  schemes  of 
church  order.  These  protestants  insist,  that  examination  for  church  membership 
should  be  by  the  minister  and  elder  only.  They  also  strenuously  object  to  the 
re-examination  of  persons  already  professors  of  religion,  when  received  to  other 
churches.  They  desire  '  not  to  be  further  troubled  with  any  imposition  of  that 
nature.'  The  controversy  about  church  government  and  discipline  seriously  dis- 
turbed not  a  few  of  the  original  New  Eugland  churches. 

"  An  error  occurs  on  page  115,  in  representing  the  letter  there  given  as  the 
opening  of  the  case,  whereas  it  is  entitled,  in  the  Ecclesiastical  Documents  at 
Hartford,  '  An  Answer  to  Mr.  ChauncyV  letter.'  That  letter  seems  to  have  been 
lost.  This  letter  is  itself  a  reply  to  a  previous  letter  from  Mr.  Chauncy,  by 
order  of  the  church  of  which  he  was  then  only  a  '  stated  supply.' 

"  Two  statements  regardihg  the  pulpit  in  Stratford  need  correction.  1.  The 
Walker  and  Reed  story.  This  is  a  re-issue  of  a  Scotch  anecdote  about  two  can- 
didates in  Edinburg,  and  belongs  to  a  period  a  liundred  jears  later  than  the 
Chauncy  and  Walker  times.  2.  Mr.  Chauncy'a  ordination.  The  ctirrent  story 
of  his  ordination  in  the  independent  mode,  and  with  the  laying  on  of  Elder 
Brinsmade's  mittened  hand,  is,  doubtless,  pure  fiction.  As  Mr.  Chaimcy,  having 
already  preached  a  year,  had  his  call  in  June,  it  is  not  credible  that  mittens  were 
were  worn  in  the  season  of  his  ordination.  Moreover,  there  was  no  such  person 
as  'Elder'  Brin.«n.ade.  Philip  Grove  was  the  only  elder  of  ytratford  church- 
Nor  is  it  conceivable  that  the  church  in  Stratford  disowned  or  neglected  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  churches  in  this  ordination,  for  as  early  as  1645,  the  church  had 
been  in  a  council  called  by  the  Milford  church  for  the  ordination  of  aruling  elder, 
and  had  otherwise  cultivated  that  friendship."'  ' 

Sucli  is  the  "Stratford  View,"  and  such  the  reasons  for  hohling 
it.  Tlie  fact  that  it  is  the  theory  hehl  by  some  friends,  for  whose 
sincerity  and  general  correctness  of  judgment  and  of  information 
the  writer  lias  the  highest  respect,  has  led  him  to  a  full  and  care- 

'  The  Hist,  of  Woodbury  is  not  responsible  for  either  of  these  stories,  nor  has 
the  author  ever  credited  them,  as  will  be  seen,  in  part,  by  note  to  page  133.  The 
statement,  that  "  there  was  no  such  person  as  Elder  Brinsmade,  however,  is  in- 
correct. In  a  list  of  the  Freemen  of  Stratford,  reported  pursuant  to  the  Statute 
to  the  General  Court,  "  8  mth.,  7  d.,  '69,"  recorded  in  2  TrnmbuH's  Records  of 
Conn.  Col.,  p.  521-2,  appears  the  name  of  John  Briimnead,  elder.  This  list  of 
Freemen  was  taken  in  October,  1669,  and  Mr.  Walker  was  ordained  over  the 
Second  church  in  May,  1670.  It  contains  sixty-four  names,  and  is  the  legal  and 
accurate  list  of  Freemen  in  the  town,  at  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the 
Second  church.  The  "Stratford  View "  is  therefore  mistaken  in  stating  the 
number  .sf  Freemen  to  be  eighty-three,  and  the  part  voting  with  the  Second 
church  at  nineteen.  The  Second  church  organized  witli  twenty-seven  members. 
and  four  more  males  were  added  the  folio wing*j-car,  thus  embracing  nearly  hal 
of  the  Freemen  of  the  town. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOBBU  11  Y.  895 

fill  review  of  all  the  fiicts  in  the  case,  acluated  by  the  sincere  de- 
sire to  "  discern  the  truth"  of  the  matter.  And  upon  such  care- 
ful review  he  has  become  more  fully  confirmed  in  the  substantial 
correctness  of  the  "Woodbury  View,"  which  is  set  forth  fully  in 
the  former  edition  of  this  work.  There  are  some  minor  errors  of 
statement,  but  that  the  "  Half-way  Covenant "  system  and  cognate 
theories  were  the  substantial  and  overshadowing  cause  of  the  dis- 
sensions among  the  people  of  Stratford,  he  is  most  filly  persuaded. 
Nothing  short  of  something  most  vital  in  doctrine — something 
that  concerned  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  soul  to  all  ages — some- 
thing, tlie  abandonment  of  which  involved  a  loss  eternal,  can  fur- 
nish an  explanation  for  that  long,  earnest,  intense  dissension  which 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  t'^e  Second  church  in  Stratford,  now 
the  First  church  in  Woodbury.  Trivial  differences,  as  between 
the  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  modes  of  Church  govern- 
ment, while  both  parties  were  imbued  with  the  same  faith,  and 
acknowledged  the  same  covenant  of  grace,  theoretically  and  for- 
mally, could  never  be  the  occasion  of  a  dispute  so  heated,  in  a 
new  and  feeble  community,  struggling  for  existence,  surrounded 
by  external  dangers  and  difficulties,  in  a  wilderness  land, — among 
Christians  as  earnest  and  conscientious  as  were  the  fathers  of 
Stratford  and  Woodbury.  Spiritual  pride,  or  pride  of  opinion, 
could  not  go  so  far  as  that  among  a  people  so  strictly  conscien- 
tious. It  was  also  quite  too  early  in  the  ecclesiastical  history  of 
the  colony  for  the  laity,  with  whom  these  questions  began,  to  be 
so  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  systems  of  church  government, 
and  so  well  grounded  in  the  "fundamentals,"  or  Christian  author- 
ity for  their  views,  as  to  induce  thetu  to  run  the  risk  of  such  open 
opposition  to  the  polity  or  order  of  the  Puritan  chui-ches,  as  to 
in\x)lve  their  excision  from  the  church  and  deprivation  of  all  the 
church  ordinances  for  themselves  and  their  children,  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  which,  in  every  recorded  word  and  act  of  theirs,  they 
showed  so  earnest  a  solicitude.  Presbyterianism,  as  such,  had  not 
at  that  date  a  place  for  the  "sole  of  its  foot,"  in  all  the  colonies. 
Dissatisfied  individuals  were,  indeed,  in  various  places,  waiting-  a 
safe  occasion  to  introduce  Presbyterian  and  Ej)iscopalian  views  of 
church  discipline  and  government.  But  their  efforts  were  "with- 
out form  and  void,"  to  a  period  long  after  this  date,  so  far  as  Pres- 
byterianism is  concerned.  Says  Dr.  Sprague,  in  an  srticle  on 
Presbyteriiuism  in  the  New  American  Encyclopaedia,  vol.  13,  p. 
557 :  "  The  Presbyterian  church  of  the  United  States  is  undoubt- 


896  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

ediy  to  be  reckoned  as  a  daughter  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 
Presbyterians  begun  to  emigrate  from  Scotland  and  the  North  of 
Ireland,  to  the  American  Colonies,  as  early  as  1689;  and  they 
quickly  manifested  a  disposition  to  reproduce  here,  their  own  pe- 
culiar institutions.  The  first  and  largest  churches  Avere  established 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  two  colonies  distinguished  from 
the  earliest  times  for  their  notions  of  religious  liberty.  The  Pu- 
ritan element  early  found  its  Avay  into  the  body  from  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  reformed  churches  on  the  continent  have,  from  time 
to  time,  made  contributions  to  it ;  but  the  original  organization 
has  always  remained  substantially  the  same."  So  Presbyterianism 
was  introduced  into  the  States  south  of  us  some  twenty  years 
later  than  the  time  of  the  Stratford  troubles,  and  into  New  Eng- 
land later  still.  Yet  by  the  "Stratford  View,"  we  are  called  to 
believe,  that  differences  as  between  Presbyterian  and  Congrega- 
tional church  order  and  discipline,  was  the  true  cause  of  the  "un- 
happy "  dissensions  at  Stratford.  It  is  quite  inconceivable  that  this 
church  should  be  disputing  about  "  non-essentials,"  and  rending 
the  peace  of  the  colony,  as  well  as  their  own,  while  they  were  quite 
at  peace,  and  in  loving  accord  on  the  "Half-way  Covenant"  theory> 
and  views  connected  with  it,  which  were  at  that  very  time  shaking 
to  their  centres,  and  to  the  loss  of  their  usefulness,  the  churches 
at  Hartford,  Windsor,  and,  indeed,  all  churches  throughout  the 
colony. 

It  will  also  be  readily  noticed  on  a  carcful  inspection  of  the 
records  introduced  into  the  former  volume,  and  those  which  fol- 
low in  this,  that  the /brm  of  church  government  and  discipline  is 
no  where  insisted  on.  It  is  nowhere  claimed  by  either  party,  that 
the  "  ancient  way"  of  independent  and  individual  church  govern- 
ment should  be  abandoned,  and  a  "system  of  church  government 
by  presbyteries,  or  associations  of  teaching  and  ruling  elders," 
should  be  instituted  in  its  stead.  From  the  beginning  they  had 
had  their  Elder  Grove,  a  leading  man  in  the  colony,  "  Deputy 
and  Assistant,"  against  Avhom  no  complaint  seems  ever  to  have 
been  brought,  who  remained  said  elder  to  his  death,  in  16Y6,  a 
period  some  years  later  than  this.  And  yet  this  church,  like  the 
first  three  churches  of  the  colony,  was  a  strictly  Congregational 
church.  It  M'as  a  "law  unto  itself."  It  never  ceased  to  be  a 
Congregational  church,  and  never  had  even  a  ruling  elder  after 
Elder  Grove's  death.  The  Second  church  of  Stratford  ever  was 
and  now  is,  as  the  First  church  of  Woodbury,  a  purely  Congre- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  897 

gational  churcli.  It  never  had  a  ruling  elder.  Where  then  do  we' 
discover  the  fointest  traces  of  Presbyterianism  ?  /Somet/mic/  caused 
the  division  of  the  church,  and  the  formation  of  the  new  one. 
Neither  ever  practised  Presbyterianism.  Botli,  in  their  origiual 
organization,  and  in  their  subsequent  history,  were  and  are,  lite- 
rally, "a  churcli  Avithout  a  bishop,  and  a  State  without  a  King." 
They  organized  as  civil,  as  well  as  religious  communities,  and  for 
long  years  the  towns  acted  parish-wise  in  the  calling  and  settling 
of  ministers,  and  in  all  arrangements  for  their  support,  while  all 
the  conditions  of  baptism,  communion  and  chui-ch  government 
were  decided  within  the  circle  of  communicants,  subject  only  to 
appeal  to  the  General  Court.  In  1665,  (about  the  commencement 
of  these  troubles,)  the  Commissioners  of  Charles  II.  reported,  of  the 
people  of  Connecticut,  "that  they  had  a.  scholar  to  their  min- 
ister in  every  town  or  village."  They  were  independent,  and 
were  well  supplied  with  scholars  to  lead  them.  In  view  of 
all  this,  could  disjtutes  concerning  the  introduction  of  Presbyte- 
rian church  order  have  been  the  cause  of  these  Stratford  disputes? 
We  think  not. 

If,  then,  the  " Stratford  View"  be  not  the  true  one,  is  the 
"Woodbury  View"  any  more  reliable?  Let  us  examine,  and 
weigh  well  every  recorded  word  on  the  subject,  and  determine,  as 
best  we  may.  And,  in  the  beginning,  we  must  bear  in  mind 
throughout  the  discussion,  that  the  First  church  of  Stratford  was, 
in  its  church  government  purely  Congiegational,  and  in  its  doc- 
trine purely  Calvinistic.  It  was  precisely  the  same,  in  all  its  fea- 
tures, as  the  churches  at  Hartford,  Windsor  and  Wethorsfield.  A 
history  of  the  one,  with  a  change  of  names,  would  be  a  history  of 
the  other.  W  hat  was  this  organization  ?  No  better  answer  can 
be  given  to  this  question,  nor  to  the  question  as  to  what  caused 
the  divisions  in  the  church  at  Stratford,  than  those  given  in  an- 
swer to  the  same  questions  in  relation  to  the  church  at  Hartford, 
planted  by  the  sainted  Hooker  and  the  Apostolic  Stone,  by  the 
late  lamented  author  of  "Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,"  the  Hon. 
Isaac  W.  Stuart,  the  accomplished  scholar,  the  industrious  anti- 
quarian, the  orator  of  surpassing  ability,  who  was  a  descendant, 
in  the  fourth  generation,  of  that  worthy  and  distinguished  divine, 
who  for  more  than  sixty  years  ministered  to  us  in  Ancient  Wood- 
bury— our  own  sainted  Anthony  Stoddard.  In  his  truly  eloquent 
history  he  records  : — 

"  A  few  words  now  on  the  first  religious  organization  of  Hart- 


898  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     AV00D13URY. 

ford.  This  was  purely  Congregational,  and  we  may  add  also, 
purely  republican.  Non-conformists  all  to  the  liturgy,  ceremonies 
and  discipline  of  the  Church  of  Engand,  though  firm  believers  in 
its  faith — feeling  that  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel  was  '  marred 
by  association  with  the  display  of  surplices,  caps,  capes  and  cas- 
socks' — the  settlers  claimed  the  right,  independently  of  all  exter' 
nal  or  foreign  power,  to  choose  and  establish  their  own  ministers, 
to  enact  their  own  ecclesiastical  laws,  and  exercise  their  own  dis- 
cipline— and  so,  with  a  Pastor,  Preacher,  Ruling  Elder,  and  Dea- 
cons, for  officers,  in  a  Meeting  House,  which  those  who  preceded 
Hooker  and  his  party  had  already  erected,  they  started  the  first 
systematized  Church  of  God  in  this  their  '  Wilderness  town.' 
Their  Deacons  were  as  Deacons  now,  but  their  Pastor  and  their 
Teacher  were  somewhat  peculiar  in  their  functions.  Exhortation 
chiefly  was  the  duty  of  the  former — it  was  his  province  to  work 
on  the  will  and  the  affections.  The  latter  was  Doctor  in  ecclesia, 
as  he  is  styled — it  was  his  province  to  teach,  explain  and  defend 
the  doctrines  of  Chiistianity.  The  Ruling  Elder,  who  was  ordain- 
ed with  all  the.  solemnity  of  a  Pastor,  or  Teacher,  was,  "  to  assist 
in  the  government  of  the  churcli,  to  watch  over  all  its  members, 
to  prepare  and  bring  forward  all  cases  of  discipline,  to  visit  and 
pray  with  the  sick,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  Pastor  and  Teacher, 
to  pray  with  the  congregation,  and  expound  the  scriptures."  ' 

Such  was  the  organization  and  constitution  of  the  church  at 
Hartford,  and  such  was  the  type  of  the  church  at  Stratford,  during 
what  we  will  call  the  First  Period  in  the  ecclesiastical  history  ot 
tlie  colony,  which  extended  to  16-50  or  later. 

Now  let  us  quote  from  the  same  eloquent  author  in  the  same 
volume  a  statement  which  embodies  the  "  Woodbury  View,"  in 
choicer  words  than  we  can  express  it. 

"Soon  after  the  commencement  of  our  Second  Period,  a  contro- 
versy commenced  in  the  church  of  Hartford,  which,  'for  its  cir- 
cumstances, its  duration,  and  its  obstinacy,'  says  Trumbull,  '  was 
the  most  remarkable  of  any  in  its  day — which  affected  all  the 
churches,  and  insinuated  itself  into  the  affairs  of  societies,  towns, 
and  the  whole  commonwealth.'  Nor  was  it  confined  to  Connec- 
ticut. It  hung  like  a  cloud  over  the  heart  of  all  New  Englan.l — 
darkened  almost  every  temple  of  worship,  and  kindled  baleful 
fires  at  almost  every  altar. 

'  Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,  p.  58. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODliUKY.  899 

"It  began  with  a  difference  between  Mr.  Stone  and  Elder  Wm. 
Goodwin,  cither  about  the  admission  of  some  member  to  the 
church,  or  the  administration  of  the  rite  of  baptism,  and  quickly 
involved  many  other  points  also  of  ecclesiastical  polity.  Look  at 
the  leading  cjuestions  that  were  raised  : 

"  What  constitutes  church  membership — admission  to  fall  com- 
munion only,  or  a  belief  in  Christianity  and  worshipful  attendance 
upon  its  ordinances  also?  Is  the  '  matter  of  the  visible  church' 
composed  of  saints  exclusively,  or  of  those  also,  who,  not  being 
communicants,  attend  religious  services,  hold  pews,  and  pay  rates? 
Particularly  does  it  not  belong  to  the  whole  body  of  a  town  jointly 
to  call  and  settle  its  minister — and  may  not  the  adult  seed  of  vis- 
ible believers,  not  cast  out,  be  true  members  of  the  church  and 
subjects  of  church  watch  ?  What  constitutes  baptism — is  '  fede- 
ral holiness  or  covenant  interest '  its  proper  ground  ?  Is  the 
grace  of  perfect  regeneration  vital  to  its  application,  or  may  it  not 
be  used  also  as  a  seal  of  the  covenant  i/iitiafori/ in  its  nature? 
Particuhirly,  is  it  scriptural  to  baptize  the  children  of  any  parents 
who  are  not  themselves  in  full  communion?  Whence  do  minis- 
ters receive  their  comniission  to  baptize?  Does  the  word  of  Grod 
warrant  the  communion  of  churches,  as  such?  Has  a  Synod  de- 
cisive power?  How  far  shall  any  particular  church  yield  to  its 
autliority,  or  to  that  of  any  other  ecclesiastical  council?  Must 
every  person  grieved  at  any  church  process  or  censure,  acquiesce 
in  it,  and  if  not,  where  shall  he  repair?  What  is  the  gospel  way 
to  gather  and  settle  churches?  Does  the  laying  on  of  hands  in 
ordination  belong  to  presbyters,  or  brethren  ?  A  formidable  list 
of  questions,  truly !  But  there  were  others,  too — of  minor  conse- 
quence, yet  all  involved  in  these  just  stated — and  most  of  these, 
in  point  of  fact,  in  these  two  salient  ones  of  church  membership 
and  baptism,  of  which  ba^ytism  parlicnlarly  was  debated  xoith  an 
ardor  that  neither  Socinian  nor  Romanist,  Pelagian  nor  Hermian, 
not  Naziandzen,  St.  Ciril,  nor  Salmasius,  liave  ever  surpassed! 

"We  are  blameless,  as  most  people,  in  our  lives  and  conversa- 
tion— we  are  well  disposed — we  are  sober — ai'gued,  according  to 
Mather,  '  multitudes  '  of  persons — and  so,  particularly,  many  in 
the  church  in  Hartford.  We  are  full  believers  in  the  doctrines  of 
Christianity.  We  desire  to  accept  Christ  for  our  Redeemer.  We 
seek  forgiveness  of  our  sins.  We  are  ready  to  promise  that, 
through  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  will  forsake  the  vanities  of 
this  evil   world,  and  strive  to  act  according  to  the  rules  of  the 


900  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     W00DI5URY. 

gospel.  We  wish  to  submit  ourselves  to  the  watch  and  discipline 
of  the  church.  Particularly,  we  will  promise  to  bring  up  our 
children,  that  may  be  given  us,  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of 
the  Lord.  We  want  the  distinction  and  privileges,  therefore,  of 
church  membership  for  ourselves,  and  of  baptism  for  our  children. 
True,  we  ai'e  not  communicants,  but  we  will  labor  diligently  to 
become  so.  Why  then  shut  ui)on  us,  '  hopeful  candidates  '  as  we 
thus  are,  the  doors  of  church  privilege?  Is  it  just?  Is  it  wise? 
Why  make  no  difference,  in  this  respect,  between  ourselves  and 
Pagans  ?  Why,  in  particular,  exclude  our  offspring,  dear  as  tliey 
are  to  our  hearts,  and  partakers,  as  it  is  our  dearest  wish  they 
should  be,  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  why  exclude  them  from  the 
baptism  of  Christianity  simply  because  our  own  honest  doubts 
and  fears  are  such  that  we  cannot  ourselves  come  up  to  the  cove- 
nanting state  of  communicants  at  the  table  of  the  Lord  ?  This 
is  harsh — it  is  an  unwarrantable  strictness.  Baptism  and  full  com- 
munion are  separate  things,  and  the  former,  with  church  watch, 
may  be  enjoyed  without  the  latter.  Seal  though  it  be  of  the  cov- 
enant, baptism  is,  after  all,  but  an  initiatory  rite.  It  does  not  itself 
absolutely  confer,  it  does  not  of  itself  indelibly  im))ress  the  grace 
of  regeneration,  nor  is  salvation  so  inseparately  annexed  to  it,  as 
that  without  it,  no  person  can  enter  heaven.  'The  Lord  hath  not 
set  up  our  churches,'  be  it  remembered,  '  only  that  a  few  old 
Christians  should  keep  one  another  warm  while  they  live,  and 
then  carry  away  the  church  into  the  cold  grave  with  them  when 
they  die;  no,  but  that  they  might  with  all  care,  and  w^ith  all  the 
obligations  and  advantages  to  that  care  that  may  be,  nurse  up 
still  successively  another  generation  of  subjects  to  our  Lord,  that 
may  stand  up  in  his  kingdom  when  they  are  gone.'  So  pleaded, 
so  demanded  one  large  party  in  the  church  of  Hartford."  ' 

So  pleaded,  so  demanded  one  large  party  in  the  church  at  Strat- 
ford, in  1665  and  1866.  Let  us  see  if  we  are  right.  Let  us  refer 
to  the  vote  of  the  town,  parish-wise,  passed  June  1,  1666 — for,  it 
will  be  remembered,  that  the  whole  town  voted  parish-wise  in  the 
settlement  of  ministers  till  after  1700 — which  vote  is  recorded  on 
page  119  of  this  history.  By  that  vote,  it  is  claimed  in  the  "  Wood- 
bury View%"  the  liberal,  or  dissentient  party  triumphed  over  the 
church  proper  in  its  conservative,  close  corporation  notions,  that 
is,  the  dissentient  communicants,  added  to  the  freemen  who  were 

*  Stuart's  Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,  p.  221. 


U  1  S  T  O  E  Y     or     ANCIENT     W  O  O  1>  B  U  E  Y  .  90l 

not  communicants,  but  who  agreed  in  their  view  with  the  minority 
of  the  church,  made  a  majority  of  the  whole  in  town  meeting,  and, 
in  their  call  to  Mr.  Chauncy,  were  able  to  establish  their  platform, 
as  the  condition  on  which  they  would  settle  him,  grant  him  a  portion 
of  the  lands,  '■  set  apart  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,'"  and  pay 
him  an  annual  salary  beyond.  Whether  we  are  right  in  this  claim 
will  be  discussed  further  on.  An  extract  from  that  vote  seems  to 
shine  with  a  clear  light  upon  the  subject  matter  in  dispute  at  Strat- 
ford, They  lay  down,  as  the  great  object  of  desire,  and  as  the 
prime  condition  of  settlement,  the  principles  of  the  Half-way  Cov- 
enant. Why  so  particular,  unless  the  privileges  of  this  plan  had 
before  this  time  been  denied  to  them  by  the  church  proper,  in  the 
church  meetings,  where  communicants  only  were  allowed  a  voice. 
They  say : — 

"  More  particularly  we  desire  y  '  all  they  y  '•  professe  foyth  and 
obedience  to  the  rules  of  Christ,  not  scandalous  in  life,  and  doe 
present  themselves  in  owning  y  *  covenant  wherein  they  have 
given  themselves  unto  the  Lord  in  baptism,  may  be  admitted  and 
accounted  members  of  y*  church,  and  under  the  care  and  disci- 
pline thereof  as  other  members,  and  have  their  children  baptized. 
Yet,  notwithstanding,  we  desire  not  that  any  thus  admitted  may 
approach  unto  the  Lord's  table  till,  in  and  by  examination  and  due 
tryall,  they  make  testimony  unto  the  Judgement  of  Charity,  of 
their  fitness  thereunto.  Moreover,  as  God  owneth  the  Infant 
children  of  believers  in  y*  Covenant  of  Grace,  neither  doth  ex- 
clude y'  same  children  w°  grown  up  from  keeping  their  standing 
in  y^  covenant,  while  they  soe  walk  as  they  doe  not  reject  it, 
God  owneth  y  "^  and  would  not  have  y*  grace  of  his  covenant 
shortened  or  straitened,  nor  put  y°  from  under  the  dispensations 
of  his  grace,  giving  his  ministers  a  solemn  charge  to  take  care  of, 
and  train  up  such  a  part  of  their  flock :  We  desire  also  that 
y  '  children  of  church  members  may  be  accounted  as  church  mem- 
bers, as  well  as  their  parents,  and  y  '  they  do  not  cease  to  be  mem- 
bers by  being  grown  up,  but  that  they  still  doe  continue  in  the 
church,  successively,  until,  according  to  y«  rules  of  Christ,  they 
be  cast  out,  and  y '  they  are  still  y*  subjects  of  church  discipline, 
even  as  other  members,  and  y '  they  should  have  their  children 
baptized,  notwithstanding  their  present  unfitness  for  partaking  of 
the  Lord's  Supper." 

This  is  the   "  Woodbury  View,"'  and  it  is  not  questioned   but 
that  it  is  a  full  statement  of  the  Half-way  Covenant  system.     Was 


902  IIISTOET     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT. 

this  the  original  platform  of  the  Stratford  church,  or  was  it  some- 
tliiiig  new — an  innovation?  If  it  was  the  old  ]ilatforni,  why  so 
earnestly  proclaim  it  again,  and  make  it  a  condition  precedent  to 
settlement  ?  Why  not  say,  simply,  that  they  would  settle  Mr. 
Chauncy  upon  the  ancient  j)]atform — in  tlie  ancient  order,  and 
"way  of  Christ  among  the  churches?"  Not  a  word  is  said  liere 
of  a  different  mode  of  church  government  from  the  old  one.  It 
was  the  right  of  church  membership  and  l>a])tism,  tliat  was  the 
sole  and  all-absorbing  theme.  On  this  they  insist — on  this  solely. 
This  vote  furnishes  the  key  to  the  whole  controversy.  The  same 
eloquent  writer  proceeds  to  give  the  views  of  the  first  established 
churches  from  which  these  were  a  departure.     He  says ; — 

"On  the  other  hand,  it  was  urged  in  reply  to  these  claims,  that 
they  were  wholly  inconsistent  with  the  rights  of  the  brotherhood 
and  the  strict  principles  of  the  Congregational  clmrches — that 
they  were  innovations  on  its  practice,  and  contrary  to  its  purity — 
that  they  would  subvert  the  very  design  for  which  the  churches  in 
New  England  were  planted.  Baptism,  said  the  advocates  of  these 
views,  is  a  seal  of  the  whole  covenant  of  grace — those,  therefore, 
not  interested  in  this  covenant  of  faith,  by  saving  faitli,  by  the 
having  of  repentance,  ought  not  to  have  the  seal  thereof  for  them- 
selves, nor  for  their  children.  If  we  extend  it  in  the  manner  de- 
manded, there  would  be  great  corruption.  It  would  be  a  profa- 
nation of  the  right.  It  would  have  a  natural  tendency  to  harden 
unregenerate  persons  in  their  sinful  condition — and  to  admit  such 
to  pi'ivileges  and  membership  iu  the  churches,  would  at  once  throw 
the  homes  of  the  saints  into  the  power  of  the  worldly  part  of 
mankind,  proftxne  their  adminisitration,  and  pervert  their  efiicacy  "' 

Which  party  at  Stratford  was  it  that  entertained  such  views  as 
these  ?  Was  it  the  Walker  party,  who  for  years  insisted  on  being 
allowed  the  privileges  of  the  Ilalf-way  Covenant,  and,  when  they 
could  not  fully  obtain  them,  organized  a  separate  church,  and  re- 
paired to  the  interior  forests  to  enjoy  their  f;iith  in  peace?  Or 
was  it  the  party  of  the  "  ancient  church,"  under  the  guidance  of 
Mr.  Chauncy,  as  a  "stated  supply,"  wlio,  when  addressed  by  the 
Walker  party,  in  Jan.  1G65  "  (p.  115)  "desiring  also  that  we  and 
our  post(M-ity  may  be  owned  as  inuncJiate  raonhers  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  by  you;  as  Ciirist  ownetli  us  and  ours  by  his  own  in- 
stitution, taking  us  into  covenant,  and  solemnly  setting  liis  seal 

'  Stuart's  Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,  p.  224. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  903 

upon  us,"  (p.  1 15,)  and  again  in  Feb.  9,  1665  "  (p.  116)  desiring-  "com- 
munion in  all  God's  or'^inances,"with  tlie  restof  the  cbureli,  replied, 
April  16,  1666,  (p.  11*7)  "These  are  to  give  you  to  understand, 
that  our  apprehension  concerning  tlie  order  of  discipline  is  the 
same  that  we  have  fornierly  manifested  it  to  bee,  both  by  our 
practice,  and  answer  to  your  proposalls.  And  whereas  you  appre- 
hend you  have  equal  rights  with  ourselves  in  all  the  ordinances  of 
Christ  in  this  pLice.  These  may  certifie  you  at  present  that  we 
are  of  a  different  ajjprehension  from  you  in  that  matter.  And 
wliereas  you  desire  tliat  your  posterity  may,  etc. :  we  would  put 
you  in  mind,  that  as  yet  the  matter  is  in  controversie  among  the 
learned  and  godly  ?  "  Which  party  was  it  that  demanded  they  and 
their  seed  should  be  "  owned  as  immediate  members  of  the 
chuich  ?"  Which  party  refused  this  before  the  ordination  of  Mi'. 
Chauncy?  It  was  the  Walker  party  that  demanded.  It  was  the 
church  that  refused,  acting  as  a  church,  entitling  and  embalming 
its  actions  as  "  Chuich  Answer  to  the  Men."  Ai-e  we  wrong,  then, 
in  saying,  that  the  church,  when  acting  as  an  associated  body  of 
communicants,  rejected  the  Half-way  Covenant  dogma,  and  that 
on  the  following  June  1,  1666,  the  Walker  party,  in  open  town 
meeting,  when  all,  both  communicants  and  freemen,  were  acting 
together  parish-wise,  carried  the  day,  and  established  the  condi- 
tion of  the  Plalf-way  Covenant  in  the  *'  Town  propositions  to  Mr. 
Channcy  "  of  that  date,  (p.  110,)  which  were  afterwards  accepted 
by  Mr.  Chauncey?  Why,  il'this  view  be  correct,  it  did  not  bring 
peace  to  the  town  and  church,  we  will  consider  further  on. 

Before  we  do  that,  however,  !et  us  examine  another  considera- 
tion. It  is  recorded,  tliat  the  church  enjoyed  great  peace  and 
prosperity  under  the  administration  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blakeman, 
the  first  minister.  Now  what  manner  of  man  was  Mr.  Blakeman  ? 
We  find  tliis  account  of  him  in  the  Manual  of  the  old  First  Strat- 
ford church,  printed  in  1869: 

"The  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  wan  born  in  Staftbrdshire, England, 
A.  D.  1599,  and  was  matriculated  at  Christ's  College,  Oxford, 
May  2&th,  1617.  He  was  a  preacher  for  some  years  in  Leicester- 
shire and  Derbyshire,  and  in  1638  came  to  New  England.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  company  of  settlers  in  Stratford  in  1639- 
40,  and  was  minister  of  the  church  until  his  death,  Sept.  7th  1665. 
Just  previous  to  his  death,  the  20th  of  April- of  tliat  year,  the 
Rev.  Israel  Chauncy  became,  by  vote  of  the  town,  his  assistant. 
Mr,  Blakeman  held  a  prominent  position  among  the  colonial  min- 


904  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

isters.  Cotton  Mather  says  (Magnalia,  book  3d.  chap.  V)  that 
many  of  his  people  came  with  him  to  this  country,  and  that  Hook- 
er once  remarked,  "If  I  miglit  have  my  choice,  I  would  live  and 
die  under  Mr.  Blakeman's  minstry." 

This  is  a  satisfactory  account  of  an  old  Puritan  minister,  truly. 
He  appears  in  the  history  of  the  Colony  only  four  years  later  than 
Hooker  himself,  and  tliough  he  was  thirteen  years  his  junior,  yet 
he  was  his  coeval  in  establishing  the  church  of  God  in  this  wil- 
derness land,  and  so  well  approved  himself,  as  a  minister  of  the 
Most  High,  in  sustaining  the  good  old  Puritan  doctrines,  that 
Hooker,  in  his  love,  admiration  and  enthusiasm,  proclaims  that  he 
fain  would,  could  he  have  his  own  choice,  live  and  die  under  his 
ministrations.  Blakeman  led  his  flock,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
in  the  paths  of  peace  and  the  ways  of  pleasantness.  Even  before 
his  death,  the  questions  concerning  baptism  and  church  member- 
ship began  to  disturb  the  other  churches.  There  is  not  a  particle 
of  evidence,  that  there  was  a  word  of  dissension  in  his  church 
during  his  life.  Was  he  a  Half-way  Covenanter?  If  so,  then 
were  Hooker  and  Stone.  The  former  died,  July  7,  1647,  before 
these  discussions  arose  to  any  considerable  entent.  He,  therefore, 
had  been  converted  to  no  new  theory,  and  Stone  was  firm  as  a  rock 
against  all  innovations.  May  we  not  then  say,  in  the  full  assurance 
of  its  truth,  that  the  Halfway  Covenant  theory  had  not  a  ''Name 
to  live," — nay,  had  not  become  a  disturbing  cause  of  discussion 
diiring  all  his  holy  life,  so  far  as  the  church  at  Stratford  was  con- 
cerned. A.t  the  date  of  his  death  the  discussion  on  these  subjects 
had  waxed  wavju  in  the  colony,  but  such  was  his  influence  with 
his  flock,  it  had  found  no  disturbing  entrance  into  his  church. 
There  is  a  moral  certainty  that  not  a  solitary  Half-way  Covenant 
admission  to  the  church  or  baptism  on  that  theory,  occurred 
during  his  ministry. 

But  the  good  man  was  dead;  his  place  was  to  be  filled,  and 
young  Mr,  Chauncy  "just  turned  of"  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
having  been  born  in  1644,  was  the  candidate.  New  views  were 
abroad  in  the  land,  the  state  of  religion  was  low  and  weak,  and 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  liberty,  which  led  our  fathers  to  found 
their  homes  in  the  wild  woods,  they  exercised  the  freedom  of 
choice  among  the  conflicting  theories.  The  older  communicants 
stood  by  the  "ancient  landmarks  "  so  long  maintained  by' their 
sainted  Blakeman.  The  younger  communicants  aiul  non-commu- 
nicants sou;rht-out  what  seemed  to  them  to  be  "  a  more  excellent 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  N  T    W  O  O  D  r,  U  R  Y  .  905 

way."  Mr.  Cliauncy  had  been  called  to  "  assist  Mr.  Blakeraan," 
and  naturally  sustained  his  views.  He,  therefore,  represented  the 
conservatives.  But,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was  settled  by  the  con- 
current votes  of  both  parties,  after  the  dissentient^^  had  been  able 
to  engraft  the  Half-way  Covenant  theory  into  the  conditions  of 
his  settlement.  Who  was  it  that  insisted  on  this  plank  in  the  plat- 
form? Was  i-t  the  old  communicants,  who  in  April,  1666,  before 
the  adoption  of  this  j)latform  and  the  settlement  of  Mr,  Chauucy,  . 
when  addressed  on  this  subject  by  those  who  afterwards  became 
Mr.  Walker's  adherents,  replied  in  their  "  Church  Answer  to  the 
Men,"  (p.  118,)  "  We  answer  in  the  words  of  Paul  in  another  case, 
wee  have  no  such  custome,  nor  the  Churches  of  Christ  with  whom 
we  hold  communion  f  Or  was  it  rather  those  who  afterwards 
formed  the  new  church,  and  practiced  the  Half-way  Covenant 
plan,  but  did  not  follow  in  the  least  the  Presbyterian  mode  of 
church  government?  There  can  be  but  one  answer  to  these  ques- 
tions. If  the  dispute  was  what  the  "  Stratford  View  "  affirms — a 
dispute  in  relation  to  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  modes  of 
church  government  and  discipline,  it  is  the  most  inconceivable 
thing  in  the  world,  that  neither  of  the  churches,  after  they  were 
well  apart,  and  had  full  liberty  to  do  as  they  chose,  practiced  any 
thing  but  pure  Congregationalism,  If  the  "  Woodbury  View  "  is 
accounted  the  correct  one,  the  subsequent  history  of  the  two 
churches  is  consistent.  The  Woodbury  church  practiced  on  the 
Half-way  Covenant  s}stem  for  ninety  years,  ending  at  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Benedict,  (p.  302,)  in  1760.  The  theory  that  the 
"call"  of  1666  was  a  compromise,  receives  further  confirmation 
from  the  fact,  that  two  members  of  the  church,  viz :  Thomas  Fayre- 
child  and  Thomas  Uffoote,  and  two  of  the  minority,  (church  mem- 
bers,) Ensign  Joseph  Judsonand  Henry  Wakelyn,  were  appointed 
by  the  town  a  committee  to  carry  the  "Town  Propositions"  to 
Mr,  Chauncy. 

But  the  "  Stratford  View  "  insists  that  the  Half-way  Covenant 
plan  was  practiced  by  the  First  church  in  Stratford  from  the  ear- 
liest date  to  which  iis  present  records  extends,  and  that,  clearly,  Mr. 
Chauncy  was  settled  by  the  town  vote  of  June  1,  1666,  on  the 
Half-way  Covenant  plan.  The  latter  branch  of  this  statement  is 
undoubtedly  true.  The  vote  of  1666  is  a  most  perfect  statement 
of  the  Half-way  plan,  and  it  is  also  true  that  Mr.  Chauncy  accept- 
ed his  settlement  on  that  vote.  And  light  here,  wc  apprehend,  is 
the  key  to  the  whole  difficulty.  The  town,  voting  parish-wise, 
5 


906  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBUKT. 

inclufling  in  its  vote  all  its  freemen,  carried  the  "  Half-way  condi- 
tion." But  the  "  ordinances  of  baptism  and  communion  "  could 
only  be  obtained  through  the  church,  i.  e.  the  communicants,  min- 
ister, ruling  elder  and  deacons.  They  held  "  St.  Peter's  key"  to 
these  ordinances,  for  which  the  minority  of  the  church  had  so 
earnestly  striven.  And  in  this  same  vote  of  16GG  (p.  119)  they 
had  established  a  condition  as  to  X\\q.  Jii7iess  of  candidates  for  admis- 
sion to  the  privilege  of  the  Half-way  Covenant,  i.  e.  they  must 
not  be  "  scandalous  in  life."  Under  this  exception,  any  candidate, 
whether  for  the  half-way,  or  for  the  full  covenant,  could  be  arbi- 
trarily kept  out,  by  the  church  officers,  without  a  technical  breach 
of  the  conditions  of  Mr.  Chauncy's  settlement.  And  it  is  believed 
that  this  power,  reserved  under  the  "  call,"  was  exercised,  and 
that  freemen  who  desired  to  own  their  covenant,  in  full  or  paitial 
communion,  were  rejected,  and  thus  the  flames  of  discord  were 
fanned  anew,  and  dissension  intensified  till  the  final  separation. 

On  an  examination  of  the  church  records  at  Stratford,  we  are 
not  able  to  discover  a  single  lialf-way  admission,  or  baptism  under 
that  plan,  for  the  first  ten  years  after  the  formation  of  the  Wood- 
bury church.  The  practice,  by  this  time,  had  become  general 
elsewhere,  and,  having  lost  nearly  half  their  original  number  on 
this  question,  and,  probably,  being  threatened  with  more  loss,  the 
church  succumbed,  and  we  find  the  following  as  the  first  record 
on  the  whole  controversy,  so  far  as  the  first  church  is  concerucd, 
viz : — 

"June  4th,  80."  (1680.)     "At  a  chh.  meeting. 

"  The  whole  consented  that  baptism  be  extended  to  the  Infants 
of  those  qualifyed  according  to  y  *  5  '  prop,  ol  Synod  62." 

Immediately  following  this  vote  is  quite  a  list  of  names  admit- 
ted under  its  provisions  at  various  dates,  mingled  with  such  en- 
tries as  follows,  viz:  "Jonathan  Lum  covenanted  and  was  bap- 
tized." "  John  Bosiwick  and  his  wife  renewed  their  covenant 
and  y '  children  were  baptized,  June  16,  '89."  Sometimes  the  en- 
try is  ''  renewed  their  baptismal  covenant."  On  the  margin  under 
this  vote,  against  a  list  of  several  names,  are  the  words : — "  These 
renewed  Gov  *." 

The  "  Stratford  View  "  is  correct  in  stating,  that  there  is  abund- 
ant evidence  of  practice  under  the  Half-way  plan,  after  the  above 
vote,  but  we  do  not  find  a  particle  of  evidence  of  the  practice  of 
this  plan  at  any  earlier  date.  Between  the  years  of  1723  and 
1736,  the  names  of  about    150  persons   were  entered   as   having 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  907 

owned  the  covenant,  and  having  had  their  children  baptized.  In 
1784,  under  Rev.  Mr.  Stebhins^adminstration,  a  quarter  of  a  century- 
after  the  Woodbury  church  had  given  up  the  practice,  it  seemed 
to  have  gained  a  new  lease  of  power,  and  such  admissions  con- 
tinued at  least  as  late  as  1811.  Mr.  Stebbins  styled  these,  admis- 
sions to  "  Special  Privileges."  The  first  entry  preserved  in  Mr. 
Chauney's  hand  writing  on  the  Stratford  church  records  is — "  Mem- 
bers added  to  the  cluirch  of  Christ  in  Stratford  since  1675." 

Under  tliis  heading  are  admissions  both  before  and  after  the 
date  of  1680,  and  so,  we  suppose,  this  was  the  list  in  which  were 
placed  those  who  were  received  to  the  full  communion.  Though 
the  First  church  records  of  Stratford  are  strangely  meagre  and 
imperfect,  when  we  consider  that  they  were  kept  by  Mr.  Chauncy, 
a  finished  scholar,  who  had  tlie  honor  of  being  elected  "Rector" 
or  "President"  of  Yale  College,  yet  if  any  intelligible  inference  at 
all  can  be  drawn  from  them,  they  must  mean  what  we  here  claim. 

"  What  now,  it  will  naturally  be  asked  on  reviewing  the  con- 
troversy we  have  descibed,"  says  the  eloquent  Scaeva,'  "  what 
made  these  people  of  the  olden  time  so  warm,  and  withal  so  bit- 
ter ?"  Prudent,  good,  forbearing  pei'sons,  that  we  suppose  them 
to  have  been — not  apt  to  "let  their  angry  passions  rise" — why  in 
this  matter  so  quarrelsome  and  so  acrimonious  ? 

"  Well,  in  the  first  place,  such,  as  upon  them,  is  the  usual  eftect 
of  all  religious  dispute.  The  Odium  7^heolo[/icu.)/t\\aH grown  into 
a  proverb!  Religion  lies  so  nearest  the  hearts  of  men  that  they 
find  it  more  difficult  for  this  reason,  we  suppose,  to  endure  diffe- 
rences of  sentiment  upon  theological,  than  upon  other  subjects, 
and  anger  and  pride  of  opinion,  with  the  best  of  us,  are,  after  all, 
the  hardest  passion-horses  of  our  nature  to  bit  and  rein  in.  In 
the  next  place,  a  new,  and  in  some  important  respects  a  different 
generation,  as  compared  with  the  First  Period  of  the  colony,  had 
sprung  up.  Formerly,  there  had  been  great  harmony  in  the 
church.  Though  strictly  Calvinistic  in  doctrine,  and  rigid  in  its 
exaction  of  duties  and  in  its  discipline,  it  had  no  sectaries.  Its 
clergy  walked  in  the  most  endeared  friendship,  like  Moses  and 
Aaron,  with  the  Legislature.  Its  influence  was  rarely  questioned, 
and  almost  unbounded.  Now,  many  of  the  old  ministers  were 
dead,  as  was,  particularly,  Mr.  Hooker.  Quite  a  number  had  re- 
turned to  England.     The  children  of  the  First  Period  had  become 

'  Stuart's  Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,  p.  227. 


008  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

adults.  The  stamp  of  grand-father,  and  grand-mother  was  upon 
most  of  their  parents  who  survived.  New  emigrants  had  arrived, 
less  strict  in  their  views  than  those  who  preceded  them.  A  new 
spirit  was  abroad — one  in  some  material  features  more  liberal,  less 
submissive,  more  inquisitive,  more  progressive,  but  at  the  same 
lime,  under  some  aspects,  less  scriptural,  perhaps,  and  less  pure. 
It  would  of  course  seek,  as  it  did,  increased  freedom  in  the  ad. 
ministration  of  religion.  Fewer,  comparatively,  were  church 
communicants  than  formerly.  Such,  if  of  sober  lives  and  conver- 
sation, would  naturally  strive,  for  themselves  and  for  the  sake  of 
their  children,  to  relax  the  rigid  claims  of  the  church.  Many 
there  were  also  who  begun  "  notoriously  to  forget  the  errand  into 
the  wilderness  " — many  whom  *'  the  enchantments  of  this  world" 
led  "  Sensibly  to  neglect  the  primitive  designs  and  interests  of  reli- 
gion as  propounded  by  their  fathers."  All  such  would  naturally 
look  with  indifference  upon  any  struggle  for  the  preservation 
of  old  ecclesiastical  opinions  and  usages,  or  labor  earnestly 
after  emancipation  from  their  restraints.  Others  there  were  also, 
many,  as  compared  with  former  times,  who -were  decided  sinners — 
who  neither  sought  the  influences,  nor  cared  for  the  duties  of 
piety,  but  who,  on  the  other  hand,  disrelished  its  ordinances,  and 
even  despised  its  demands.  All  such  would  of  course  like  a  quar- 
rel which  tended  to  relax  the  strictness  and  weaken  the  force  of 
Christian  organization — would  help  it  on — would  relish  the  spec- 
tacle of  religious  parties  pitted  in  the  fiield  of  strife, 

"  To  prove  their  doctriue8  orthodox 
]}y  ApostoHc  blows  and  knocks" — 

would  rejoice  even  to  see  each  casting  upon  tlie  other  frowns, 

"  As  when  some  black  clouds 
With  Heaven's  artillerj-  frought,  come  rattling  on, 
Over  the  Caspian." 

''  Under  all  the  circumstances  now  described,  it  is  not  strange 
that  the  controversy  upon  which  we  have  dwelt,  assumed  in  Hart- 
ford the  phase  it  did.  Reasoning  doubtless  from  these  circum- 
stances, but  in  their  nascent  state — when,  like  little  clouds,  they 
were  'no  bigger  than  a  man's  hand' — Mr.  Stone,  singularly 
enough,  at  tlie  very  beginning  of  the  Second  Period  in  our  histo- 
ry, in  a  time  of  profound  calm,  foretold  the  controversy  and  its 
violence,  lie  foretold  it  deliberately,  and  in  a  sermon  preached  in 
1650.     The  churches,  he  said,  will  '  come  to  be  broken  by  schism, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  909 

"and  sudden  censures,  and  angry  removes.' — ere  tliey  are  aware, 
he  added,  there  will  be  in  them  '  prayers  against  prayers,  hearts 
against  hearts,  tears  against  tears,  tongues  against  tongues,  ftsts 
against  fasts,  and  horrible  prejudices  and  underminijigs.' — How 
quick,  alas,  did  his  own  church  become  the  stage  of  all  these  tra- 
gedies?" 

A  graphic  picture,  truly,  of  those  nielanchoh'  times,  but  hap- 
pily not  experienced  to  the  full  in  the  church  at  Sti'atford.  De- 
pletion was  a  sovereign  remedy. 

So  much  in  explanation  and  .support  of  the  "  Woodbury  View." 
We  will  now  take  a  rapid  review  of  all  the  record  evidence  in 
the  case,  introducing  all  original  documents  throwing  light  upon 
the  controversy,  that  were  not  introduced  into  the  first  volume* 
and  see  if  our  view  is  sustained  by  it.  The  whole  colony,  and, 
indeed,  all  New  England,  was  convulsed  with  these  troubles.  The 
General  Court,  even,  could  not  avoid  taking  cognizance  of  the 
controversy,  though  it  dealt  prudently  with  the  questions  which 
were  raised,  and  made  earnest  endeavors  for  a  peaceful  solution 
of  them.     Accordingly,  we  find  the  following  act: — 

October  Session,  1666. 

"This  Court  cloth  conclude  to  consid''  of  some  way  or  meanes  to  bring-  those 
Ecclesiasticall  matters  that  are  in  difference  in  the  Severall  Plantations,  to  an 
issue,  by  stating  some  suteable  accommodation  and  expedient  thereonto,  and  doe 
therefore  order  that  a  Synod  be  called  to  consider  and  debate  those  matters,  and 
that  y  «  Questions  p  ■■  seiited  to  y  ®  Elders  and  Ministers  that  are  called  to  this 
Synod  shalbe  publiquely  disputed  to  an  issue.  And  this  Court  doth  confer 
power  to  this  Synod,  being  met  and  constituted,  to  order  and  methodize  the  dis- 
putation soe  as  may  most  conduce,  in  their  apprehension,  to  atteine  a  regular 
issue  of  their  debates. 

"This  Court  orders  tliat  all  y  ®  Preaching  Elders  and  Ministers  that  are  or 
shalbe  settled  in  this  Colony  at  y  ^  time  of  y*  meeting  of  the  Synod,  shalbe  sent 
to  attend  as  members  of  y  ®  Synod.  This  Court  orders  that  Mr.  Michel,  Mr. 
Browne,  Mr.  Sherman,  and  Mr.  Glouer,  shalbe  desired,  as  from  this  Court,  to 
assist  as  members  of  this  Synod. 

"This  court  orders  that  all  these  Ministers  or  y«  maior  part  of  them  meeting, 
shal  proceed  as  a  Synod,  Provided  thaty®  maior  part  of  y®  Preaching  Elders 
of  ye  Churches  be  present.  The  Synod  is  to  meet  at  Hartford,  vpon  the  S**  Wed- 
nesday in  May.  The  Secretary  is  to  send  this  order  and  y«  Questions  stated  to 
each  Minister  in  this  Colony.  Mr.  Sam^'  Willys  and  the  Sec''y  are  to  write  to 
y"  Elders  in  y^  g^^y  to  request  them  to  attend  what  is  here  desired. 

"  This  Court  doth  order  that  y^  Questions  stated  by  this  Court  shalbe  those 
that  shaibe  considered  and  publiquely  disputed  in  y«  Synod  next  May. 

"  It  is  desired  by  this  Court  and  solemnly  commended  to  y«  Churches  and  peo- 
ple in  this  Jurisdiction,  to  suspend  all  matters  controversall,  and  y«  practice  of 


910  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

them  not  formerly  receaved  and  practised  in  y*  Churches  here  vntil  an  orderly 
decision  be  given  by  y*  Synod  in  May  next. 
The  Questions  to  be  disputed  ; 

1.  Whether  federall  holines  or  couen'  interest  be  not  y*  propper  ground  of 
Baptisme. 

2.  Whether  Comuniou  of  Chs  ,  as  such,  be  not  warrantable  by  the  Word  of 
God. 

3.  Whether  the  adult  seed  of  visible  believers  not  cast  out,  be  not  true  mem- 
bers and  the  subjects  of  Church  watch. 

4.  Whether  ministerial!  ofBcers  are  not  as  truly  bound  to  baptize  the  visible 
disciple  of  X'  providentially  settled  amongst  them,  as  officially  to  preach  the 
word. 

5.  Whether  setled  inhabitants  in  the  Countre}',  being  members  of  other 
Churches,  should  have  their  children  baptized  amongst  vs  wthout  themselves 
iBrst  ordMy  joyneing  in  Churches  here. 

6.  Whether  membefship  in  a  perticular  instituted  Cliurch  be  not  essentially 
requisite  Vnd''  the  gospel  to  entitle  to  baptisme. 

7.  Whether  adopted  children  and  such  as  are  bought  with  money  are  cove- 
nant seed. 

8.  Whether  things  new  and  weight}-  may  be  manadged  in  a  Church  without 
concurrence  of  ofBcers  and  consent  of  the  fraternity  of  the  same  Church  ;  And 
if  things  are  of  comon  concern',  then  how  far  the  consent  of  neighbouring 
Church  is  to  be  sought  for. 

9.  Whether  it  doth  not  belong  to  y«  body  of  a  Towne  collectively,  taken 
joyntly,  to  call  him  to  be  their  minister  whom  the  Church  shall  choose  to  be 
their  officer. 

10.  Whether  politicall  and  externall  administration  of  Abraham's  Coven*  be 
not  obligatory  to  gospel  Ch». 

11.  Vnto  whom  shal  such  persons  repaire  that  are  grieved  at  any  Church  pro- 
cess or  censure,  or  whether  they  must  acquiesce  in  the  Churches  sentence  vnto 
wcli  they  doe  belonge. 

12.  Whether  the  laying  on  of  bauds  in  ordination  of  Elders  belong  to  Pres- 
biters  or  Bretlircii 

13.  W'hether  the  Church  her  invitation  and  election  of  an  officer  or  preach- 
ing l]lder  necessitates  the  whole  Congregation  to  sit  down  satisfied,  as  bound 
thereby  to  accept  him  as  their  Minister,  though  invited  and  settled  without  y« 
Townes  consent. 

14.  What  is  the  Gospell  way  to  gather  or  setle  Ch*. 

16.     From  whom  doe  Ministers  receave  their  comission  to  Baptise. 

16.  W^hethcr  a  Synod  have  a  decisive  power. 

17.  Whether  it  be  not  justifiable  by  the  Word  of  God  that  Civil  Authority 
indulge  Congregation' '  and  Presbiteriai\  Churches,  and  their  discipline  in  the 
Churches.'" 

Here  is  a  statement  of  the  various  (jnestions  in  dispute  in  the 
colony.  Not  all  these  questions  arose  in  every  church.  Now, 
how  many  of  them  arose  at  Stratford,  and  which  were  they? 

*  2  Trumbull  Conn.  Col.  Records,  53. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  911 

We,  who  take  the  "Woodbury  View,"  think  it  was  the  ques- 
tions of  church  cominunion  and  baptism,  that  disquieted  our 
fathers,  somewhat  iusejDarably  joined  with  question's  9  and  13, 
which  inquire  whether  when  a  church  invites  and  is  satisfied  Avith 
a  minister  the  "  whole  consrregation  "  of  non-communicants  are 
bound  to  accept  him  and  "  sit  down  satisfied  "  with  him  "  they  in- 
vited and  settled  w^'\)ut  \*  Townes  consent."  We  tliink  the 
church  at  Stratford  had  previously  chosen  Mr.  Chauncy  in  church 
meeting  as  their  minister,  and  when  met  parish-wise,  the  town 
raised  this  issue,  by  its  vote  of  June  1,  166G,  though  tlie  church 
would  have  been  better  satisfied  with  its  choice  under  the  old 
close  corporation  views,  untrammeled  by  the  conditions  of  that 
vote. 

It  is  to  b<e  particularly  noticed,  that  though  the  town,  by  its  vote 
of  June  1,  160(5,  gave  Mr.  Chauncy  a  "  call,"  and  though  it  was 
so  far  a  compromise  that  two  of  each  party  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  present  the  action  of  the  town  to  Mr.  Chauncy,  and 
though  he  accepted  said  "  call,"  the  truce  did  not  last  long,  but 
the  parties,  later  in  the  year,  were  able  to  "  agree  to  disagree," 
and  each  have  its  own  minister  without  offense  to  any.  Accord- 
ingly, at  a  town  meeting  held  Dee.  18,  1666,  (p.  120,)  the  same 
year  of  the  settlement,  be  it  remembered — they  voted  to  appro- 
priate one  half  of  tlie  ''  sequestered  laud  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  ministr}-,"  and  divide  it  equally  between  Mr.  Chauncy  and  Mr. 
Bulkley,  or  whoever  might  be  obtained  by  the  dissentients. 

The  general  court  at  its  Oct.  Session,  1667,  (p.  121,)  approved 
of  this  agreement  between  the  parties,  conditioned  that  "all  joynt- 
ly"  should  contribute  to  Mr,  Chauncy's  support,  till  the  other 
parly  should  obtain  a  minister.  Early  in  166S,  the  minority  did 
obtain  Mr.  Walker.  It  is  to  be  noticed  in  this  connexion,  that 
the  General  Assembly  acted  with  entire  impartiality  between  the 
parlies,  and  treated  both  Avith  equal  consideration. 

As  soon  as  the  minority  secured  their  minister,  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  General  Court  proceeded,  June  8,  1608,  to  set 
out  the  portion  of  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Chauncy,  under  the  vote 
of  Dee.  18,  1066,  and  on  the  2d  day  of  November,  the  same  year, 
set  out  a  like  portion  of  the  ministerial  lands  to  Mr.  Walker.  Both 
xhese  ministers  signed  an  agreement  in  identical  words,  to  return 
the  lands  to  the  town,  in  case  they  gave  up  the  work  of  the  min- 


912  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUET. 

istry  in  tlic  towu.     A  copy  of  tliis  agreement,  taken  from  the  Con- 
necticut Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  I.,  27,  follows  ;* 

"Apr"  29^111668: 

Att  a  lawfall  Townsmeeting  it  was  voated  and  agreed  y*  y*  land 
being  layd  out  according  to  y®  agreem '  of  y  *  Town  uppon  Mr. 
Chancey  his  subscribing  to  y*  pap"  bearing  Date  herew**'  signify- 
ing his  Acceptance  of  y^  s<^  laud  according  to  y*'  intent  of  y**  s^  Act 
ye  Committee  shall  surreudr  to  y*>  s<^  Mr.  Chancey  full  and  free 
possession  of  y®  same  according  to  ye  s*  Act.  baring  IS^^i^De- 
cemb''  16G6  :  And  w^'as  any  oth^  Minister  is  to  have  and  enjoy  land 
after,  y«  same  mann'^  as  Mr.  Chancey  doth.  It  is  by  y*^  Towne 
voated  and  agreed  y®  29*  Apr'M 668  y*  before  bee  possess  bee 
xShall  subscribe  to  y®  same  as  Mr.  Cliancey  doth  y^  name  onlye  dif- 
fering. 

Apr"  29tiJ  1668: 

Whereas  ye  Committee  ai)poii)ted  both  by  ye^  Towne  and 
Courte  have  layd  out  part  of  y^  sequestred  land  both  upland  and 
meadow  according  to  y^  Act  &  agreem'  of  y»  Town  bearing  date 
Decemb'"  18"'  1666  :  Mr.  Israeli  Chancey  taking  possession  of  yt 
part  granted  to  him  in  y^  s''  Act  liee  doth  subscribing  hereto  de- 
clare his  Accept aiice  of  y^  same  according  to  ye  intent  of  y®  s*^  Act. 
And  wras  there  is  in  y*  act  something  as  Respecting  laying  down 
y®  work  of  y^  Ministry  left  dark,  ye  s^  Mr.  Chancey  doth  hereby 
alsoe  ingage  y*  in  case  hee  lays  down  or  mahes  a  totall  Cessation 
of  y®  s*^  work  in  this  place  then  y®  land  shall  by  him  be  returned 
to  y®  Town  in  like  mann^  as  if  hee  removed  y^  8^^  June,  1668. 

ISRAELL  CHAiSrCEY. 

Subscribed  in  ye  p^'esence  of 
Tiio :  Fayreciiilde,     ^ 
Wm.  Curtiss,  I 

Joseph  Judson        \     ' 

RiCHAUO  BUTTLER,   \      I 

JosEini  IIawley,  j 

Henry  Wakelyn,       J 

Exactly  Coppied  ye  26"»  Novembr.'  166S, 

John  Minor,  Recordr. 

'The  agreement  of  Mr.  Walker  is   dated  (or  subscribed)  Nov.   2,   1668,  and 
witnessed  by  John  Ilurd,  Jeremiah  Judson,  Robt.  Chirk,  John  Minor. 


HISTORY     OF     xVNCIENT     WOODBURY.  913 

At  the  May  Session  of  tlie  General  Court,  held  May,  1CG8,  we 
find  it  enacted  : — 

"May  16th.  This  Conrt,  in  order  to  the  proraoateing  and  es- 
tablisliing  of  peace  in  the  churches  and  plantations,  doe  desire 
reverend  Mr.  James  Fitch,  Mr.  Gei-shoni  Bulkley,  Mr.  Josei)}i  El- 
liott and  Mr.  Samu  Wakeman  to  meet  at  Saybrook,  il  Mr.  Fitch 
can  come  there,  if  not,  tlicn  at  Norwich,  vpon  the  eiglith-or  ninth 
of  June  next — to  consider  of  some  expedient  for  our  ])eace,  by 
searching  out  the  rule  and  thereby  cleareing  up  how  ferre  the 
churches  and  people  may  walke  together  within  themselves  and 
one  \\^^  another  in  the  fellowship  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  not- 
withstanding some  various  apprehensions  amonge  them  in  rnatters 
of  discipline  resjJectijig  'membership  and  hapjtisme,  c&e.'" 

We  think  a  careful  examination  of  all  the  documents  in  relation 
to  the  Stratford  controversy  will  show,  that  its  ever  recurring 
theme  was  of  matters  "  respecting  membership  and  bapti^nie." 
This  difficulty  was  fully  stated  and  often  referred  to,  while  no 
other  grievance,  or  object  of  pararaoimt  desire,  was  ever  distinctly 
set  forth.  A  vote  passed  at  the  May  session,  1669,  seems  to  throw 
light  upon  this  view  of  the  subject. 

"  Tills  Court,  having  seriously  coiipidered  the  great  divisions  amongst  us  about 
Church  Government,  for  the  honor  of  God,  wellfare  of  the  Churches  and  pre- 
servation of  the  publique  peace  so  greatly  hazarded,  doe  declai-e  that  whereas 
the  Congregational  Churches  in  these  partes  for  the  generall  of  their  profession 
and  practice  have  hitherto  been  approved,  we  can  doe  no  less  than  still  approve 
and  countenance  the  same  to  be  wthout  disturbance  vntill  better  light  in  an  orderly 
way  doth  appeare ;  but  yet  forasmuch  as  sundry  persons  of  worth  for  prudence  and 
piety  araongs  t  us  are  otherwise  perswaded  (whose  welfare  and  peaceable  eattis 
faction  we  desire  to  accommodate)  this  Court  doth  declare  that  all  such  persons 
b^nng  allso  approved  according  to  lawe  as  orthodox,  and  sound  in  the  fundamen- 
talls  of  Christian  religion,  may  have  allowance  of  their  persuasion  and  profes- 
sion in  church  ways  or  assemblies,  wthout  disturbance."  ^ 

In  view  of  all  that  precedes,  it  may  be  well  to  recur  to  the 
views  expressed  on  page  115,  and  see  whether  there  be  any  ma- 
terial error  contained  in  tliem.  It  is  objected  in  the  "  Stratford 
View,"  that  the  communication  which  is  there  recorded,  and  which 
is  the  earliest  paper  passing  between  the  parties  that  has  been 
preserved,  is  in  reply  to  a  former  one  from  the  church  proper, 
which  seems  to  have  been  lost.  But,  however  this  maybe,  it  does 
not  alter  the  point  in  discussion ;  for  this  communication,  which 

'  2  Trumbull  Conn.  Col.  Record,  84. 
^  2  Trumbull's  Conn.  Col.  Record,  109. 


914  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

preceded  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Chauncy,  most  clearly  sets  forth 
the  matter  in  dispute,  i.  e.,  the  conditions  or  terms  of  church  mem- 
bership and  baptism.  Language  could  hardly  make  it  clearer. 
They  claim  that  God  "  of  his  free  and  abundant  grace  hath  taken 
us  and  our  seed  into  covenant  with  himself  and  with  his  church 
and  people,  and  hath  given  us  an  interest  in  himself  to  bee  our 
God,  and  taken  us  to  bee  his  own,  giving  us  his  own  discipline  and 
ordinances  for  our  spiritnall  and  eternall  good,  and  owning  us, 
hath  given  us  e<iuall  right  with  yourselves  in  all  his  ordinances, 
his  providence  also  having  settled  us  together  in  this  plantation, 
that  we  might  jointly  together  worshipp  him  in  all  his  ordinan- 
ces^'' declaring  their  "  earnest  desire  to  enjoy  comnmnion  in  all 
of  God's  ordinances,''^  and  further  "  desiring  also  that  wee  and  our 
posterity  may  he  otcned  as  inonediate  metnbers  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  by  you.  At  the  same  time  they  qualify  this  statement  of 
their  claims  and  desires,  by  saying  "  Wee  desire  that  if  any  man 
be  converted  according  to  God's  rules,  and  doe  not  hold  forth  re- 
pentance, then  no  such  person  so  remaining  may  bee  admitted  to 
the  communioti  till  he  hold  forth  repentance."  And  again  in  their 
commuication  of  the  next  month,  p.  110,  they  say,  "we  have  for- 
merly made  known  our  minds  unto  you  in  writing,  as  concerning 
our  desire  of  commi(nio7i  in  all  God''s  holy  ordinances  with  you  j 
holding  forth  unto  you  by  way  of  preference,  our  right  unto  them, 
from  the  free  Grace  of  God  among  us,  and  externally  sealing  the 
privileeges  of  ye  Covenant  unto  us." 

These  petitioners  want  something  that  the  church  will  not  grant 
them.  What  is  it?  Is  it  that  the  church  shall  change  its  form  of 
government  from  the  Congregational  to  the  Presbyterian  ?  Is 
there  a  word  to  countenance  this  idea?  No !  the  very  cry  of  their 
hearts  is,  give  us  church  membership  and  baptism,  foi"  ourselves 
and  our  children.  Give  us  communion  in  all  of  God^s  holy  ordi- 
nances. It  is  our  right.  We  desire  church  admission.  You  re- 
fuse it.  We  are  willing  you  should  examine  us  "  in  respect  of  our 
fayth  and  knowledge."  We  admit  that  the  minister  should  "  take 
particular  knowledge  of  all  those  y*^  are  to  have  coniniunion  in 
the  whole  worship  of  God!!''  But  we  have  "  wholly  and  onely  en- 
gaged ourselves  to  be  the  Lord's".  We  have  been  baptized. 
Therefore,  we  pray  you,  admit  us  as  members  of  the  church  on 
probation,  with  no  right  as  yet  to  come  to  the  table  of  the 
Lord,  subject   to   the   watch,  care   and  discipline  of  the  church. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  915 

and  grant  baptism  to  our  cliildren.     Any  otlier  interpretation  of 
these  two  letters  would  do  violence  to  the  language  employed.  - 

What  is  the  answer  of  the  church,  which  they  style  "Church 
answer  to  the  Men,"  p.  llY,  to  such  earnest  and  respectful  re- 
quests ?     It  follows : — 

"  Neighbours ;  whereas  we  received  two  writings,  the  sum  of 
both  v'hich  was,  to  hold  forth  your  earnest  desire  as  to  communion 
in  all  the  ordivances  of  Christ  with  us.  These  are  to  give  you  to 
understand  that  our  apprehension  concerning  the  order  of  disci- 
pline is  the  same  that  we  have  formerly  manifested  it  to  bee,  both 
by  our  practice,  and  answer  to  your  proposalls.  An^l  whereas  you 
apprehend  you  have  equal  right  with  ourselves  in  all  the  ordi- 
nances of  Christ  in  this  place.  These  may  certifie  you  at  present 
that  we  are  of  a  different  apprehension  from  you  in  that  matter. 
And  whereas  you  desire  that  yoiir  posterity  may :  etc. :  Wee 
would 2mt  you  in  mind  that  as  yet  the  matter  is  in  controversie 
among  the  learned  and  godly P 

Thus  stood  the  matter  in  dispute  between  the  church  and  the 
dissentients  on  the  16th  of  April,  1666.  Six  weeks  later,  on  the 
1st  of  June,  of  the  same  year,  the  town  in  parish  meeting  assem- 
])led  passed  the  vote  giving  Mr.  Chauncy  the  "  call "  of  that  date,  p. 
119,  to  which  allusion  has  so  often  been  made  in  these  pages- 
This  "call"  embraced,  fully  and  clearly,  all  the  principles  of  the 
"  Haif-way  Covenant."  Only  six  weeks  before,  the  church  had 
informed  the  dissentients  explicitly,  that  they  had  not  an  equal 
riglit  in  the  ordinances  of  Christ  with  them,  that  the  right  of  bap- 
tism for  "posterity"  was  a  matter  "in  controversie  among  the 
learned  and  godly,"  and  generally,  "  wee  have  no  such  custome, 
nor  the  churches  of  Christ  with  whom  we  hold  communion." 
Now  every  thing  is  reversed.  What  has  caused  this  change  in 
opinion?  Have  the  scales  hdlen  from  the  eyes  of  the  Church, 
and  have  its  members  become  converted  to  the  lately  inadmissible 
theories,  with  a  suddenness  equalled  only  by  the  case  of  St.  Paul? 
Or,  is  the  "  Woodbury  View  "  right,  after  all,  in  saying  that  the 
dissentient  members  of  the  church,  united  to  the  non-comniunicant 
freemen,  constituted  a  majority  in  town  meeting?  If  it  is  the 
church  that  has  changed,  why  is  it  that  the  "difference"  still  con- 
tinues, insomuch  that  in  December  of  the  same  year,  within  six 
months  of  such  harmonious  action,  they  have  agreed  to  separate 
and  divide  the  ministerial  lands  between  Mr.  Chauncy  and  some 
minister  whom  the  dissentients   should   settle   over  themselves? 


916  IIISTOKY     OF     A  NCIENT    WOODBU  RT. 

Why  is  it,  on  tliat  tlieory,  that  the  church,  iu  the  face  of  the 
"  call "  to  Mr.  Chauiicy  repudiates  the  Half-way  Covenant  system 
till  1680,  while  the  Second  church  {jractices  it  from  the  moment  of 
its  organization,  in  IGlO. 

A  deposition  taken  in  1671,  concerning  events  transacted  in 
1667,  would  go  to  show,  by  inference  at  least,  that  the  dissenti- 
ents did  not  obtain  the  church  privileges  they  desired,  and  so  they 
refused  to  pay  Mr.  Chauncy,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  same 
agreement,  thus  seeming  to  balance  a  breach  of  the  contract  on 
one  side  by  a  breach  of  it  on  the  other.  It  will  be  remembered 
they  were,  by  their  "call"  of  1666,  according  to  their  ability,  to 
contribute  for  the  "comfortable  subsistence"  of  Mr.  Chauncy. 
The  paper  is  as  follows : — 

"  At  a  town  meeting  a  little  after  the  General  Courte  in  May,  in  the  year  1667, 
when  Ml".  Hawley  did  present  a  petition  to  the  said  General  Courte  respecting 
the  Towns  meeting  for  the  laying  out  of  th^  lands  for  the  ministers  :  Joseph 
Judson  did  say,  in  one  town  meeting  at  that  time,  when  Mr.  llawley  did  present 
the  petition. — Mr.  llawley  did  make  a  complaint  agaynst  the  Towne  for  not  pay- 
ing Mr.  Chauncey,  and  he  had  done  the  towne  great  wrong  in  soe  doing.  Mr. 
Hawley  was  absent  when  Joseph  Judson  spake  these  words;  but  he  being  in- 
formed of  what  he  had  spoeke  agaynst  him,  wheu  he  came  in Joseph  Judson 

replyed  unto  Mr.  Hawly  in  these  words, — did  not  Mr.  Gold  say  to  you,  tliat  the 
Towne  had  not  payed  Mr.  Chauncey,  and  you  answered  yes  ;  then  this  was  ask- 
ed Joseph  Judson,  is  yes  a  complaint,  and  he  answered,  if  I  make  account,  it  is. 

Joseph  Judson  further  added,  at  the  same  time,  when  Mr.  Hawley  presented 
the  petition  to  the  Generall  Courte  above  said  Towns  agreement  had  bine  set- 
tled, had  it  not  bine  for  Mr.  Hawley  ;  for  the  Secretary  had  drawn  up  a  wrighl- 
ingfor  that  purpose;  and  he  had  it  to  shew  and,  sayth  he,  one  of  the  bench  said 
to  Mr.  Hawley,  will  you  be  willing  that  the  land  shall  be  layd  out  to  them  for 
their  minister,  as  you  would  have  the  other  part  to  you,  but  Joseph  Judson  closed 
up — with  this  he  answered  nothing,  but  was  silent;  tlieu  the  writing  was  crost 
and  the  matter  was  layd  aside.  Mr.  llawley  answered  ensign  Judson,  that  is  false 
which  you  say  :  then  Lieut.  Curtice  asked  Joseph  Judson  yf  there  was  any  more 
than  one  writing  drawn  up  at  that  Courte  by  the  Secretary,  for  the  settling 
of  the  Town's  agreement,  and  Joseph  Judson  answered  not  that  I  know  of: 
then  Lieut,  made  this  return  to  him,  it  cannot  be  what  you  have  sayd  now,  for  I 
was  present  in  the  Courts,  with  many  others  that  are  here,  when  one  wrighting 
was  drawn  for  that  purpose,  and  there  was  noe  petition  presented  there  at 
that  time,  and  we  know  that  one  of  the  bench  sayd,  the  naked  truth  is,  yf  you 
grant  them  any  thinge,  you  must  grant  them  a  Presbyterian  minister  ;  then  dep- 
uty Gouvn'  we  must  forbeare,  for  we  have  sent  for  the  Elders  to  consider  about 
that  thinge,  and  the  matter  was  layd  aside  upon  this  account.  John  Brinsmead, 
Sen.,  and  John  Peat,  Jun.,  have  attested  upon  oath  to  this  testimony. 

Before  me,  WM.  CURTICE,  Decemr.  12,  1671. 

This  is  a  true  coppie,  according  to  the  original.  Wm.  Hill,  Gierke." 

'  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  1  vol.  37. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    "WOODBURY.  917 

From  the  foregoing  it  would  seem  that  high  words  passed  be- 
tween the  parties,  and  some  of  the  Court  were  becoming  wearied 
with  the  dispute,  and  deemed  it  impossible  to  heal  the  difterences 
without  granting  them  the  right  to  have  a  minister  of  their  own 
choice.  Accordingly,  the  vote  passed  at  the  October  session 
1667,  approving  of  the  town  vote  to  divide  the  ministerial  lands, 
orders  the  freemen  to  contribute  to  Mr.  Chauncy's  support,  '■'•till 
there  he  mi.other  minister  at  Stratford  there  cohabiting.'''' 

The  dissentients  obtained  the  services  of  Rev.  Zechariah  Walk- 
er, early  in  1668,  and  tliough  dissensions  and  disputes  still  con- 
tinued, doctrinal  differences  were  never  again  discussed,  though 
there  were  frequent  allusions  in  their  papers  to  the  subject  matter 
of  tlieir  former  disputes.  The  papers  passing  between  the  |.ar- 
ties  after  this  date,  referred  princii)ally  to  union  meetings,  and 
the  way  in  which  they  should  enjoy  their  joint  property,  the  meet- 
ing-house. They  had  scarcely  got  a  tirm  foot-hold  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  completed  their  house  before  these  dissensions  begun 
and  it  would  be  an  enormous  burden,  in  their  then  impoverished 
state,  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship.  Hence  the  earnestness 
Avitli  which  the  Second  church  insisted  on  a  joint  use,  or  a  use  in 
common,  of  their  church  edifice.  Their  first  pi'02)Osition  to  Mr. 
Chauncy's  party,  therefore,  was,  that  Mr.  Walker  should  preach 
one  part  of  each  Sabbath  in  the  meeting-house,  and  Mr.  Chauncy 
the  other  part,  tluis  joining  the  two  congregations. 

The  first  churcli,  in  its  reply  to  tliis  ])roposition,  (p.  122)  speaks 
of  their  "  differeiit  persuasions  as  to  order  in  the  house  of  God,'' 
and  affirms  "'  that  though  our  differences  be  not  about  "  funda- 
iiientalls  and  essentialls  of  faith  and  Christian  religion,  yet  it 
reacheth  to  the  fundamentalls  of  order  in  church  administrations^ 
which  are  styled,  Ezek.  xliv,  5,  "  The  comings  in  and  goings  forth 
of  the  sanctuary  ; "  and,  "  we  doe  account  ourselves  bound  by 
covenant  to  that  order  and  dispensation  of  the  worship)  of  God 
that  hath  hitherto  been  peaceably  practiced  in  this  church  and 
other  churches  of  Christ  holding  communion  with  us ; "  that  is, 
as  we  say,  the  "  ancient  way "  practised  under  Blakeman,  and 
such  churches  as  those  presided  over  by  Hooker  and  Stone,  when 
no  half-way  theory  disturbed  the  Cliristiau  serenity  of  God's  peo- 
ple. They  further  say,  "  as  to  Mr.  Walker,  he  is  one  whom  we 
desire  to  honour  and  esteem  in  the  Lord  ;  yet  wee  cannot  see  how 
two,  though  godly,  can  walke  together  (especially  two  ministers) 
except  they  be  agreed."     They  therefore  decide  ''  to  retain  and 


918  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

mainiain  those  dis2}ensations  which  we  have  so  dearly  bought,  and 
so  long  enjoyed  without  iuterrupdon." 

It  was  the  church  administrations  that  they  could  not  consent 
to  change — something  connected  with  the  interior  workings  of 
the  church.  They  were  asked  simply  to  unite  services  with  a 
minister  whom  they  honored  and  esteemed,  but  their  theories  of 
membership  and  baptism  were  such,  that  they  could  not  consent 
to  give  such  slight  countenance  to  the  minority  view,  as  would  be 
involved  in  the  innocent  act  of  uniting  "  in  preaching  and  prayer," 
as  advised  by  the  General  Court.  It  was  impossible,  it  would 
seem,  for  the  older  communicants  to  unite  in  adorations  and  sup- 
plications to  Deity,  when  in  an  adjoining  pew  sat  an  unconverted 
man,  who  had  solemnly  owned  his  covenant,  and  promised  to 
strive  to  become  "  perfect  in  the  law,"  and  by  that  means  had  be- 
come entitled  to  every  church  privilege  except,  that  he  could  not 
come  to  the  communion,  nor  hold  church  office.  It  may  seem  to 
us,  at  this  day,  as  illiberal  to  slam  the  gates  of  heaven  in  the  face 
of  those  who  professed  to  be  seekers  after  divine  light  and  divine 
truth — and  force  them  to  seek  church  room  in  the  wilderness, 
while  their  own  hands  had  helped  to  build  a  commodious  church, 
large  enough  to  contain  an  assembly  of  all  the  inhabitants. 

In  their  next  communication,  dated  Dec.  7,  1668,  (p.  123,)  the 
church  urges,  as  a  reason  against  joint  services,  that  though  Mr. 
Walker  is  "  hired,  accommodated  and  settled,  and  in  all  respects 
equally  privileged  with  Mr.  Chauncy,  and  preaching  part  of  his 
worke  for  which  hired,"  yet  "  wee  rather  tremble  to  thinke  that 
we  should  deviate  from  any  rule  of  Xt  and  our  ancient  pattens, 
and  undervalue  our  ancient  Lawes  and  Law-makers,  then  as  some 
tremble  to  thinke  what  will  be  the  end  of  separation."  Besides, 
they  say,  "rule  forbids  us,  which  gives  a  church  power  to  choose 
her  own  feeders.  Mr.  Walker  was  never  chosen  by  us  to  be  our 
feeder ;"  and  "  how  each  minister  can  vindicate  his  own  persua- 
sion, and  dlfferend  Administrations  be  carryed  on  togeiher,  and 
no  disturbance,  each  to  other,  but  peace  be  preserved,  we  see  not." 

Ditferent  administrations  is  here  referred  to,  which  are,  we  think, 
their  "  federal  holiness  "  and  half-way  covenant  plans. 

In  reply  to  this,  Mr.  Walker's  party  speaks  of  "  former  differ- 
ences," ([).  124,)  and  of  the  provision,  by  the  agreement,  for  each 
party  to  enjoy  without  disturbance  the  "  ordinances  of  God  ac- 
cording to  s'  different  persuasions,"  avowing  their  inability  to 
understand  how  "  meeting  or  sitting  together  in  y*'  same  house,  or 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  919 

seat,"  or  "conjunction  in  affection"  could  in  any  way  interfere 
with  their  "different  persuasions"  in  lelation  to  "  ye  ordinances  of 
God."  They  close  by  giving  notice  that  they  shall  occnj)y  the 
house  one  part  of  the  next  Sabbath,  and  hear  their  own  minister, 
giving  Mr.  Channcy's  party  the  choice  of  the  part  of  tlie  d;iy  they 
would  prefer  for  their  own  service.  The  consequence  of  this  no- 
tice was,  that  Mr.  Walker  was  allowed  two  hours  for  his  services, 
between  the  two  services  of  Mr.  Chauncy. 

In  their  statement  of  claims  to  the  General  Court  in  May,  1669, 
Mr.  Walker's  party  says,  (p.  128,)  "wee  have,  at  least,  an  equall 
interest  in  y*^  publick  meeting-house,  with  our  present  opposites, 
and  desire  no  other  improvement  of  it  than  what  religion  and  law 
alloweth  us."  This  would  hint  toward  the  relative  strength  of  the 
two  parties,  while  a  petition  to  the  same  session  from  the  "  church 
of  Christ  at  Stratford,  with  many  of  the  inhabitants,"  (p.  128,) 
shows  a  list  of  forty-tive  names.  At  this  session,  the  Court  gave 
Mr.  Walker  liberty  to  occupy  the  meeting-house  three  hours 
each  Sabbath,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  between  Mr.  Chaun- 
cy's  two  services,  till  the  October  session,  and  advised  both  par- 
ties to  choose,  "  some  indifferent  person  of  piety  and  learning  to 
compose  their  differences."  Their  "  differences  "  at  this  time,  so 
far  as  the  record  shows,  M'as  conlined  exclusively  to  the  way  and 
manner  in  which  they  should  "enjoy  the  use  ot  their  meeting- 
house." At  least,  this  was  the  understanding  of  Mr.  Walker's 
party.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  next  paper  in  order,  of  which  a 
copy  follows,  that  the  First  church  endeavored  to  raise  other 
issues,  and  to  deny  the  only  questions  that  had  hitherto  been  dis- 
cussed. They  allege  that  the  "  differences  "  are  "  matter  of  civil 
concernment,"  when,  during  all  their  disputes,  the  burden  of  dis- 
cussion had  been  about  enjoying  the  ordinances  of  God,  and  not 
one  recorded  word  appears  in  legard  to  civil  differences  on  either 
side  before ; — 

"June  13, '69. 
"  Neibours : 

"  We  are  so  far  from  slighting  Godly  advice  from  Godly  magistrates,  that 
we  honour  both,  and  are  as  ready  as  yourselves  to  attend  it,  according  as  we  con. 
ceive  the  full  latitude  and  compasse  of  it  reacheth.  Therefore,  for  the  advice 
itselfe,  we  would  consider  it :  First  from  the  reason  of  it,  and  that  is  differences ; 
Secondly,  from  tlie  end  of  it,  and  that  is  to  settle  a  peace  amongst  us,  and, 
Thirdly,  it  is  serious  advice,  and  that  appears  as  from  the  end,  so  froni  ye  qualifi- 
cation of  ye  persons  to  be  chose  for  this  end,  viz  :  indifferent,  godly,  and  learned, 
and  then  the  work  for  these  so  qualified  is,  to  compose  our  differences  and  to  set- 


920  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURY. 

tie  a  peace  or  agreement.  Our  worke,  therefore,  we  conceive  is  to  to  state  all  our 
differences,  so  as  the  end  may  be  attained,  and  that  we  conceive  is  your  worke  in 
the  first  place  to  doe  (if  you  please).  But  first  we  will  tell  you  what  is  not  our 
difference  nor  worke  for  advice,  viz:  a  full  improvement  of  our  minister  and  ad- 
ministrations ;  all  our  priviledges,  and  libertyes,  formerly  settled  and  now  con. 
firmed,  are  no  matter  for  us  to  take  adv'ice  in,  and  we  presume  you  so  believe  ; 
therefore  we  would  bo  as  careful  to  attend  the  Courts  act,  as  their  advice,  and 
therefore  not  slight  e3'ther. 

If  it  be  said  what  are  our  differences?  we  conceive  they  are  matter  of  civil 
concernment.  We  have  two  reasons  from  yourselves.  First,  that  you  charge  us 
with  irregularity  in  the  election  of  Town  officers,  as  appears  by  your  protest ;  we 
cor.fesse  if  so  this  is  worke  for  Arbitration.  Secondly,  from  your  presentation  of 
a  paper  of  testimonyes  at  Hartford,  before  some  magistrates  at  the  time  of  the 
Genii  Court,  these  we  are  willing  should  be  considered,  though  we  had  thought 
our  former  advice  had  left  us  ground  of  agreement,  if  it  had  been  received.  But, 
3dly,  as  to  ourselves,  (we  conceive,)  we  have  cause  to  desire  that  we  may  agree 
to  choose  meet  Arbitrators,  according  to  advice,  that  may  judge  of  our  damages 
and  determine  a  reparation  of  them,  which  you  cannot  but  know  are  great,  and 
occasioned  by  your  unjust  molesting  of  us ;  this  being  the  worke,  (and  if  you 
will  not  slight  the  Courts  advice,)  we  d  sire  you  would  name  your  men,  and  then 
agree  upon  time  and  place,  and  so  shall  we."  ' 

The  Second  church  denies  that  "civil  concei'nments  "  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  the  case,  and  insist  that  it  is  their  "  ecclesiastical 
differences  "  which  they  desii-ed  to  have  settled  by  the  arbitrators, 
though  if  there  is  any  thing  else  to  be  fidjusted,  they  are  willing 
that  too  shall  be  decided.     They  propose  as  follows : — 

"Beloved  neighbours:  we  persuade  ourselves  you  cannot  be  altogether  insen- 
sible of  ye  uncomfortable  differences  yt  have  been  so  long  among  us,  and  still  re- 
main uncomposed ;  nor  can  you  be  unmindfuU  of  ye  serious  advice  of  ye  Hon. 
Gen.  Court,  recommended  to  us,  viz  :  yt  that  in  order  to  ye  healing  of  our  differ- 
ences we  shduld  jointly  make  choice  of  some  indifferent  per.«ons  of  learning  and 
piety,  to  indeavour  (at  least,)  to  reunite  us,  and  to  compose  and  issue  our  pi-esent 
differences:  We  therefore,  in  compliance  with  the  advice  and  with  respect  to  ye 
end  therein  proposed,  do  declare  our  readiness  to  join  with  you  in  y^  attending 
of  such  a  hopeful  and  probable  meanes,  for  the  healing  of  our  so  uncon^fortable 
breaches,  and  do  earnestly  request  your  concurrence  with  us  therein  yt  (if  it  be 
possible  there  may  be  a  renewall  of  peace  and  love-  among  us).  You  may  (per- 
haps) persuade  yourselves  that  your  case  is  so  clear  that  yon  need  not  any  advice 
concerning  ii,  and  we  on  the  other  hai}d  may  as  readily  believe  yt  both  reason 
and  equity  are  ingaged  on  our  side  ;  but  this  we  can  easily  be  convinced  of,  yt 
persons  not  interested  in  a  case,  are  in  a  greater  capacity  of  a  right  judgment  con- 
cerning it ;  than  those  that  are  on  ye  one  hand  or  on  the  other  so  nearly  con- 
cerned. As  for  any  difference  among  us  about  civill  affaires,  which  ye  honoured 
court  hath  never  had  any  thorough   inspection  into,  we  cannot  think  it  to  be 


State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  1  vol. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURY,  921 

mainly,  if  at  all  respected  or  intended  in  your  advice,  (though  some  of  yourselves 
in  some  former  discourses  between  us,  have  wholly  restrained  your  advice  there- 
unto,) for  who  can  rationally  conjecture,  yt  ye  worship  would  advise  us  to  make 
use  of  a  councell,  and  that  of  such  persons  as  yy  describe,  for  yy  knew  not  what  ? 
Yet,  nevertheless,  we  are  content  yt  any  such  difference  among  us  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  judgment  of  such  a  councell;  but  the  main  things,  which  we  sup- 
pose were  aimed  at  by  ye  court,  and  wherein  we  desire  ye  help  of  a  councell,  are 
our  ecclesiasticall  concernments,  and  particularly  our  differences  about  the  car- 
rying on  of  ye  worship  of  God  among  us ;  though  we  desire  not  to  exclude 
anything  yt  may  be  thought  of.  which  is  causail  to  disturbance  and  difference 
amongst  us.  If,  therefore,  you  so  far  respect  the  advice  of  ye  court,  or  ye  at- 
tainment of  peace  among  ourselves,  as  to  comply  with  us  in  such  an  indeavor,  be 
pleased  to  signify  your  minds  unto  us  as  soon  as  convenience  will  allow,  yt  we 
may  mutually  apply  ourselves  to  the  prosecution  thereof:  if  otherwise  you  con- 
clude, we  request  you  by  y*  seasonable  communicating  of  your  conclusion,  to 
discharge  us  from  further  expectation.  July  28,  1669, 

Zachariah  Walker, 

Joseph  Judson, 

John  Minor,  in  ye  name  of  ye  rest  concerned  with  us. 

Stratford  Towne  proposal." ' 

The  next  paper  is  from  Mr.  Chauncy's  party,  aud  only  shows 
that  the  two  parties  were  not  agreed  as  to  what  "  differences  " 
the  General  Court  had  advised  them  to  leave  to  arbitration.  The 
Chauncy  party  claimed  it  was  "  civil  differences,"  while  the  Walk- 
er party  claimed  it  was  "  Ecclesiastical  differences."  The  paper 
explains  itself: — 

"  To  ensigne  Joseph  Judson,  to  be  Communicated  to  the  rest. 
"  Loving  Neibours : 

"  We  have  received  a  paper  in  the  name,  but  know  not  whither  with  the 
consent  of  the  rest.  The  names  and  consent  of  them  that  are  called  the  rest,  we 
judge  rational  that  we  should  be  acquainted  with,  and  shall  expect  it  before  any 
further  treaty  with  you.  In  this  your  paper  you  signify  your  desire  of  our  con- 
currence with  you  in  seeking  to  counsel,  in  order  to  the  attendance  of  the  Hon"*. 
Gennll  courts  advice  for  the  healing  of  our  differences,  and  ye  renewal  of  Love 
and  peace  amongst  us.  But  when  we  consider  tlie  further  contents  of  your  pa- 
per, together  with  what  hath  bin  propounded  unto  you  by  some  of  us,  (of  which 
you  might  have  had  a  copy,)  it  seemeth  our  greatest  difference  is  what  is 
difference  ?  We  say  it  is  our  civil  concernments,  not  ecclesiastical,  aud  have 
given  our  reasons. — You  say  not  civil,  but  ecclesiastical — about  the  carrying  on 
the  worship  of  God  amongst  us :  If  you  please,  we  would  consider  your  rea- 
sons as  they  present  themselves  to  us  in  your  paper.  The  first,  Negative  ex- 
prest,  the  second,  affirmative  implycd.  The  Negative  hath  two  parts;  first,  sight; 
secondly,  knowledge.  And  so  your  sense  is  this — the  Hon'^  Genii  court  would  not 

*  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  Vol.  1. 

«  6 


922  HISTORY      OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY. 

advise  us  to  put  our  civil  diflferences  to  the  judgment  of  indiflferent,  pious,  learn- 
ed men,  because  they  had  not  a  through  inspection  into  them,  and  knew  them  not. 
An.  True,  they  knew  them  not  throughly;  yet  in  part  they  did.  And  so,  (ac- 
cording to  your  manner  of  arguing)  no  prudent  man  seeing  two  neighboures  at 
differences,  and  knowing  but  part  of  y  difference,  can  rationally  advise  them  to 

put  their  matters  to  references  and  not  goe  to  Law. You  know  how  to  ajiply 

it.  2.  Affirmative  strongly  implyed,  the  court  did  not  know  our  civils  therefore 
not  advise  us,  the  court  did  know  our  difterences  as  to  ecclesiastics,  therefore  at 
them  they  aimed  in  their  advise.  An.  It  is  true,  indeed,  they  did  hear  a  great 
deal,  and  knew  our  differences,  and  (yourselves  know)  provided  a  Law  for  the 
peace  of  you  and  us,  therefore  could  have  no  aim  in  their  advise  to  ecclesiasticks : 
unlesse  you  will  say  the  Court  indeed  hath  made  a  Law,  and  hath  given  out  to 
this  Church  a  particular  charter  or  grant;  but  have  advised  us  to  leave  it  to  a 
counsel  to  alter  it.  But  we  say  further,  the  court  could  have  no  aime  in  their  ad- 
vise that  we  should  leave  our  ecclesiastical  concernments  to  the  judgment  of  a 
counsel,  when  themselves  have  given  liberty  to  yourselves  as  to  us,  to  enjoy  our 
own  persuations ;  for  would  yourselves  be  willing  to  leave  that  liberty  to  the  ad- 
vice of  a  counsel,  if  thej-  should  advise  you  to  be  of  our  persuations.  If  so  we 
understand  v'^"  ^^'^^  ^^'^''  ^i*^"^'^®  already ;  and  for  our  parts  in  the  matters  of 
God's  worship  (wherein  you  say  our  difference  lyes)  our  desires  are  to  take  the 
cotinsel  of  him  who  is  called  Wonderfull,  and,  if  you  can.  we  cannot  be  so  slight 
in  them  as  to  put  them  to  Arbitration  :  But  we  mind  one  thing  more  in  your 
paper  to  which  we  adhere,  viz:  persons  not  interested  in  a  case,  are  in  a  greater 
capacity  of  a  right  judgment  concerning  it  than  those  that  are  on  the  one  hand 
or  the  other  so  nearly  concerned,  and  such  for  our  civil  diflferenses  we  hope  to 
meet  you  with :  And  if  still  you  say  our  difference  is  in  the  worship  of  God, 
shew  us  in  what  particulars,  and  wherein  wemisse  the  rule,  and  so  by  discharging 
your  duty,  you  will  engage  our  affections,  and  have  greater  peace  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  your  own  persuasions  by  yourselves,  which  we  desire  not  to  hinder  you 
of  Neibours,  we  must  needs  tell  you,  though  we  had  almost  forgot  to  tell  you, 
that  the  paper  we  received  from  you  neither  reachetli  your  promise  (as  we  tooke 
it  up)  nor  our  expectation,  viz:  a  stating  our  differences  in  order  to  counsel 
And  therefore  we  adde  the  following  questions  which  we  desire  a  plain  answer  to, 
that  we  may  not  be  always  beating  the  ayr,  but  come  to  some  conclusion. 

Q.  1.     If  your  differences  be  Ecclesiastical,  then  what  are  thej-? 

Q.  2.  If  such  differences  be  found  from  whom  doe  they  arise,  or  who  acca 
sioned  them. 

Q.  3.     Of  what  standing  or  continuance  are  they  ? 

Q.  4.  Whether  have  you  found  such  men  as  are  uninterested  in  such  differ- 
ences ?     If  so, 

Q.  5.     Who  are  they  ? 

Q.  6.  Whether  if  advise  should  lead  to  the  laying  down  of  your  persuasion^, 
and  acting  contrary  to  them,  you  could  submit  to  it  ?  Upon  a  plain  answer  to 
these  questions  we  shall  come  to  a  conclusion. 

5th,  (6th,)  '69.  Israel  Ohauncy, 

Philip  Grove.     In  the  nane 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  church  and  several  of  our  Neibors."  ' 

'  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  1  Vol. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  923 

The  next   paper,  from  the  First  church  party,  explains  itself: — 

"  For  ensigne  Joseph  Judson,  to  be  communicated  to  the  rest : 

Sept.  10,  '69. 
Loving  Neibours : 

Wee  are  informed  of  a  meeting  of  Revd.  Elders  at  New  Haven,  upon  tlie 
sbcteenth  day  of  the  Instant,  September;  and  have  thought  good  seriously  to  ac- 
quaint you  therewith,  it  being  so  good  a  providence  to  reach  the  end  advised  un- 
to, which  yet  hath  not  bin  attended ;  though  for  our  parts  we  have  shewed  our 
readiness.  Now,  if  you  please  to  make  use  of  the  opportunity,  in  presenting 
anything  relating  to  our  differences,  we  desire  you  will  please  to  let  us  under- 
stand your  miudes,  that  so  we  may  have  some  to  goe  along  with  you,  where  we 
doubt  not  but  you  and  we  shall  have  counsel  that  may  be  suitable  to  our  con- 
ditions. 

Israef  Chauncey, 
Phillip  Grove."  ' 

The  next  communication,  and,  so  far  as  has  been  preserved,  the 
last  but  one  between  the  contestants,  is  from  the  Walker  party, 
addressed  to  the  General  Court  at  its  Oct.  Session,  1669.  It  ex- 
plains itself,  and  gives  a  full  resume  of  the  matters  in  dispute, 
since  they  had  liberty  from  the  Court  to  have  their  own  minister. 
No  epitome  can  do  it  justice,  and  it  is  given  entire,  that  all  may 
see  the  statement  of  fact  and  style  of  its  reasoning : — 

"  Whereas  it  hath  pleased  ye  Hon.  Genii  Courte  to  propound  ye  advice  to  y* 
Inhabitants  of  Stratford  yt  for  the  healing  of  the  differences  yt  are  amongst  us, 
there  should  be  a  councell  mutually  chosen  of  pious  and  learned  men  ;  And  we, 
in  observance  of  yr  s'' advise  have  ])rofiered  our  concurrence  with  our  neibours 
in  improveing  of  such  a  councell,  but  have  had  no  such  return  from  them,  as  in 
reason  wee  might  expect ;  but  instead  thereof,  a  positive  rejection  of  our  motion  ; 
wee  thought  good  to  present  to  the  Hon.  Courte  some  animadversions  uppon  the 
return  we  have  received  from  them. 

"  As  for  yr  introduction,  wherein  they  acquaint  us  yt  they  have  received  a  pa- 
per in  the  name,  but  know  not  whether  with  the  consent  of  the  rest — we  cannot 
but  wunder  yt  our  neighbours  should  make  so  great  a  distinction  when  there  is  so 
little,  or  rather  no  difference.  When  God  separated  ye  tribe  of  Levi,  to  bless  in 
his  name,  Deut.  10,  8,  and  20,  5,  was  it  then  a  rationall  question  whether  ye  ben- 
ediction was  with  divine  consent?  When  David  sent  his  messenger  to  greet  Na- 
ball  in  his  name,  hee  thought  it  not  needful  to  adde  yt  it  was  with  his  consent ; 
nor  was  Naball  such  a  churl  as  to  object  ye  want  of  it :  1  Sam.  25,  5.  When 
David  blessed  the  whole  congregation  of  Israeli  in  ye  name  of  ye  Lord,  there 
was  not  a  man  amongst  them  yt  moved  the  question  whether  it  were  with  the 
Lord's  consent,  2  Sam.  6,  18.  When  our  blessed  Savior  tells  us,  in  Matt.  18,  20, 
that  were  two  or  three  are  gathered  in  his  name,  he  is  in  the  midst  of  them,  who 

*  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  1  Vol. 


924  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

can  think  that  his  consent  is  not  therein  understood?  Many  such  like  Scripture 
instances  might  be  given  to  prove  yt  these  are  consonant  expressions  and  of  like 
import.  But  they  proceed,  and  tell  us  yt  they  think  it  rationall  yt  they 
should  bee  acquainted  with  your  names,  and  consent  of  them  that  are  called  the 
rest,  and  that  they  shall  expect  it  before  any  further  treaty  with  us,  &c.  But  is 
it  rationall  yt  we  must  give  them  each  of  our  names,  and  produce  a  letter  of  at- 
torney impowring  such  as  act  in  behalf  of  the  rest :  And  is  it  not  at  the  same 
time  as  rationall  that  they  which  demand  that  of  us,  should  do  the  like  them- 
selves ?  are  two  names  subscribed  to  yours  sufficient,  with  your  bare  word  that 
it  is  with  the  consent  of  the  Church,  and  are  not  three,  these  subscribed  to  ours 
as  sufficient,  with  as  much  assurance  that  they  were  imployed  by  the  rest  ?  Are 
you  all  soe  notable,  or  so  notorious,  yt  you  neede  no  mention  of  your  names,  and 
we,  on  the  other  hand,  so  obscure  and  unknown  that  we  must  bee  imagined  to 
be,  unless  they  have  our  names  in  writing:  But  not  to  stay  here.  They  further 
acknowledge  our  manifestation  of  our  desires  to  attend  the  courts  advice  in  seek- 
ing tocoimsell,  in  order  to  the  healing  of  our  differences,  what  then  hinders,  yt  It 
should  not  be  attended?  The  reasone  you  give  to  the  contrarj%  are  the  conside- 
ration of  first  the  contents  of  our  paper,  (wherein  we  declare  ourselves  willing  to 
sabmitt  any  differences  amongst  us  to  the  Judgment  of  a  councell,  and,  2nd, 
of  what  had  been  propounded  to  us  by  some  of  yourselves,  viz :  to  make  choyce 
of  a  councell  to  Judge  our  civill  differences,  and  lett  alone  our  ecclesiastical  dif- 
ferences, which  were  the  main  things  upon  which  we  disagreed  :  uppon  these 
considerations  they  are  pleased  to  inform  us  yt  it  seemeth  (we  suppose  to  none 
but  themselves)  yt  our  greatest  difference  is  what  is  difference:  if  yr  were  guiltj' 
of  any  good  reason  it  might  deserve  a  rationall  answer,  but  it  is  as  good  as  it  will 
bee,  onely  by  the  way  it  is  worthy  the  noting,  yt  ye  same  persons  yt  have  by 
word  of  mouth  professed  yt  they  know  of  no  ecclesiastical  differences  amongst 
us,  and  yt  in  the  writing  doe  affirm  yt  their  greatest  difference  amongst  us  is 
what  is  difference,  or  in  other  words  what  it  is  to  differ,  doe  yet  with  all  profess 
that  our  differences  are  such  that  they  cannot  joyn  with  us  in  any  act  of  worship, 
how  they  will  reconcile  those  we  may  soon  inquire :  then  they  can  rationally  an- 
swer. Whereas  they  subjoin  their  and  our  opposite  apprehensions  concerning 
the  differences  amongst  us  intended  in  the  courts  advise  ys  yt  onely  civil  affayres 
are  therein  intended,  and  thot  ecclesiastical  concernments  were  maynly  respected. 
It  may  remain  with  the  Hon  courtc  to  give  the  sense  of  their  own  advice.  As 
for  the  antick  analysis  of  our  reasons  lor  our  apprehension  in  the  above  sd  re- 
spect, it  will  not  be  wortli  inck  and  paper  to  write  out  an  answer  thereunto,  onely 
one  thing  therein  must  not  be  wholly  omitted,  viz:  yt  aspertion  they  cast  uppon 
us,  yt  after  our  manner  of  our  arguing,  (in  our  reasons  so  prove  that  our  ecclesi- 
astical concernments  were  maynly  intended  in  yt  courts  advise).  No  prudent 
man  seeing  two  neibours  at  difference  and  knowing  but  part  of  their  difference,  can 
rationally  advise  y^to  put  the  matter  to  reference,  and  not  goe  to  law  ;  in  answer 
whereunto,  lest  it  be  considered  whether  none  but  pious  and  learned  men  are 
competent  judges  of  ordinary  differences  betwixt  neibour  and  ueibour,  wc  arc- 
ready  to  think  that  civill  honest  men,  though  unlearned,  might  serve  their  turn. 
Whereas  they  are  pleased  to  argue  yt  the  courte,  in  their  advice,  could  have  no 
aim  that  we  should  leave  our  ecclesiastical  concernments  to  ye  judgment  of  a 
counsell,  seeing  they  have  given  liberty  to  us  as  well  as  our  neibours  to  iiijoy  ©ur 
own  persuasions,  and  wee  (as  they  suppose)  would  be  unwilling  to  leave  yt  lib- 


HISTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  925 

berty  to  the  advice  of  a  councell,  if  they  should  advise  us  to  be  of  the  same  per- 
suasion with  them,  our  neibours.  As  to  the  first  pretense  of  argument  herein 
imployed,  we  answer,  that  though  the  court  hath  given  hbberty  to  them  in  our 
different  apprehensions,  j^et  we  persuade  ourselves  that  it  would  be  no  unwell- 
come  news  to  the  court  to  hear,  that  our  differences  were  well  issued,  and  we 
united.  As  for  the  latter  argument,  from  our  unwillingness  to  leave  our  libberty 
to  a  councell,  if  they  should  advise  us  to  be  of  different  persuasions,  wee  cannot 
think  that  it  was  the  thing  aimed  at  bj'  the  court  in  propounding  a  councell,  that 
they  should  tell  us  of  what  persuasion  we  should  he,  but  rather  yt  they  should 
advise  how  we  might  manage  our  different  persuasions  so  as,  notwithstanding 
them,  to  mayntain  love  and  unity  amongst  us.  And  whereas  they  further  adde 
yt  we  have  bin  allready  advised  to  be  of  your  persuasion,  we  must  profess  yt  we 
never  yet  knew  the  man  yt  was  so  absurd  and  irrationall  as  to  give  us  yt  advice : 
Whereas  they  furtlier  inform  us  of  their  desires  to  take  the  councell  of  him  who 
is  called  Wonderful,  let  it  be  considered  whether  that  be  wholly  inconsistent  with 
taking  advice  from  pious  and  learned  men ;  if  so,  the  courte  is  more  to  blame 
than  we,  for  advising  thereunto,  nor  can  their  worships  be  excused  in  the  next 
clause,  wherein  our  neibours  tell  us,  that  if  we  can,  they  cannot  be  so  slight  in 
matters  of  worship  as  to  put  them  to  arbitration ;  for  we  have  desired  nothing 
of  them  but  which  the  courte  advised  unto.  So  if  we  are  guilty,  slightness  for 
offering  to  attend  the  courts  advice,  W  is  the  courts  for  propounding  it?  But 
they  further  tell  us  of  one  thing  in  our  paper  to  which  they  adhere,  viz :  that 
persons  not  interested  in  a  case  are  the  fittest  judges  concerning  it ;  but  if  they 
adhere  to  this,  as  they  pretend,  what  means  the  following  expressions  :  that  such 
for  our  civill  differences  they  hope  to  meet  us  with,  but  why  not  for  our  ecclesi" 
astical  differences  likewise  ?  Are  not  men  as  lyable  to  pride,  self-love  and  par- 
tiality, in  ecclesiastical  as  in  civill  differences  ?  But  their  will  is  sufficient. 
They  go  on,  that  if  we  affirm,  (what  tliey  know  to  be  true,)  yt  our  grand  differ- 
ence is  about  the  worship  of  God,  we  should  show  them  wherein  they  miss  their 
rule,  but  what  shall  we  gettytV  They  tell  us  we  shall  thereby  discharge  our 
duty,  engage  their  affections  and  have  the  greater  peace  in  ye  injoyment  of  our 
own  persuasions,  by  ourselves  ;  but  it  seems  we  shall  not  attayn  their  company 
in  conjunction  with  us,  notwithstanding:  no,  though  should  most  convincingly  shew 
them  that  wherein  they  differ  from  us,  they  mias  their  rule,  j'et  still  we  must  not 
hope  for  any  more,  but  a  peaceable  injoyment  of  our  own  persuasion  by  our- 
selves: as  for  them,  it  seems  they  are  resolved  in  their  way,  hit  or  miss,  and 
will  rather  separate  from  their  rule,  than  conjoin  with  us.  But  to  proceed,  they 
further  inform  us  (as  a  tiling  by  no  means  to  be  omitted)  that  our  writing  did  not 
answer  their  expectation,  nor  our  pronnse  as  they  took  it  up:  as  for  their  ex. 
pectation,  we  must  let  it  alone  to  themselves  to  explain  what  it  was.  As  for  any 
promise  they  had  from  us,  we  know  not  that  in  the  least  we  have  fayled  to  ac- 
complish it.  But  for  a  conclusion,  they  are  pleased  to  propound  an  halfe-dozen 
'of  questions,  uppon  our  answer  to  which  they  promise  to  come  to  some  conclu- 
sion. But  let  it  be  remembered  yt  they  have  denyed  us  any  further  treaty  till 
they  have  a  list  of  our  names,  and  something  to  manifest  the  consent  of  all  our 
party  with  any  imployed  by  them:  so  that  unless  we  will  answer  their  insolent 
demands,  uppon  that  account,  an  answer  to  their  questions  will  be  of  little  value* 
And  farther,  lest  it  be  considered  yt  if  our  proffering  to  attend  the  courts  advice, 
in  submitting  our  differences  to  the  judgment  of  a  counsell,  doth  ingage   us  to 


926  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

answer  those  questions  of  yours,  certainly  the  courts  advising  us  to  so  doe  doth 
much  more  ingage  them  to  make  their  responsive  part  of  the  catechize  unto  y' 
worships  ;  therefore  we  shall  wholly  refuse  it.  Some  time  after  our  receipt  of 
yours,  we  received  another  paper,  inviting  us  to  a  counsell  or  meeting  of  Elders  at 
New  Haven.  But  how  much  reason,  ingenuity,  or  verity  y''  paper  contayns,  is 
■worth  y''  inquiry.  First,  they  tell  us  they  thought  good  to  acquaint  us  with  such 
a  meeting,  as  a  good  providence  in  order  to  the  attaynraent  of  the  end  aimed  at 
in  y"  courts  advice,  and  yet  themselves  have  before,  once  and  again,  peremto- 
rily  refused  to  submitt  any  ecclesiastical  differences  amongst  us  to  the  judgment 
of  a  counsell.  Again  they  desire,  if  we  will  make  use  of  that  opportunity,  that 
we  should  acquaint  them. 

This  is  a  true  copy  according  to  the  originall,  examined  by  me. 

Mr.  Wm.  Hill,  Clarke." 

The  result  of  this  application  to  the  October  Session,  1669,  was 
a  resolution  advising  the  First  church  to  comply  with  the  desire 
of  Mr.  Walker's  party,  to  have  union  services,  allowing  Mr.  Walk- 
er to  preach  one  part  of  each  Sabbath.  The  church  did  not  heed 
this  advice,  but  excluded  them  from  the  church  entirely.  No 
more  appears  of  record  till  Sept.  29,  1670,  following  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  new  church,  by  consent  of  the  neighboring  churches, 
May  5,  1670,  when  a  communication  was  addressed  to  the  First 
Church,  (p.  130,)  sadly  complaining  of  the  treatment  they  had  re- 
ceived,by  which  they  had  been  made  such  "causeless  sufferers," 
and  the  "house  of  God  and  religion  suffered  as  well  as  we" — 
asking  "  that  you  would  so  far  bethinke  yourselves  what  injury 
you  have  done  us  in  excluding  us  from  the  place  of  publick  wor- 
ship, wherein  you  know  our  right  to  be  as  good  as  yours,  and  how 
unwilling  yourselves  would  have  beene  to  be  so  dealt  with, — as  to 
suffer  us,  wnthout  any  molestation  or  disturbance,  to  return  to  the 
enjoyment  of  that  our  right  in  the  meeting-house,  therein  to  have 
the  improvement  of  our  minister  one  part  of  each  Sabbath."  If 
they  wished  "  to  oppose  and  resist  so  rationall  and  just  a  propo- 
sition as  this,"  then  they  proposed  to  divide  the  town,  and  sepa- 
rate, "  that  so,  by  the  removall  of  one  party,  there  may  at  length 
be  a  cessation  of  those  so  long  lasting  troubles  that  have  been 
amongst  us."  They  also  gave  notice  that  they  should,  in  case  no 
arrangement  was  made,  apply  to  the  General  Court.  They  did  so  » 
apply,  at  the  Oct.  Session,  1670,  and  a  conimittee  was  appointed  to 
"  view  the  lands  desired,  and  consider  the  proposition,  but  nothing 
was  effected  by  the  committee,  nor  was  any  report  made.     There 


'  State  Archieves,  Eccleeiastical,  1  Vol. 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY,  927 

is  no  record  of  any  other  action  in  the  matter,  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities  of  the  Colony,  til)  May,  1672,  when,  as  we  have  seen, 
on  the  advice  of  Gov.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Walker  and  his  church  were 
granted  lands,  and  allowed  to  found  a  new  town  at  Pomperaug. 

The  Second  church  of  Stratford  was  organized  under  Rev.  Zech- 
ariah  Walker,  as  pastor,  May  5,  1670.  A  clear  liglit  is  thrown 
upon  the  nature  of  the  dissensions  for  the  last  three  preceding 
years,  when  in  Oct.  1667,  the  dissentients  had  been  granted  au- 
thority to  have  a  minister  for  themselves.  He  says,  in  the  open- 
ing of  his  history  of  the  Second  church  : — 

"  After  great  indeavours  for  an  union  wtii  ye  former  chh.,  aud  much  patience 
therein,  wn  long  experience  had  too  pLainly  evidenced  yr  irremovable  resolution 
to  oppose  an  union  wth  us,  though  nothing  had  appeared  of  any  such  great  dis- 
tance hi,  our  apprehensions,  as  might  be  inconsistent  y'  with  :  All  hopes  of  suc- 
cess in  our  indeavours  being  at  length  taken  away,  we  thought  ourselves  bound 
to  seek  after  ye  injoyment  of  ye  ordinances  of  God  in  a  distinct  society,  finding 
ye  door  shut  agst.  or  attaining  it  in  any  other  way :  we  did  yrfore,  first  more  pri- 
vately (by  reason  of  ye  great  opposition  wrwtli  we  were  attended)  set  apart  a 
day  of  solemn  humiliation,  <fec." 

Mr.  Walker  says,  (p.  131,)  that  nothing  of  any  "such  gfeat  dis- 
tance "  between  their  several  opinions  existed,  as  might  prevent 
"  an  union."  We  should  also  think  not,  for  since  the  Oct  Session 
of-  the  General  Court  in  1667,  there  had  been  no  matter  of  discus- 
sion between  them,  except  to  determine  whether  they  could  agree 
on  joint  services  in  "  preaching  and  prayer,"  in  their  joint  prop- 
erty, the  meeting-house,  and  failing  in  that,  to  see  if  they  could 
agree  on  separate  hours  of  the  day  in  which  each  party  might  attend 
the  services  of  its  own  minister.  The  First  church  was  unbending 
throughout.  They  would  not  have  union  meetings.  They  would  not 
consent  that  Mr.  Walker  should  occupy  the  meeting-house  either 
part  of  the  Sabbath.  By  the  order  of  the  Court  they  must  not  dis- 
turb the  First  church.  They  must  obtain  their  rights  peaceably. 
The  First  church  insisted  they  would  be  dkturbed,  if  the  Second 
church  occupied  the  house  either  part  of  the  day,  and  so  they  kept 
them  out.  There  was  no  matter  of"  great  distance"  at  issue,  but  hav- 
ing the  advantage,  they  would  not  accord  them  even  their  just  rights. 

It  is  to  be  noted,  that  the  neio  Stratford  church  was  organized 
by  "  y^  approbation  of  ye  chhs.  of  Fairfield,  Killingworth  and 
ye  7iew  churcJt  at  Windsor."  What  was  this  new  church  at  Wind- 
sor ?  Was  it  formed  on  the  Hooker  and  Stone  plan,  or  was  it 
formed  as  a  result  of  the  diiferences  there  in  regard  to  "  church 
membership  and  baptism  ?" 


928  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Thus  have  we  carefully  examined,  and  discussed  each  recorded 
trace  of  the  facts  connected  with  the  church  dissentions  at  Strat- 
ford, with  calmness,  and  with  the  earnest  desire  to  arrive  at  the 
truth.  As  the  accuracy  of  the  former  conclusions  of  the  writer 
had  been  called  in  question,  after  they  had  passed  into  several  his- 
torical works,  and  become  embedded,  so  to  spealc,  in  the  history 
of  the  State,  the  duty  to  re-examine  the  subject  became  imperative. 
The  reader  now  has  before  him,  in  the  two  volumes  of  this  work, 
every  thing  now  extant  that  has  been  recorded  concerning  this 
controversy,  so  far  as  we  know  or  believe,  as  well  as  the  diftering 
theories  of  the  *' Stratford "  and  ''Woodfeury  Views,"  and  each 
One  can  form  his  conclusions  for  himself  While  the  writer,  from 
his  renewed  examination,  has  only  become  more  confirmed  in  the 
theory,  that  the  subject  matter  of  the  disputes  at  Stratford  re- 
lated principally  to  the  Half-way  Covenant  system  and  cognate 
theories,  and  not  to  simple  differences  about  adopting  the  modes 
of  Congregationalism  or  Presbyterianism,  he  will  in  no  wise  be 
disturbed  if  others  should  come  to  a  different  conclusion.  The 
truth  of  history  required  him  to  present  the  evidence,  and  that 
being  dt)ne,  his  responsibility  in  this  regard  is  ended. 


CHAPTER    IV 


CIVIL    HISTORY. 


Accuracy  of  American  History  ;  Characteristics  of  the  Fathers  ;  Free 
Home-lots;  Comments  on  the  "Fundamental  Articles;"  Lower  Nonnewauq 
Falls;  Old  Mill-stones;  Bethel  Rock;  The  First  Meeting-house;  Sec- 
ond Meeting-house;  Sabbath-day  Houses;  Church  Customs;  Bear-hill  and 
Ragland  Sheep  Pasture  ;  Drumming  for  Church  Meetings  ;  First  Arti- 
ZANS ;  Wooden  Shoes;  Ride  and  Tie;  Going  to  Church;  Iron  Kettle; 
Quassapaug  Scene  ;  Reflections. 

HERE  is  one  peculiarity  in  the  his- 
toiy  of  our  nation  which  applies  to 
no  other.  We  go  back  to  the  ear- 
liest days,  and  record  all  the  mi- 
nute events  of  our  own  origin. 
There  is  no  nation  except,  perhaps, 
the  Jewish,  that  undertakes  to  do 
this.  We  record  the  annals  of  our 
time,  step  by  step,  noting  every 
event  as  it  occurs,  with  great  particularity  and  accuracy.  "  No  one 
of  the  present  nations  of  Europe  can  tell  a  word  of  their  earliest  an- 
cestors ;  or  even  specify  the  century  in  which  their  territory  was 
first  taken  possession  of  by  them  ;  but  all  is  as  involved  in  obscurity 
as  are  the  years  before  tlie  flood."  Scarcely  more  is  known  of  them 
than  of  the  location  of  the  Garden  of  Eden.  All  their  early  history 
is  a  mithical  period,  and  one  scarcely  knows  where  their  authentic 
annals  begin.  But  it  is  far  different  with  our  early  history  as  a  na- 
tion. We  know  the  men  who  said  they  would  be  free,  and  who  laid 
the  foundation  of  this  mighty  republic.  We  know  whence  they 
came,  the  spot  to  whicli  they  came,  the  object  for  which  they 
came,  and  the  year,  the  month,  and  the  day  they  took  possession." 
They  began  at  once  to  make,  and  require  of  their  officers  the 
keeping  of  records  of  all  events  of  interest  in  their  independent, 
civil  communities.  Neglect  was  punished  with  severe  penalties. 
"  Our  nation  owes  a  lasting  debt  of  gratitude  to  our  ancestors, 
for  their  fidelity  in  recording  tihe  incipient  steps  taken  by  them  in 


930  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    "WOODBURY. 

settling  this  new  world."  We  have  seen,  in  the  preceding  pages, 
with  what  care  our  fathers  preserved  the  history  of  the  events, 
painful  in  themselves,  which  resulted  in  the  settlement  of  our 
town.  We  respect  them  for  it.  If  they  had  faults,  they  dared 
confess  them,  and  meet  such  retribution  as  properly  attached  to 
them.  It  is  the  great,  apparent  trait  in  our  ancestors,  one  on  which 
they  seemed  to  pride  themselves,  that  they  studied  deeply  the 
questions  that  interested  them,  formed  their  opinions  deliberately, 
and,  having  become  assured  that  any  particular  course  or  theory 
was  right,  they  dared  avow  and  defend  it,  whatever  might  be  the 
consequences  of  such  avowal  or  action.  It  is  to  be  remembered, 
always,  that  they  were  cut  off  from  nearly  all  the  privileges  which 
"we  possess.  They  had  fled  to  a  wilderness  inhabited  by  savages 
and  wild  beasts.  They  were  paor.  They  had  but  the  bare  neces- 
saries of  life,  forced  from  an  unwilling  soil.  They  had  neither  the 
daily  nor  weekly  newspaper,  bringing  them  intelligence  and 
useful  information  from  the  whole  civilized  world.  Books  were 
rare,  and  of  schools  there  were  none,  till  they  were  able  to  "  set 
them  up  "  amid  the  forests.  Laborious  days  and  nights  were  con- 
tinually required  to  eke  out  the  naked  requirements  of  humanity, 
and  to  reclaim  and  cause  the  desert  lands' to  bud  and  blossom  as 
the  rose,  and  make  |)ossib]e  the  introduction  of  a  more  refined 
civilization.  Yet  they  had,  thanks  to  the  old  Puritan  care,  the 
rudiments  of  an  education.  Most  of  them  could  read  and  write, 
and  search  the  holy  Scriptures.  Many  were  from  the  more  intel- 
ligent classes  and  higher  walks  in  life  in  the  old  world,  who  had 
fled  to  tliis  new  hind  for  opinion's  sake.  And,  above  all,  they 
"  had  a  scholar  to  their  minister " — a  learned  man — "  in  every 
town  and  village."  Their  religion  was  intellectual  and  doctrinal, 
rather  than  emotional,  and  the  consequence  was,  that  while  they 
felled  the  forests  and  tilled  the  stubborn  soil,  they  thought  deeply, 
were  imbued  with  the  importance  of  the  conclusions  to  which 
they  arrived,  and  the  inspirations  that  glowed  in  their  hearts, 
while  an  overwhelming  sense  of  the  "justice  and  majesty"  of 
God,  whose  servants  they  were,  to  shew  forth  his  glory  on  earth, 
made  them  tully  persuaded,  that  each  important  act  of  theirs 
should  be  recorded,  and  have  its  controlling  influence  on  the  gen- 
erations. Hence  the  care  they  took  of  their  records.  Hence  the 
fact,  that  we  are  so  perfectly  informed  of  all  the  past  of  our  country. 
In  looking  over  the  early  acts  of  our  fathers,  another  thing  at- 
tracts out  attention,  and  that  is  the  care  with  which  they  selected 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  931 

their  associates  in  founding  their  new  town.  With  their  first  as- 
sociates they  were  well  acquainted.  They  had  battled  with  them 
side  by  side,  in  their  contests  with  the  First  church,  for  six  years. 
They  knew  how  reliable  they  were,  and  they  simply  covenanted 
with  each  other,  that  they  would  make  the  new  plantation  "  their 
dwelling  place  four  whole  years  after  y*  such  y'  removal,  before 
they  shall  have  liberty  to  dispose  of  their  Accommodations  y'" 
granted  thein.  Granted  to  any  other  person  in  the  way  of  sale, 
or  alienation,  to  prevent  discouragement  to y^  s'  plantation."  And 
even  after  this  time  had  elapsed,  the  owner  could  sell  or  let  his 
property  to  no  person,  "  but  such  as  y^  town  shall  approve  of." 
But  that  there  should  be  no  hardship  in  the  matter,  the  town,  on 
its  part,  agreed  either  to  purchase  the  lands  of  any  person  who 
desired  to  sell  and  remove,  or  approve  of  purchasers  who  were 
"blameless  men  in  their  conversation,  with  certificates  according 
to  law."  They  not  only  desired  to  plant  and  establish  the  right 
institutions,  but  to  make  it  certain  that  they  should  be  preserved 
to  all  time. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  removing  to  the  wilderness,  there 
was  no  expense  for  land.  The  town  lands  were  free,  so  far  as  any 
colonial  charge  was  concerned.  There  were  expenses  in  clearing 
the  territory  of  the  rights  of  the  original  proprietors,  expenses  of 
removal,  and  various  other  joint  charges,  which  must  be  defrayed. 
Though  all  our  fathers  were  poor  on  their  first  entrance  on  these 
western  lands,  yet  there  were  distinctions  even  among  them  in 
their  worldly  possessions.  For  this  provision  was  made,  that 
every  thing  might  be  done  according  to  the  rules  of  equity  and 
justice.  The  charges  mentioned  constituted  the  indebtedness  of  the 
new  colony.  The  lands  constituted  their  capital,  or  wealth,  which, 
pursuant  to  their  grant  from  the  General  Court,  and  their  own  ar- 
ticles of  association,  (p.  39,)  they  were  to  divide  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  they  severally  contributed  to  the  expenses  of  estab- 
lishing the  plantation.  Meanwhile,  they  reserved  liberal  quanti- 
ties of  land  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  the  establishment  of 
a  school,  and  for  the  accommodation  of  such  new  settlers  as  they 
should  approve  and  admit  to  become  inhabitants,  which  newly 
received  inhabitants  were  allowed  a  proportion  of  the  lands  on 
paying  into  the  town  treasury  a  sum  sufficient  to  7nake  them 
equal  with  the  "  first  removing  proprietors."  They  granted  "  ac- 
commodations," without  a  pecuniary  payment,  to  skilled  artizans 
and  professional  men,  as  an  inducement  to  settle   with  them,  and 


932  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

enable  them  to  avail  themselves  of  their  educated  skill.  Accord- 
ingly, we  find  that  they  thus  endowed  the  town  miller,  blacksmith,' 
fuller  and  a  physician — but  not  the  lawyer — that  was  reserved  to 
a  later  and  more  luxurious  period.  This  mode  of  land  division 
was  not  very  dissimilar  to  the  present  "  homestead  law,"  for  the 
encouragement  of  settling  our  western  lands.  After  the  settle- 
ment each  inhabitant  was  to  pay  his  share  of  the  public  expenses,  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  his  land  received  from  the  common 
stock,  without  regard  to  the  amount  of  personal  property.  To 
effect  this  purpose,  "Adjusters'  Books"  were  kept,  and  lands  sold, 
or  purchased,  or  set  out  in  their  land  divisions,  were  added  to,  or 
subtracted  from  their  land  accounts,  and  thus  a  perfectly  certain 
basis  for  taxation  was  furnished.  There  was  no  chance  for  the 
concealments  which  are  now  so  abundantly  furnished  by  our  mode 
of  assessments  and  taxation,' 

Another  particular  in  the  Fundamental  Articles  is  to  be  noticed, 
(p.  40).  It  is  the  condition  by  which  all  enga<jed,  "  each  for  him- 
selfe  not  only,  that  wee  will  not  any  way  disturb  y*  peace  y'in, 
but  also,  that  we  will  personally  subject  ourselves  to  that  Ecclesi- 
astical Government  that  shall  be  there  established,  or  practised 
agreeable  to  5^  Word  of  God,"  and  agreed  to  forfeit  their  lands, 
and  all  interest  in  the  plantation,  in  case  of  a  breach  of  this  con- 
dition. They  had  just  issued  from  a  religious  dissension,  which 
ran  through  several  years.  It  had  become  necessary,  on  this  ac- 
count, to  remove  into  the  wilderness,  and  they  resolved  that  they 
would  so  order  their  affairs,  that  there  could  never  be  a  similar 
occurrence  in  their  day  and  generation.  Doubtless  from  this  con- 
dition, in  some  measure,  may  we  attribute  the  fact,  that  there  was 
no  schism  in  the  church,  involving  a  division  of  its  membership, 
for  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty  years.  Six  Societies  had, 
meanwhile,  been  permitted,  in  brotherly  love,  to  set  up  for  them- 
selves, made  necessary  by  the  increase  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the 

'May  13,  1706,  the  town  voted  a  ten  acre  accommodation,  -with  tlie  accompa- 
nying interest  in  all  the  land  divisions,  to  "Mr.  Samuel  BuU^lf  Farmington," 
provided  he  should  reside  in  town  for  the  space  of  six  years,  and  carry  on  the 
"trade  of  a  Smith  in  the  town."  Mr.  Bull  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  and  a 
man  of  note  in  Farmington,  before  his  removal  to  Woodbury.  He  did  not  exer- 
cise the  functions  of  a  deacon  after  his  removla  here.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
only  daughter  of  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker,  and  died  without  children. 

A  ten  acre  accommodation  (p.  73)  was  also  granted  to  Abraham  Fulford,  in 
1700,  being  ''a  well  accomplished  person  for  carding  wool,  weaviug  and  fulling 
cloth." 


HISTOEY      OP      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  933 

conveniences  of  location,  which  became  the  nucleus  of  towns, 
that  have  since  been  incorporated.  It  was  a  wise  provision,  and 
brought  forth  good  and  abundant  fruits. 

These  articles  were  made  and  signed  in  Stratford.  Every  thing 
was  prepared  and  fully  agreed  upon,  before  they  buried  themselves 
in  the  depths  of  the  wilderness.  It  was  a  great  undertaking,  in 
those  early  days  of  want  and  privation.  It  is  difficut  to  imagine 
that  overwhelming  sense  of  duty  Avhich  could  impel  them  to  this 
step,  when  there  was  room  enough  and  to  spare  in  the  beautifully 
shaded  Stratfoixl,  on  the  pleasant  shores  so  gently  laved  by  the 
ever-murmuring  sea  waves.  Speaking  of  this  removal  of  the 
Second  church  of  Stratford,  this  thought  was  very  eloquently  ex- 
pressed by  Rev.  William  K.  Hall,  of  Stratford,  pastor  of  the  First 
church,  in  a  speech  at  the  Bi-centennial  of  our  church,  in  May, 
1870:— 

"  The  daughter,  with  her  chosen  spiritual  leader  and  guide,  left 
the  old  homestead,  and  in  choosing  her  new  home  wisely  turned 
noi'thward,  preferring  the  clear,  bracing  air  of  the  north  to  the 
damp  and  fog  and  malaria  of  the  shore  lands.  The  record  of 
these  two  hundred  years,  and  these  festivities  to-day,  testify  to 
the  wisdom  of  that  separation  and  of  that  choice. 

That  setting  forth  from  the  old  home  was  under  circumstances, 
and  amid  scenes,  which,  if  we  could  reproduce  them  in  our  imagi- 
nation to-day,  would  aid  us  in  rising  to  the  full  significance  of  this 
occasion.  The  Plantation  was  only  thirty  years  old.  These  years 
had  been  years  of  toil,  of  hard  work  in  subduing  the  wilderness, 
and  in  making  for  themselves  comfortable  homes.  They  had  been 
spent  in  almost  constant  fear  of  the  depredations  and  attacks  of 
the  Indians.  One  generation  was  about  passing  away,  and  a  new 
generation  had  already  begun  to  take  up  and  carry  on  the  ever 
unfinished  work.  They  were  just  beginning  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
their  hard  pioneer  toil,  were  just  beginning  to  realize  the  benefits 
of  a  social  life,  well  ordered,  properly  systematized  as  to  govern- 
ment, adequatok  equipped  and  adjusted  by  the  experiences  of 
those  thirty  ye^re.  Those  years  had  been  years  chiefly  of  prepa- 
ration. The  settlement  was  now  assuming  the  appearance  and  the 
character  of  a  thrifty  agricultural  town.  It  must  have  required 
a  resoluteness  of  purpose,  backed  by  a  firm,  conscientious  reo-ard 
for  duty,  for  that  little  band  to  go  forth  at  such  a  time,  and  strike 
out  an  entirely  new  path  for  themseles,  to  begin  over  again  that 
same  laborious  work  of  making  new  homes  in  these  wild  wood- 


934  HISTORY      OF    ANCIENT     WOODBUET. 

lands  of  the  north.  The  prime  motives  that  led  thera  to  take  that 
step  were  wholly  of  a  religious  nature.  Their  rights  as  church 
members  they  would  maintain.  Spiritual  interests  must  beheld 
paramount.  They  felt  that  they  could  not  remain  in  the  old 
church  home,  though  it  was  large  enough  to  contain  them,  if  the 
course  they  deemed  right  and  scriptural  was  not  pursued,  so  they 
left  it.  They  had  pluck,  nerve  and  energy — stood  their  ground 
firmly  until  they  were  convinced  that  it  was  for  the  good  of  both 
parties  that  they  should  secede.  I  apprehend  that  at  the  last,  the 
spirit  that  prevailed  was  not  far  different  from  that  exhibited  in 
the  Patriarch  brother,  after  variances  had  arisen  in  the  family : 
"Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray,  between  me  and  thee,  and  between 
my  herdsmen  and  thy  herdsmen  ;  for  we  be  brethren.  Is  not  the 
whole  land  before  thee :  separate  thyself  I  pray  thee  from  me. 
If  thou  wilt  take  the  left  hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  right,  and  if 
thou  depart  to  the  right  hand  then  I  will  go  to  the  left." 

"  Fortunately  there  was  land  enough,  and  that  too  not  far  distant 
from  the  old  home.  Could  those  bold  spirits  who  planned  and 
achieved  that  work  of  settlement,  whose  names  shine  out  upon 
these  tablets  before  us  to-day,  see  what  we  of  this  generation  see, 
could  look  upon  these  well  tilled,  well  fenced  farms,  this  attractive 
thoroughfare,  bordered  by  this  cordon  of  cottage  and  homestead, 
indicative  all  of  such  comfort,  and  plenty,  and  taste,  could  behold 
what  would  be  to  them  of  by  far  greater  value,  and  in  their 
estimate  the  largest  proofs  of  their  success,  and  the  highest  earthly 
reward  of  their  sacrifices  and  toil,  these  marks  of  church  life  and 
church  progress  which  have  been  commensurate  with  the  growth 
of  the  outreaching  population,  they  might  well  believe  that  the 
Lord  went  up  with  them  and  before  them,  and  marked  out  for 
tliem  the  goodly  heritage  which  was  to  be  theirs,  and  their 
children's. 

"  All  honor  and  praise  from  us  be  to  that  devoted  band.  The  un- 
flinching fidelity  to  honest  convictions,  the  uncompromising  spirit 
of  attachment  to  what  was  to  them  the  truth  of  fiod,  which  they 
exhibited  at  the  sacrifice  of  so  much  they  heldWear,  were  the 
rightful  issue  of  the  Puritan  blood  that  flowed  in  ther  veins.  Let 
US  emulate  their  spirit,  and  j)rove  ourselves  worthy  of  such  a 
godly  ancestry." 

Our  fathers  were  now  fairly  embarked  in  their  new  enterprise. 
They  quickly  placed  the  open  lands   under  cultivation,  securing- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 


935 


good  crops  the  year  of  their  removal.  While  building  their 
houses  near  together  for  protection  against  Indian  incursions,  they 
pushed  out  their  working  parties  in  all  directions.  All  the  river 
lands  were  at  once  appropriated.  East  Meadow  was  esteemed  by 
them  as  very  desirable,  and  they  quickly  overrun  all  meadow  land 
quite  to  Nonnewaug  Falls.  These  falls  have  been  fully  described 
on  pages  92  and  847.  They  consist  of  a  series  of  three  cascades, 
making  a  total  fall  of  about  one  hundred  feet.  The  artist  has 
given  a  vivid  sketch  of  the  two  principal  ones. 


[Lower  Nonnewaug  Falls.] 

It  is  one  of  nature's  loveliest  nooks  retired  in  the  dim  solitudes, 
where  the  silence  is  broken  only  by  the  roar  of  the  sweetly  falling 
waters  and  song  of  solitary  bird. 

After  the  settlers  had  made  their  first  crop,  and  erected  their  first 
rude  cabins,  they  laid  out  other  divisions  of  land  from  their  com- 
mon stock,  and  cultivated  the  same,  extending  their  borders  mean- 
while. But  they  were  thirty  miles  from  the  old  home.  They  had 
neither  saw  nor  grist-mills.  They  were,  in  fact,  forced  to  be  about 
as  primitive  in  their  habits  as  the  natives  of  the  forests.  At  the 
same  time  there  were  no  roads  to  connect  them  with  the  mother 
town  by  the    sea-side.     The  only  means  of  conveyance  was  on 


936  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  N  T    A\'  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

horseback,  following  a  bridle-path,  guided  by  "blazed"  trees. 
Trees  were  "  blazed "  by  scorching  their  bark  with  torches,  at 
convenient  distances,  and  these  constituted  very  good  guide- 
boards.  But  committees  were  appointed  as  early  as  1G75,  to  lay 
out  a  road  from  Woodbury  to  Derby,  and  from  Derby  to  Strat- 
ford, and  provision  was  also  made  for  a  ferry.  The  committee, 
however,  did  not  report  till  1G77,  and  the  road  was  probably  not 
built  till  several  years  later.  Meanwhile,  the  people  must  have 
mill  privileges.  They  accordingly  procured  a  set  of  stones,  and 
transported  them  on  horseback,  or,  i-ather,  slung  thera  between 
two  horses,  and  took  the  weary  way  of  their  bridle-path  to  Wood- 
bury. They  set  up  their  mill-shed  on  a  little  brook  a  short  distance 
east  of  Deacon  Eli  Summers'  house,  in  Middle  Quarter,  and 
though  but  about  a  bushel  of  grain  per  day  could  be  ground  at 
this  mill,  yet  it  was  all  the  accommodation  of  the  kind  that  the 
inhabitants  had,  till  1681.  These  mill-stones  were  of  small  dimen- 
sions, being  not  more  than  thirty  inches 
in  diameter.  One  of  these  is  still  pre- 
served, and  has  been  attached  to  the  base 
stone  of  the  "Fathers'  Monument"  in 
the  south,  or  ancient  burial  ground,  for 
I  First  Mill-stones.]  preservation,  after  having  done   service 

for  more  than  a  hundred  years  as  a  door-stone  to  the  house  in 
Middle  Quarter  lately  occupied  by  Miss  Lucy  Sherman.  Traces 
of  the  first  mill-dam  still  exist.  The  second  mill  was  built  in 
1681,  near  the  Pomperaug  river,  about  fifty  rods  westerly  from 
the  dwelling-house  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith,  immediately  under  the 
hill,  the  water  with  Avhich  to  run  it  being  brought  from  the  river, 
about  one  hundred  rods  distant.  Faint  traces  of  the  old  dam  still 
remain.  Some  of  the  timbers  of  this  second  mill-dam  still  remain 
imbedded  in  the  river,  in  a  state  of  perfect  preservation.  It  was 
much  troubled  by  the  freshets,  had  to  be  frequently  repaired,  or 
re])laced,  and  the  town  was  obliged  to  make  other  arrangements 
for  a  stable  mill.  In  1691,  Mr.  Samuel  Stiles  was  appointed  town 
miller ;  mill  accommodations  were  granted  for  its  "  encourage- 
ment," and  the  mill  located  near  where  the  mill  of  D.  Curtiss  & 
Sons  now  stands,  where  it  has  ever  since  been  maintained. 

As  soon  as  the  pioneers  had  fairly  settled  themselves  in  their 
new  homes,  they  took  measures  to  build  a  meeting-house  for  the 
worship  of  God,  and  a  school-hodse,  that  "  learning  might  not  be 
neglected  to  children,"     As  we  have  seen,  they  had  their  grant  of 


HISTORY     OF       ANCIENT      W  O  O  I>  U  U  U  V  .  939 

the  township  of  Woodbury  in  1672,  made  a  small  crop  the  same 
year,  lost  it  by  wild  beasts  the  followiug  winter,  and  removed 
their  families  here  in  the  spring  of  1673.  In  two  years  they  were 
driven  back  to  Stratford  by  King  Philip's  war,  and  began  to  re- 
turn again  in  1676,  not  fully  regaining  their  foothold  till  the  next 
year. 

Previously  and  subsequently  to  Philip's  war,  our  fathers  wor- 
shipped, in  summer,  at  Bethel  Rock,  which  has  been  so  often  al- 
luded to  in  these  pages,  and  in  winter  they  gathered  in  their  own 
rude  houses.  But  the  question  may  be  asked,  why  did  the  people 
at  any  time  of  the  year  leave  their  homes,  and  retire  from  the  vil- 
lage, (for  it  was  almost  as  much  of  a  village  in  the  early  years  as 
now,  the  houses  being  built  near  each  other  for  protection)  to  the 
rock  for  their  devotions?  The*  answer  is  obvious.  Their  num- 
bers were,  from  the  beginning,  considerable.  They  came  with 
about  twenty  families,  and  their  numbers  increased  rapidly  for  a 
new  plantation.  In  contrast  with  the  present  generation,  they 
had  large  families  in  those  days,  obeying  the  divine  command- 
ment, and  every  household  constituted  quite  a  little  colony  in  it- 
self. It  was  with  them  a  law  of  conscience,  as  well  as  of  the  col- 
ony, that  all  should  attend  divine  service,  and  there  was  no  one 
of  their  log  huts  that  could  contain  a  tythe  of  the  inhabitants  for 
the  purpose  of  worship.  They  had  no  meeting-house.  They  wei'e 
ne\er  for  a  moment  free  from  the  danger  of  the  incursions  of  the 
hostile  Mohawks.  It  was  the  object  of  their  coming  into  the  wil- 
derness, that  they  should  not  "forget  the  assembling  of  them- 
selves together"  to  worship  the  Great  Creator.  What  should 
they  do  ?  A  beautiful  dell,  secure  from  hostile  attacks  and  the 
buft'et  of  storms,  in  the  bosom  of  the  cliffs,  of  the  mountains,  fur- 
nished with  sufficient  audience  room,  and  a  rude  stone  pulpit,  was 
at  hand.  It  was  nature's  church,  built  and  fashioned  by  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel,  as  though  a  miracle  had  been  performed  for  the  ben- 
efit of  this  band  of  Christians.  It  was  conveniently  near,  and 
"  guarding  rocks,"  to  be  picketed  by  the  men  of  the  match,  or  flint 
lock,  lined  the  way.  Three  minutes  walk  from  the  house  of  their 
pastor,  where  Levi  S.  Douglass  now  lives,  by  the  south  clifl',  or 
five  minutes  walk  from  Judson  Lane,  by  the  north  clifl',  brought 
them  to  this  place  of  prayer,  and  of  "  hopeful  security."  What 
more  appropriate  or  pleasing,  than  to  resort  to  the  beautiful  fast- 
nesses of  nature,  in  the  holy  stillness  of  the  Sabbath  morn,  to  join 
in  adorations  of  the  Giver  of  all  ffood  ? 


940 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUEY 


That  they  did  meet  there  for  this  purpose,  in  the  feeble  state  of 
their  new  colony,  is  provedjby  the  universal  voice  of  the  most  reli- 
able tradition  from  the  early  fathers,  and  by  much  circumstantial 
evidence.  It  is  a  fact  to  be  doubted  by  none.  The  sons  of  the 
pioneer,  Capt.  John  Minor,' who  died  Sept.  17,  1719,  had  their 
home  lots  on  the  liill  where  the  family  of  the  late  Erastus  Minor 
resides.  Capt.  Matthew  Minor  succeeded  to  the  homested  of  his 
father,  Ephraim,  which  was  identical  with  that  of  Capt.  John, 
and  lived  in  a  house  under  the  hill  south  of  Erastus  Minor's  pres- 
ent dwelling  house.  This  was  the  pallasaded  house  of  which  we 
have  spoken.  This  son,  Ephraim,  was  bora  in  Stratford,  Oct.  24, 
1675,  after  the  return  from  Woodbury  to  Stratford,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  King  Philip's  war.  He  returned  to  Woodbury 
with  his  father,  a  child  of  two  years,  after  the  war,  and  of  course, 
as  he  grew  up,  knew  the  history  from  the  beginning.  He  died 
Sept.  16,  1762.  His  son,  Capt.  Matthew,  was  born  Sept.  2,  1708, 
and  died  Nov.  21,  1778.  His  son,  Dea.  Matthew,  was  born  Feb. 
11,  1753,  and  died  in  1835.  His  son,  Erastus,  was  born  March  27, 
1796, — died  in  1870.  Capt.  Matthew  Minor  was,  therefore,  eleven 
years  old  when  his  grand-father,  Capt.  .John  Minor,  died,  and  fifty- 
six  years  old  Avhen  his  father,  P^phraim,  died.  Dea.  Matthew 
Minor,  son  of  Capt.  Matthew,  was  twenty-five  years  old  when 
his  father,  died,  and  the  late  Erastus  Minor  was  thirty- 
nine  years  old  when  his  father.  Deacon  Matthew,  died.  This 
brings  us  to  the  present  day,  and  the  tradition  that  Erastus  Minor 
gives  us,  brings  us  to  the  very  days  of  the  services  at  Bethel 
Rock.  There  can  be  no  question  of  a  tradition  that  can  trace  itself, 
by  sure  steps,  to  its  truthful  origin.  The  tradition  handed  down 
through  this  family,  as  well  as  others,  is  very  simple  and  direct. 
It  is  that  the  fathers  worshipped  at  Bethel  Rock  till  the  building 
of  the  first  Church.  The  Orenaug  cliff,  near  Bethel  Kock,  is 
owned  by  this  family,  to  this  day,  having  descended  from  father 

to  son,  through  the  Probate  Court. 
The  first  church  was  a  simple 
structure.  The  seats  were  raised, 
on  each  side  of  the  center  aisle,  so 
that  the  sexes  could  sit  on  opposite 
sides.  The  pulpit  was  at  one  end. 
It  had  no  steeple,  and  was  alto- 
gether an  unpretending  building, 
but  it  served  the  purpose  of  a  con- 
venient place  of  worship  for  sixty- 


[First  Church,  1681,] 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  941 

six  years.  After  the  second  church  was  finished,  in  1747,  it  was 
used  as  a  "Town-House,"  for  the  transaction  of  pubhc  business. 
•  In  1754,  the  town  voted  to  build  a  new  town  bouse  where  the  old 
church  stood,  but  contented  itself  with  repairing  the  old  church. 
It  was  used  thus  a  good  many  years,  (p.  156).  After  the  Episco- 
palians began  to  get  a  foothold  in  the  town,  they  used  it  for  a 
church.  Finally,  it  was  moved,  by  Mr.  Tallman,  a  little  way,  and 
used  for  a  butcher's  shop  and  barn,  during  some  years.  It  was 
afterwards  used  for  a  barn  by  Judge  N.  Smith,  and  later  still,  by 
his  son,  N.  B.  Smith,  till  about  ten  years  ago,  when  it  was  pulled 
down,  and  passed  into  the  oblivion  of  past  things,  that  have  out- 
lived the  day  of  their  usefulness.  Perhaps  no  other  building 
has  had  a  longer  career  of  usefulness,  since  the  founding  of  the 
town. 

This  meeting-house  was  located  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  N. 
B.  Smith's  carriage-house,  some  six  rods  from  Pomperaug's  grave, 
and  twenty  from  Rev.  Mr.  Walker's  house.  A  road  run  by  it  to 
the  intervale,  a  short  distance  below  where  the  second  corn-mill 
was  located.  The  site  of  the  first  school- house  was  immediately 
opposite  the  meeting-hoiise,  where  Mr.  George  Hitchcock's  shop 
now  stands.  The  meeting-house,  the  school-house,  the  minister's 
house,  and  the  corn-mill — all  necessaries  of  prime  importance  to  a 
new  Settlement — were  thus  grouped  together. 

In  process  of  time,  a  new  church  edifice  became  necessary,  and, 
on  the  usual  application  to  the  General  Assembly,  in  May,  1744, 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  determine  the  location,  anal,  on  the 
26th  of  September,  1744,  the  house  was  located  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  Soldiers'  Monument.  The  location  was  approved, 
work  upon  the  building  was  at  once  commenced,  and  pushed  as 
fast  as  the  means  of  the  people  would  2)ermit.  It  was  completed 
and  dedicated  in  1747.  This  house  was  a  large  one  for  those 
days,  and  its  "  Bigness,  Strength  and  Architecture,"  (page  139,) 
was  much  admired  by  our  fathers,  and  a  number  of  societies  took 
it  for  a  model  in  building  meeting-houses  in  their  several  localities. 
It  ha*l  doors  for  entrance  on  the  west,  south  and  east  sides.  The 
pulpit  was  on  the  north  side,  with  a  deacon's  seat  beneath  it,  in 
the  fashion  of  those  days.  It  continued  to  be  used  as  the  place 
of  public  worship  till  the  dedication  of  the  present  church,  Janu- 
ary 13,  1819,  a  period  of  seventy-two  years.  It  was  then  sold  at 
auction  in  sections.     The  house  now  occupied  by  Kali)h  N.  Betts, 


942 


HISTORY      OK     A  N  (!  I  K  N  T     WOODBURY, 


dentist,  was  constructe^i  out  of  the  materials  of  one  of  the  galle- 
ries. Thus  passed  away  the 
last  "  house  of  the  sounding- 
boards  "  in  this  society. 

Near  the  meeting-house, 
about  where  the  mile-stone 
now  stands,  was  a  long,  low 
Sabbath-day-House,  a  place  in 
which  to  take  refreshments 
betAveen  the  two  church 
services,  and  for  social  and 
religions  worship,  as  the  oc- 
cupants might  be  inclined. 
It  was  built  in  two  divisions, 
one  for  males  and  the  other 
for  females.  A  man  made  it 
his  dwelling,  and  had  it  rent- 
free,  in  consideration  of  hav- 
ing it  well  warmed  for  the 
use  of  the  owners  during  the 
cold  weather.  One  or  two 
individuals  had  smaller  hous- 
es of  their  own,  for  private 
sr.i.ui  MLctinK-iiousc]  use,  on  the  east  side  of  the 

way,  ruyning  by  the  church.     It  will  be  remembered  that  these 
houses  were  necessary,  because  the  church  was  not  warmed. 

It  was  a  custom  of  the  early  days,  when  the  pastor  entered  the 
meeting-house  to  conduct  divine  service,  for  the  people  on  the 
lower  floor,  to  rise  and  remain  standing  till  he  had  ascended  the 
pulpit,  where  he  made  a  bow,  and  the  people  in  the  galleries  rose, 
and  remained  standing  till  he  sat  down,  when  the  audience  did 
likewise.  Similar  respect  was  shown  him,  on  meeting  him  in  the 
street  or  elsewhere.  He  was  always  invited  to  open  with  prayer 
all  the  business  and  freemen's  meetings  of  the  town.  These  Avere 
generally  held  in  the  church,  and  were  fully  attended.  It  was, 
emphatically,  the  age  of  respect  for  seniors  and  superiors.  A 
tythe  of  such  customs  would  not  hurt  us  of  the  jtresent  age. 

It  may  surprise  us,  at  the  present  day,  to  learn  that  nearly  the 
whole  of  Bear  Hill  and  Ragland  was  laid  out  by  the  town,  more 
than  a  hundred  and  sixty  years  ago,  as  a  sheep-pasture,  and  made 


U  1  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     A  N  <  •  !  E  N  T     A\'  O  O  D  B  U  Jl  Y  .  943 

forever  free  for  the  use  of  all  the  inhfibitants  of  the  town,  for  the 
purpose  of  pasturage.  But  such  is  the  fact,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  vote : — 

"  At  a  lawful  town  meeting  the  8th  Marcli,  1705,  It  was  voate J  and  agreed 
that  all  the  barehill  and  ragland,  from  tlie  highway  to  the  westside,  through 
poplar  meadow,  down  to  the  highway,  from  whiteoak  through  the  Sawteeth,  we 
say,  all  that  is  now  common  land  unlaid  out,  is  and  shall  be  sequestered  land  for 
common,  for  the  feed  of  sheep  and  other  cattle  forever,  for  the  use  of  the  inhab- 
itants in  genl."  ' 

This  is  a  pretty  extensive  pasture.  It  must  be  a  tract  of  l^d 
two  miles  long,  by  more  than  a  mile  in  width.  How  long  it  was 
used  for  this  purpose  is  not  now  known.  Farmers  still  use  the 
land  for  this  purpose,  in  their  separate  enclosures. 

We  may  well  imagine  that,  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  towns, 
the  meeting-houses  were  without  bells.  Our  tirst  house  was  also 
without  one.  But  the  second  meeting-house  was  provided  with 
this  convenient  appendage.  The  tirst  house  of  the  mother  church 
at  Stratford,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  had  a  bell,  but  ours,  in 
common  with  other  early  churches,  had  none.  The  Stratford  Man- 
uel says ; — "  This  fact  in  reference  to  it  is  of  interest,  and  deserves 
to  be  remembered.  It  possessed  a  bell,  with  which  the  people 
were  summoned  to  worship.  How  it  came  to  be  thus  favored  is 
not  known,  for  it  was  the  only  church  in  all  the  colonies,  where 
the  people  were  not  called  together  by  "  drum,  the  blowing  of 
shell  or  horn."  In  the  case  of  many  churches,  the  people  built  a 
high  sentry-box,  and  this  answered  the  double  purpose  of  a  place 
of  "look-out"  for  the  sentry,  who  nightly,  and  sometimes  daily, 
guarded  the  town  against  the  incursion  ot  the  Indians,  and  a  con- 
venient place  to  drum  for  church  on  Sunday,  for  town  meeting, 
and  for  the  assembling  of  the  train-band.  Happily,  there  was  no 
need,  in  our  case,  to  build  either  a  belfry,  which  was  in  the  first 
age  deemed  rather  a  "  device  of  Satan,"  or  a  sentry-box  for  the  use 
of  the  inevitable  drummer,  for  nature,  in  the  convenient  bluff,  now 
occupied  by  the  Masonic  Lodge,  had  furnished  a  most  convenient 
and  beautiful  substitute— being  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
meeting-house,  the  parsonage,  and  the  then  center  of  the  toion. 
Accordingly,  we  may   well  imagine  the  drummer  upon  the  rock, 

'  Woodbury  Town  Records,  2  vol.,  page  1. 


944 


1 1  1  S  T  C>  K  V      OF     A  N  c;  1  E  N  T    W  O  O  I)  1!  U  R  Y 


vigorously  and  skillfully  plying  his  enormous  drum,  by  the  requi- 
site beats  called  for  in  his  triple 
capacity  of  civil,  ecclesiastical 
and  military  official.  For  this 
matter  was  not  left  to  volunteers, 
or  chance,  but  like  all  other  mat- 
ters concerning  the  general  inte- 
rest, the  affair,  as  well  as  the  offi- 
cer, was  "  well  ordered." 

We  have  seen  that  the   first 
blacksmith  "  called  "  by  the  town, 
was  Deacon  Samuel  Bull,  of  Far- 
[DnimmeronRock.]  mington,   and   the  first   clothier 

here,  and  the  first  in  the  colony,  for  that  matter,  was  Abraham 
Fulford,  afterwards  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town.  The  first  wheel- 
wright was  Samuel  Munn,  who  had  a  home-lot  granted  him  by 
the  town  in  1681.  The  first  regularly  appointed  town  miller  was 
Ensign  Samuel  Stiles.  Lieut.  Joseph  Judson,  or  Henry  Hill,  was 
the  first  ferryman  over  the  Housatonic  river.  Doct.  Butler  Bedi- 
ent  was  the  first  physician.  But  what  was  the  name  of  the  first 
shoeniaker  is  not  now  known.  Our  grand-mothers  could  make 
the  clothes  of  our  grand-fathers,  but  they  were  not  skillful  enough 
to  fabricate  the  enormous  wooden  shoes  "  of  the  period."  That 
required  a  skill  of  which  they  could  not  boast — in  fact,  it  required 
educated  skill  to  make  these  enormous  wooden  affairs,  a  few  of 
"which  remain  in  historical  rooms  to  the  present  day,  as  interesting 
antiquarian  debris  of  our  youthful  country.  It  is  difficult  for  us 
to  imagine  how  they  contrived  to  accomplish  the  process  of  loco- 
motion with  such  ungainly  contri- 
vances. But  a  little  of  the  "  van- 
ity of  this  life  "  invaded  the  breasts 
of  some  of  our  stern  and  sturdy 
fore-fathers,  and  they  even  fell  into 
the  sin  of  indulging  in  "  French  falls,"  and,  it  is  barely  possible, 
they  sometimes — the  younger  ones — even  yielded  to  the  seduc- 
tions of  enjoying,  on  stolen  occasions,  feats  of  the  "  light  fantastic 
toe,"  very  lif/ht,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  truthful  cut,  taken  from  a 
pair  of  "French  Falls"  still  in  existence. 

As  the  farms  were  pushed  out  into  the  valleys,  and  over  the 
hills,  beyond  convenient  walking  distance,  the  [)roper  means  of 
locomotion  became  a  subject  of  inquiry.     Of  wagon  roads,  there 


HISTORY      OP     A  N  (.'  1  E  N  T     WOOD  B  U  K  Y  . 


945 


were  none  worthy  of  the  name,  down  to  tlie  date  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. There  were  no  carriages,  and  with  so  much  else  to  do,  the 
early  fathers  were  excusable  for  not  giving  their  attention  to  arti- 
cles— to  them — of  luxury.  Locomotion  on  horseback  in  the  nar- 
row roads  and  bridle-paths,  was  the  only  mode  of  passing  any 
distance,  except  on  foot.  It  is  always  well  to  take  the  best  ad- 
vantage of  any  conveniences  we  possess.  Our  fathers,  accord- 
ingly, used  saddles  with  a  pillion  or  saddle-pad  contrivance,  hitched 
behind  the  saddle,  by  means  of  which,  while  the  man  bestrode  his 
steed,  his  wife,  or  lady-love,  sat  securely  behind,  upon  the  pillion, 
her  arm  confidingly  and  lovingly  encircling  his  waist  foi  protec- 
tion, and  security  from  falling.  In  the  poverty  of  the  early  days, 
not  every  family  could  own  a  horse  and  accoutrements,  and  so 
two  neighboring  families  availed  themselves  of  the  services  of  one 
horse.  One  couple  would  mount  and  ride  an  equitable  distance 
towai'ds  the  sanctuary,  dismount,  tie  the  horse,  and  proceed  on 
foot.  A  second  couple,  on  foot,  would  come  up  and  ride  the  re- 
maining, or  proportional  distance, 
and  so  all  finally  arrived  at  church 
in  time,  and  with  hearts  attuned 
by  the  exercise  for  the  service 
that  was  to  follow.  It  must  have 
been,  or  rather  would  now  be, 
an  interesting  and  suggestive 
sight  to  see  these  devout  worship- 
pers thus  hasting  to  the  "  hill  of 
the  Tabernacle,"  to  unite  in  the 
service  of  God. 

While  the  more  remote  wor- 
shippers thus  proceeded  to  the  place. of  devotion,  those  who  re- 
sided within  walking  distance  of  the  meeting-house,  repaired 
thither  on  foot  with  their  families,  accompanied  by  the  ever  faith- 
ful musket,  while  sentinels  paced  before  the  church  door,  and  at 
a  specified  distance  in  either  direction  from  it.  It  must  have  been 
a  picturesqe  sight,  to  behold  armed  men  with  their  families  repair- 
ing to  church,  sentinels  at  each  approach,  with  arras  stacked  be- 
fore the  church  door.  It  was  because  of  this  danger  from  sudden 
incursion  and  attack,  it  is  supposed,  that  the  custom  was  initiated, 
of  having  the  able-bodied  men  of  the  household  sit,  during  ser- 
vice, at  the  head  of  the  pews.     In  case  of  attack,  the  men  could 


946 


H  T  S T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     ^V  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 


the  more  readily  rush  out  to  their  stacked  arms,  for  defence.    But, 

in  the  most  dangerous  times, 
they  did  not  run  even  this  risk. 
Each  man  took  his  trusty  weap- 
on into  church  with  him. 

Although  there  are  no  relics 
in  town,  so  far  as  we  are  aware, 
that  were  brought  over  in  the 


■f  "If  ^lay-Flower,  in  which,  if  tra- 
^  (litiou  is  to  be  believed,  almost 
every  ancient  thing  now  in 
this  country  was  brought  over, 
}  et  there  is  in  our  bounds  a  look- 
ing-glass 250  years  old,  two 
pamtings  of  about  the  same 
age,  and  one  over  300  years 
old ;  a  small  brass  tea-kettle,  brought  from  Holland,  about  the 
year  1656,  a  gun  made  and  dated  in  1624,  the  "  Pequot-gun,"  now 
held  as  an  heir-loom  in  the  Minor  family,  so-called  from  the  alleged 
fact,  that  it  had,  during  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  been  the  in- 
strument of  death  to  forty  red-skins,  and  an  iron  kettle,  which  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  Treat  Davidson,  of 
Roxbury,  and  was  brought  to  this  country  in 
1660.  It  descended  to  the  present  OAvncr  from 
Nathan  Botsford,  one  of  his  ancestors,  who 
himself  brought  it  from  England.  This  is,  no 
1:^  doubt,  the  oldest  culinary  vessel  in  the  terri- 
j^  t^i'y,  and,  sad  to  relate,  it  is  no  longer  used  for 
^  a  culinary  purpose.  It  has  for  some  years  been 
degraded  to  the  sordid  use  of  a  hog- trough,  by 
its  irreverent  owner! 

For  long  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  the  fore- 
fathers were  obliged  to  take  their  fresh  fish  principally  from  the 
Quassapaug  Lake.  Nor  has  it  been  disused  for  that  purpose  even 
to  the  present  time.  But,  in  these  later  years,  it  has  become  a 
place  of  great  resort  for  pleasure  parties  of  both  sexes,  who  de- 
light to  visit  its  limpid  waters,  and  sail  over  its  fair  bosom,  gath- 
ering mosses  on  the  shore,  and  lilies  near  its  banks,  breathing 
words  of  affection,  of  thought,  and  of  deathless  secrets,  and  utter- 
ing vows  of  eternal   fidelity.     A  sweet  serenity  settles  over  the 


HISTORY     OF     A  X  ( :  I  E  X  T     W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y 


947 


spirit,  worn  by  life's  turmoils,  as  one  rocks  listlessly  and  areamily 
"  over  its  pellucid  depths. 

In  these  days  of  civilization 
and  refinement,  surrounded 
by  the  comforts,  conveniences 
and  luxuries  of  life,  we  can 
ittle  estimate  the  hardships 
and  difficulties  encountered 
by  the  sainted  men  and  wo- 
men who  first  trod  these  smi- 
'  ling  valleys,  subdued  the  un-- 
compromising  wilderness,  and 
made  the  howling  wastes  to 
"  bud  and  blossom  as  the 
rose."  Here  they  came,  in 
their  lofty  trust,  having  no 
W  cover  for  their  heads  but  the 
over-arching  heavens,  no  lodg- 
ings for  their  weary  and  travel-worn  bodies  but  such  as  nature 
afforded.  The  men  of  the  present  day  may  carelessly  smile  at  the 
idea  of  our  fathers'  thinking  so  much  of  a  journey  to  or  from  the 
sea-coast,  or  even  from  Woodbury  to  Bethlem,  as  we  are  told  they 
did.  But  they  forget  the  obstacles  and  dangers  they  had  to  en- 
counter. They  forget  there  were  no  public  roads,  and  no  vehicles, 
that  could  be  employed  for  the  transportation  of  their  goods. 
There  were  no  railroads,  nor  steamboats,  running  in  all  directions 
with  the  swiftness  of  the  wind.  The  first  females,  as  well  as  the 
males,  went  on  foot,  or  on  horseback,  through  a  trackless  wilder- 
ness, guided  by  marks  upon  trees,  or  feeling  their  way,  wherever 
they  could  find  room  to  pass.  In  the  midst  of  the  first  drear 
winter  their  provisions  gave  out,  and  some  of  the  settlers  were 
obliged  to  take  their  way  through  the  pathless  forests  to  the  older 
settlements  for  food  to  sustaim  them  during  the  remaining  wintry 
months.  Some  of  those  sturdy  men  went  to  Stratford,  a  distance 
of  twenty-five  miles,  with  hand-sleds,  and  returned  laden  with  corn 
for  their  pressing  necessities.  We  can  have  but  a  faint  idea  of  the 
dangers  that  surrounded  those  early  founders,  on  ^uch  a  journey, 
exposed-  to  all  the  perils  and  privations  of  these  interior  forests. 
They  were  surrounded  by  numerous  red  men,  fierce  and  cruel,  who 
could  have  destroyed  them  at  any  hour,  in  their  isolated  and  fee- 
ble condition.     Added  to  their  lack  of  bread,  the   pioneers   had 


948  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUHY, 

neither  dwellings,  nor  clothing  sufficient  to  prevent  suffering. 
Should  any  emergency  happen,  they  were  cut  oft'from  any  succor, 
or  effective  retreat.  What  a  sad  beginning  had  these  now  fair 
and  opulent  towns  on  the  Pomperaug  and  Shepaug. ! 

It  has  been  seen  that  all  the  ideas  of  our  fathers  were  essen- 
tially religious,  and  that  the  pious  sentiment  entered  into  every- 
thing. Even  in  the  exhibitions  of  the  tender  emotions,  and  in 
the  preliminary  ceremonies  of  a  matrimonial  alliance,  they  ever 
exhibited  the  same  grave  countenance,  and  air  of  devotion,  as 
when  going  to  a  prayer-meeting.  Perhaps  they  were  the  only 
•people  who  treated  the  subject  with  the  consideration  due  to  that 
most  important  and  indissoluble  union  of  "  Kindred  hearts."  But 
the  "  course  of  true  love "  was  usually  urgent.  There  was  no 
time  for  "  billing  and  cooing,"  much  less  for  vain  flirtations !  As 
an  instance  of  the  way  in  which  the  thing  Avas  done,  take  the  follow- 
ing characteristic  example :  John  Minor,  Jr.,  being  seriously  in- 
clined, by  the  state  of  his  affections,  unto  the  blooming  and  comely 
damsel,  Sarah  Judson,  immediately  mounted  his  horse,  and  with  a 
deer-skin  for  a  saddle,  rode  over  in  front  of  the  house  of  the 
fair  Sarah's  father.  Without  dismounting,  he  sent  for  her  to  come 
out  to  him,  and  on  her  complying  with  the  request,  he  informed 
her  plainly,  that  the  Lord  had  sent  him  to  marry  her.  At  this 
startling  announcement,  the  sensible  maid,  neither  fainting  in  the 
present  fashionable  mode,  nor  asking  time  to  consult  her  mamma, 
replied  with  hearty  good  will,  "Here  is  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord 
— His  will  be  done  !  "  What  else  could  the  maiden  do  ;  for  John 
was  a  good  man,  and  she  believed  both  him  and  his  message ! 
There  was  nothing  more  to  be  done,  than  to  get  on  horseback  the 
next  Sabbath  eve,  and  sitting  on  a  pillion,  behind  her  messenger 
from  the  Lord,  ride  to  the  parsonage,  and  be  duly  joined  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  wedlock.  Of  the  fruits  of  that  primitive  marriage, 
there  are  many  representatives  here  to-day ! 

Doubtless  the  question  has  often  occurred  to  each  ot  us,  how 
did  our  fathers  and  mother's  dress?  What  were  their  costumes 
and  fashions  ?  By  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  our  "  Antique 
Committee,"  at  the  Bi-Centennial  celebration,  in  1859,  this  ques- 
tion was  very  satisfactorily  answered,  by  their  actual,  not  "  coun- 
terfeit presentment."  We  saw  an  ''  early  father,"  a  line  old  Eng- 
lish gentleman,  in  small  clothes  and  coat  of  brown  silk,  white 
plaited  ruffles,  powdered  hair,  and  cocked  hat.  We  saw  an  "  early 
mother,"  in  ash-colored  brocade,  with  white  damask  skirt,  open  in 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  949 

front,  high-heeled  shoes,  with  large  buckles,  aud  an  enormous  bon, 
'  net.  We  saw  the  Puritan  costume  contrasted  with  that  of  the 
Cavalier  of  the  same  age.  But  these  were  the  holiday  suits, 
brought  from  old  England,  and  belonging  only  to  the  more  opu- 
lent citizens.  After  the  first  settlement  here,  such  rich  articles 
for  long  years  were  "  rarities  under  tlie  sun."  All  the  garments 
of  both  sexes  were  of  homespun,  of  their  own  manufacture,  from 
the  raw  material  to  the  perfected  garment.  The  small  clothes, 
and  even  the  coats  of  the  men,  were  often  made  of  deer-skins  and 
leather.  Nothing  is  more  commonly  mentioned  in  the  early  in- 
ventories of  estates.  And  yet,  amid  all  this  rigid  simplicity,  the 
General  Court,  four  years  after  the  settling  of  Woodbury,  passed 
an  act  against  the  excess  of  apparel  among  the  people,  as  "  unbe- 
coming a  wilderness  condition,  and  the  profession  of  tlie  gospel ;" 
ordering,  that  any  person  who  should  wear  any  clothing,  that 
should  be  "  apparently  beyond  the  necessary  end  of  apparel  for 
covering,  or  comeliness,''^  should,  on  due  conviction,  forfeit  ten  shil- 
lings for  every  oiFence !  How  great  a  commotion  would  be  made 
by  the  passage  of  such  a  law,  in  these  days  of  expanded  crinoline, 
and  of  lengthened  Shanghai  coats ! 

One  of  the  few  luxuries  of  the  early  fathers  was  the  fruit  of  the 
orchard,  and  the  beverage  made  from  it.  The  apple-tree  was  the 
constant  attendant  of  the  early  founders  of  towns,  and  followed 
them  in  all  their  wanderings.  They  made  haste,  not  only  to  "  sit 
under  their  own  vine,"  but  as  soon  as  possible,  with  equal  satis- 
faction to  sit  under  their  own  apple-trees.  Nor,  with  all  their 
stern  morality,  does  it  appear  that  they  had  the  fear  of  a  "  Maine 
Law  "  before  their  eyes,  for  they  freely  granted  the  privilege  of 
erecting  "  cyder  mills,"  even  in  the  highways,  the  place  of  great- 
est notoriety  and  temptation.  These  privileges  were  doubtless 
granted  as  a  sort  of  set-off  against  their  prohibitory  law,  which 
enacted  that  if  any  "  Barbadoes  liquors,  commonly  called  Rum» 
Kill-Divell,  or  the  like,"  should  be  landed  in  any  part  of  the  col- 
ony, it  should  be  confiscated.  There  had  been  a  still  earlier  law 
among  the  Pilgrims,  abolishing  the  "  vain  custom  of  drinking  one 
to  another,"  assigning  as  reasons  for  the  act,  that  "  it  was  a  thing 
of  no  good  use,"  was  an  inducement  to  drunkenness,  "  occasioned 
much  waste  of  wine  and  beer,"  and  forced  masters  and  mistresses 
"  to  drink  more  often  than  they  would."  I  believe  that  the  rea- 
sons given  hold  good  to  the  present  day,  but  our  sage  legislators 
never  give  a  reason  for  their  legislation. 


950 


H  I  S  T  O  R  Y      OF     A  N  €  I  E  N  T     \V  O  0  D  Ji  U  K  Y 


And  thus  we  draw  to  a  close  our  account  of  some  of  the  lead- 
ing events  of  the  first  hundred  years  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
We  have  lingered  over  them,  because  they  are  fraught  with 
great  lessons  for  all  the  coming  generations ;  because  of  their  unique 
interest,  and  because  their  like  will  never  come  again.  Well  will 
it  be  for  us  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  future  times,  if  we  shall 
labor  as  earnestly  and  worthily,  and  if  Ave  shall  leave  behind  us, 
when  we  too,  as  we  hope,  shall  have  ascended  to  that  "  rest  that 
remaineth  to  the  people  of  God," — work  and  results  that  shall 
equally  embalm  our  names,  and  secure  the  like  filial  reverence  of 
our  posterity. 


WARAMAUG 


C  H  A  P  T  E  IJ    y. 

CIVIL    HiSTORV COXi'IXUKI) CKXTEXNIAL    CELEBRATIONS. 

Town  Bi-CENTE>NiAL  Celkbration  of  1859 ;  Masomo  Centennial  Celkbration 
OF  18t)5  ;  First  Church  Bi-Centexnial  Celebration  of  1870. 


HE  town  of  Woodbury  lias  become 
celebrated  for  its  centennial  cele- 
brations. No  town  in  the  State 
has  so  thoroughly  looked  up  its 
own  history,  and  with  becoming 
])ride  celebrated  its  leading  events, 
and  put  its  history  on  enduring 
i-ecord  for  the  benefit  of  posterity. 
It  has  set  an  example,  in  this  re- 
gard, worthy  of  the  imitation  of 
all  our  old  towns.  It  arrests  the  attention  of  the  young,  sets  be- 
fore them  all  that  is  glorious  in  the  past,  and  stimulates  to  a 
healthy  emulation  of  right  action. 

On  the  oth  of  July,  1858,  a  mammoth  Pic-Nic  was  held  upon 
the  Orenaug  Cliffs,  at  which  were  assembled  some  two  thousand 
persons  from  the  several  towns  of  "  Ancient  Woodbury."  The 
Hon.  Samuel  G,  Goodrich  (Peter  Parley)  delivered  an  oration 
and  the  professional  men  of  the  town  followed  with  short  speeches. 
At  the  close  of  the  day's  entertainment,  it  was  moved  by  William 
Cothren,  and  seconded  ]»y  Rev.  John  Churchill : 

"That  a  Committee  of  two  from  each  of  the  towns  once  in- 
cluded, in  whole  or  in  part,  in  the  ancient  town  of  Woodbury,  be- 
appointed  by  the  meeting,  with  power  to  add  to  their  own  num- 
ber, and  to  appoint  all  necessary  Assistant  Committees,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  efficient  arrangements  for  the  Historical  Cele 
bration  of  the  Second  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  first  Explo" 
ration  of  the  Town,  and  the  reception  of  the  first  Indian  Deed,  at 
Bethel  Rock,  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  A.  I).   1859,  and  also  to  in- 


952  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  JJ  L'  K  Y . 

vite  gentlemen  to  deliver  the  viirioiis  uddi'essses,  &c.,  of  the  occa- 
sion." 

The  motion  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  folIoAving  named 
gentlemen  were  appointed  such  Committee : 

William  Cothren,  C.  B.  Phelps,  W.  T.  Bacon,  P.  M.  Trow- 
bridge, Woodbury  / 

K.  W.  Frisbie,  S.  H.  Mitchell,  Washinyton ; 

T.  B.  Wheeler,  A.  B.  Downs,  Col.  C.  Hicock,  Southbury  ; 

Abraham  Beecher,  H.  W.  Peck,  Bethlehent  • 

H.  B.  Eastman,  F.  W.  Lathrop,  Roxbury  ; 

N.  J.  Wilcoxson,  Alfred  Harger,  Oxford,' 

Dr.  Marcus  DeForest,  Jr.,  Leonard  Brouson,  Middlebury. 

This  Committee  made  all  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the 
celebration,  and  adopted  the  following: 

ORDER  OF  EXERCISES. 

July  4th  and  5th,  1859. 

First  Day— 10  A.  31. 

Anti([ue  Procession,  escorted  by  the  Band  and  Roxbury  Guards. 
Ode,  by  the  Choir — tune  "  Jiruce's  AddressP 
Prayer,  by  Rev.  R.  G.  Williams,  of  Woodbury. 
Short  Introductory  Address,  "  Welcoming  the  Emigrants  from 
Woodbury  home  again,"  by  Nathaniel  Smith,  of  Woodbury. 
Music  by  the  Band. 

Historical  Address,  by  William  Cothren,  of  AVoodbui-y. 
Music  by  the  Band. 

Mecess  of  one  Hour  for  Refreshments. 

Music  by  the  Band. 

Song—"  The  Pilgrim  Fathers,"  by  G.  S.  Minor. 

Poem,  by  Rev.  William  Thompson  Bacon,  of  Woodbury. 

Ode,  by  the  Choir — tune,  "  Auld  Lany  Syne.'''' 

Benediction,  by  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  of  Jewett  City. 

SECOND  MORNING,— 8  o'clock. 
Prayer  Meeting  at  Bethel  Rock. 

SECOND  DAY,— 10  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Music  by  the  Band. 
Centennial  Hymn. 


mSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  I)  U  U  li  Y  .  953 

Prayer,  by  Kev.  Friend  W.  Suiitli,  of  Woodbui-y. 
Ilymu. 

Sei-nion,  by  Rev.  Henry  Beers  Slieriuan,  of  Belleville,  N.  J. 
Hymu. 

Speech: — -'The  early  Clergy  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  Rev. 
Ansou  S.  At  wood,  of  Mansfield,  Conn 

One  Hour  for  RefreshiaoUs. 

Music  by  the  Band. 

Ode,  by  the  Choir — tune,  "  Stoeet  IIo)neP 

Speech: — "The  early  Lawyers  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by 
Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers,  of  Litchfield. 

Music  by  the  Band. 

Speech : — "  The  early  Physicians  of  Ancient  Woodbury."  by 
David  B.  W.  Hard,  M.  D.,  of  Bethlehem. 

Music  by  the  Band. 

Speech: — "The  Founders  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  Hon. 
William  T.  Minor,  of  Stamford. 

Ode-,  by  the  Choir — tune,  "  America.'''' 

Speech: — "The  early  Schools  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  T, 
M.  Thompson,  of  Woodbury. 

Speech  ; — "  Grand-children  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  Hon. 
Chas.  Chapman,  of  Hartford. 

Speech  : — The  Cousins  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  Hon.  Henry 
Dutton,  of  New  Haven. 

Volunteer  Speeches,  by  distinguished  sons  of  Ancient  Wood- 
bury from  abroad. 

Reading  of  Letters  and  Odes  prepared  for  the  occasion. 

Concluding  Prayer,  by  Rev.  C.  T.  Woodrufl:;  of  Woodbury. 

Benediction,  by  Rev.  Philo  Judson,  of  Rocky  Hill. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  Pres'ideat  of  the  Day. 

Hon.  D.  B.  lirinsmade,  of  Washington,  ' 

"     Joshua  Bird,  of  Bethlem, 
S.  W.  Baldwin,  Esq ,  of  Roxbury,  ^  y.^^  I\eside>Us. 

Cyrus  Mitchell,  Esq.,  oi  Southbury,  i 
Nathaniel  Walker,  Esq.,  of  Oxford,  | 
Leonard  Bronson,  Es(].,  of  Middlebury,  j 


954  n  1  s  T  o  R  Y    o  f    a  n  c  i  k  n  t    w  o  o  d  a  iky, 

Henry  Minor,  Chief  Marshal. 
Assistant  Marshals : 

R.  I.  Tolles,  Elijah  D.  Judson, 

George  Cam]),  Elisha  P.  Tomlinson, 

Robert  Peck,  James  Stone, 

Benjamin  Doolittle,  Truman  S.  Minor, 

W.  C.  McKay,  George  P.  Crane, 

George  Saxton,  James  H.  Minor. 

Tliis  programme  was  carried  out  in  full,  as  laid  down.  The 
Committee  had  sent  out  circular  invitations  all  over  the  Union, 
oordially  inviting  the  sons  of  \Yoodl)ury  to  return  home  and  join 
us  in  the  commemorative  services.  Notices  had  also  been  insert- 
ed in  many  newspapers,  so  that  the  invitation  was  widely  and 
thoroughly  disseminated. 

The  following  action,  which  was  decided  upon  in  April,  1850, 
will  explain  itself,  viz  : 

The  Indian  Deed  given  to  the  founders  of  Woodbury,  in  16§9, 
granted 

JS^  "  A  parcell  of  Land,  bounded  as  followeth  ;  Potateuk 
River  /Sotfthwest ;  Naugatunch  River  northeast ;  and  bounded 
on  ye  northwest  with  trees  marked  by  me  and  other  Indians^ 

Potateuk  river  was  the  Housatonic,  and  the  "  marked  trees " 
extended  across  South  Faims  west  to  the  Housatonic  river.  All 
north  of  Derby  then  to  this  line  was  oomprised  in  this  deed,  in- 
cluding Ancient  Waterbury  west  of  the  Naugatuck,  part  of 
Litchfield  and  New  Milford.  The  committee,  therefore,  consider- 
ing these  towns  and  the  towns  formed  out  of  them,  to  be  of  neai- 
consanguinity  to  us : 

Voted:  "  To  invite  our  cousins,  the  towns  of  Waterbury, 
Naugatuck,  Seymour,  Watertown,  Plymouth,  Litchfield,  New 
Milford  and  Bridgewater,  to  unite  with  us  in  our  approaching 
Centennial  Anniversary." 

A  committee  api)ointed  by  the  citizens  of  Woodbury,  changed 
the  place  for  the  exercises  selected  by  the  vote  passed  a  year  ago 
on  Orenaug  Rocks,  and  secured  the  field  of  Mr.  T.  M.  Thompson, 
directly  east  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Woodbury. 
It  was  an  exceedingly  fine  location  for  the  celebration.  The  large 
tent  of  Yale  College  was  procured  and  supplied  with  seats, 
speakers'  stand.  Sec,  and  the  still  larger  tent  belonging  to  the 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  N  T    yv  O  O  D  B  U  M  Y 


955 


Litchfield  County  Agricultural  Society,  was  procured  for  the  Pic- 
Xic  provided  by  the  Woodbury  Ladies.  A  large  tent  was  also 
provided  for  invited  guests,  besides  a  table  set  out  under  the 
apple  trees,  loaded  with  the  various  articles  of  the  Antiquarian 
Pic-Nic  proper,  such  as  bean  porridge,  baked  beans  and  pork, 
Indian  pudding,  &c.,  served  up  in  the  old  style,  in  old  pewter  and 
wooden  platters,  with  old  pewter  spoons,  and  other  antique 
articles  to  match.  Besides  these,  the  General  Committee  fur- 
nished a  tent  for  each  ot  the  other  towns  in  which  to  hold  their 
Pic-Nic,  except  Washington,  which  chose  to  furnish  its  own  tent- 
cloth. 

On  the  first  morning  of  the  celebration,  the  Chief  Marshal, 
Henry  Minor,  Esq.,  made  out  the  order  of  procession,  as  follows, 
viz: 

A  single  Fifer  and  Di-ummer. 
Antique  Procession. 

Masons. 

New  Milford  Band. 

Warner  Liglit  Guards. 

President  of  the  day. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Orator  of  the  day  and  Poet. 

Clergy. 

The  various  Committees  of  Arrangements. 

Emigrant  Sons,  &c.,  of  the  Territory. 

Citizens  at  large. 

The  Chief  Marshal  wore  the  Revolutionary  military  undress  of 

a  Major-Geueral,  and  Dr.  Davi?,  of  Bethlem,  wore  a  military  suit 

worn  by  Col.  Bellamy  in  the  war  of  1812. 

A  cloudless  sun  rose  over  the  fair  valley  of  Woodbury,  on  the 
morning  of  the  fourth,  and  the  weather  was  cool  and  most  de- 
lightful. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  by  the 
booming  of  cannon  and  the  ringing 
of  bells,  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
town,  in  the  most  spirited  and  joyous 
manner.  At  an  early  hour  the  peo- 
ple began  to  fill  the  town,  and  at  10  ^  ^j\ 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  streets  were 
almost  impassable.  The  people  of 
Washington  came  under  the  direc- 

8 


< 


956  HISTORY     OF     A  ivr  0  I  E  X  T     WOODBURY. 

tion  of  Sherman  Hartwell  as  Marshal,  in  a  procession  of  more  than 
a  mile  in  length,  escorted  by  the  New  Milford  Band.  In  it  were 
one  six-horse  team,  loaded  with  fifty  persons,  ten  four-horse  teams, 
sixty  two-horse  teams,  and  fifty  one-horse  teams,  with  flags,  ban- 
ners, and  some  antique  costumes.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Russell 
W,  Frisbie  and  Thomas  F.  Brinsmade,  for  this  fine  turn  out.  Rox- 
bury  came  out  in  her  ancient  strength.  Her  procession  consisted 
of  two  hundred  and  seventeen  teams,  under  the  direction  of  CoL 
Philo  N.  Hodge,  as  Marshal.  This  processisn  was  rich  in  antique 
display,  and  contained  several  things  worthy  of  special  mention. 
Among  them  was  a  cart,  bearing  for  a  motto,  "  Days  of  Home- 
spun," dra-jvn  by  six  yokes  of  oxen,  the  team  of  Ira  Bradley,  con- 
taining a  flax-breaker,  hetchell,  flax  cards,  double  flax  spinning 
wheel,  and  quill  wheel,  all  in  operation,  worked  by  ladies  in 
antique  costumes.  The  driver  was  Le  Roy  Bradley,  in  corres- 
ponding dress.  Another  wagon  bore  John  A.  Squire,  of  Roxbury, 
and  twenty-two  of  his  grand-children,  while  another  still  loaded 
with  people  in  antique  dress,  bore  a  flag  with  the  motto,  "  Times 
and  Seasons  continue — Manners  and  Customs  change."  This 
section  was  escorted  by  the  Warner  Light  Guards  of  Roxbury,  in 
a  new  and  elegant  uniform,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Lewis 
Judd,  who  performed  escort  and  sentinel  duty  during  both  days, 
and  by  the  excellence  of  their  military  evolutions,  the  strictness 
of  their  discipline,  and  the  gallantry  of  their  bearing,  might  be 
favorably  compared  with  many  a  veteran  company,  which  had  seen 
years  of  drilling,  Southbury,  also,  turned  out  more  than  one 
hundred  teams,  under  Charles  Whitlock,  as  Marshal.  All  the 
other  towns  came  with  very  creditable  processions,  besides  the 
numerous  conveyances  crowded  with  people,  who  did  not  join  any 
procession. 

After  the  several  delegations  had  arrived,  the  General  "  Antique 
Procession  "  was  formed  at  about  11,  A.  M.,  on  the  green  in  front 
of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith's  dwelling  house,  at  the  location  of  the  First 
Meeting  House  in  the  town.  Under  the  eflective  arrangements 
made  by  N.  Smith,  Esq.,  and  H.  W",  Shove.  M.  D  ,  aided  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  R.  G.  Williams  and  C.  T.  Woodruff",  it  became  the  marked 
feature  of  the  occasion.  It  extended,  while  on  its  march  towards 
the  grounds,  at  least  an  eighth  of  a  mile  in  length,  exhibiting  all 
the  varying  costumes  of  the  last  two  hundred  years.  It  was 
headed  by  an  ancient  drummer  and  fifer.  Next  came  the  clergy 
of  the  several  towns,  in  bands  and  gowns,  the  clerical  costume  of 


HISTORY      OP     ANTCIENT     WOODBURY.  95*7 

clergymen  of  all  denominations,  less  than  two  centuries  ago. 
Among  the  clergy,  Rev.  R.  G.  Williams  was  particularly  noticea- 
Ijle  for  the  perfection  of  detail  in  his  costume.  Then  came  the 
Puritan  costumes  of  two  hundrtd  years  ago,  worn  by  the  Minors, 
the  Judsons,  the  Curtisses,  the  Stiles,  lineal  descendants  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Woodbury,  succeeded  aud  contrasted  by  ladies 
and  gentlemen  in  the  cavalier  costumes  of  the  same  period.  Some 
ol  these  costumes  were  magnificent,  and  all  attracted  much  atten- 
tion. Succeeding  the  couples  on  foot,  came  others  on  horseback, 
the  ladies  on  pillionsJ.  One  couple  attracted  particular  attention. 
They  were  Capt.  Judson  Hurd,  aged  85  years,  and  Mrs.  Harvey 
Atwood,  aged  72,  both  dressed  in  ancient  costumes,  and  riding  a 
horse  thirty  years  old.  Then  followed  old  chaises  with  couples 
clothed  in  the  quaint  fashion  of  other  days.  And  here  it  should 
be  noticed,  that  some  of  these  antique  costumes  aud  dresses  were 
bona  fide  relics  of  the  olden  times,  descended  as  heir-looms  from 
father  to  son.  Nothing  could  be  more  curious  than  this  proces- 
sion of  ladies  and  gentlemen  ;  the  latter  gallanting  the  former  in 
all  the  styles,  from  that  of  two  centuries  ago,  down  to  the  present 
time,  the  former  displaying  huge  bonnets,  high  head-dresses,  and 
gowns  ranging  in  size  from  three  breadths  in  a  skirt  to  the  ample 
dimensions  of  modern  crinoline.  The  Masons  and  the  general 
procession  followed  the  antique,  making  a  very  imposing  display. 
If  the  various  processions  as  they  entered  the  town,  had  been  ex- 
tended in  one  line,  they  would  have  reached  the  distance  of  three 
miles.  Nothing  in  the  whole  course  of  the  day's  proceedings  ex- 
cited such  general  curiosity,  conferred  so  much  real  pleasure,  or 
gave  so  clear  an  insight  into  the  past. 

The  procession  moved  directly  to  the  speaker's  stand,  arriving 
there  about  half-past  11  A.  M.  The  assemblage  was,  in  all  proba- 
bility, the  largest  ever  gathered  together  in  Litchfield  county,  aud 
far  the  greatest  ever  convened  in  the  state  on  a  similar  occasion, 
numbering  not  less  than  fifteen  thousand  persons.  Not  less  than 
five  thousand  of  these  were  within  hearing  distance  of  the  speak- 
er's stand,  part  of  them  within,  but  more  without  the  tent,  which 
was  open  on  all  sides.  The  most  eflfective  arrangements  had  been 
made  by  the  Chief  Marshal  for  the  preservation  of  order,  aud  to 
his  tact,  and  the  aid  of  his  excellent  assistants,  great  credit  is  due. 
Everything  was  under  perfect  control.  This  vast  multitude 
observed  the  stri-ctest  order,  and  there  was  no  accident  of  any 
kind  to  mar  the  pleasure  of  the  festive  occasion. 


958  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

The  exercises  of  the  day  at  the  stand  where  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith 
presided  in  his  dignified  and  excellent  manner,  were  opened  by  the 
choir's  singing  to  the  air  of  "  Bruce's  Address,"  the 

ODE  OF  INVOCATION 

BY    WILLIAM    COTHREN. 

"  Spirits  of  our  sainted  dead, 
Heroes  to  these  valleys  led, 
Sages  of  the  hoary  head, 

Kiudly  o'er  us  bend  ; 
Smile  upon  this  classic  hour, 
To  us  children,  give  your  power. 
In  this  consecrated  bower. 

Us  your  glory  lend. 

"  Pioneers  of  Pomperaug, 
Dwellers  near  the  Quassapaug, 
By  meandering  Nonnewaug, 

Hasten  ye  along ; 
Brothers  near  the  Weraumaug, 
By  the  cliffs  of  Orenaug, 
By  the  falls  of  old  Shepaug, 

Help  to  swell  our  song. 

"  From  the  pines  on  Bantam's  shore, 
Softly  whispering  evermore, 
Weekeepeemee's  verdant  plain, 

And  from  Potatuck, 
Come  we  with  our  offerings, 
All  our  dear  and  holy  things, 
From  each  side  the  chorus  rings, 

E'en  from  Naugatuck. 

"  Here  we  come  with  earnest  zeal. 
Mindful  of  our  ancient  weal. 
Memories  bright  to  us  appeal. 

On  this  glorious  day  ; 
•  Here  where  Freedom's  banner  waves. 
Here  above  our  fathers  graves, 
AVe,  as  erst  the  native  braves. 

Glad  our  lionors  pay. 

"  We  revere  those  holy  men. 
Soon  returned  to  heaven  again. 
But  their  works  with  us  remain, 
On  this  festive  day  ; 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  f:  I  K  N  T    AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  .  959 

Thankful  to  our  God  above, 
For  their  deeds  of  inalchless  love, 
Their  example  let  us  prove,  * 

While  ou  earth  we  stay." 

PRAYER. 

A  fervent  and  impressive  prayer  was  ottered  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace,  by  Rev.  Robert  U.  ^VILLIAMs,  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Churcli  of  Woodbury. 

The  Emigrants  from  Woodbury  were  then  "  Welcomed  Home 
again,"  by  Nathaniel  Smith,  Escj.,  of  Woodbury  : 

Mr.  President,  Ladies    and  Gentlemen,  who    are    here  as 
Returned  Emigrants  : 

We  have  learned,  as  the  preparations  for  this  our  Bi-Centeunial 
Celebration  progressed,  that  many  of  you  would  to-day  revisit  the 
scenes  of  your  childliood  ;  and  have  feared  that  among  you  there 
might  be  some  whose  old  homesteads  no  longer  echoed  to  familiar 
voices, — whose  relations  had  gone  out  from  among  us,  to  a  newer 
or  a  better  land.  Lest,  therefore,  any  here  should  be  sad  for  the 
lack  of  kindly  greeting  in  tlieir  native  valley,  the  citizens  of 
Ancient  Woodbury  have  directed  me  to  bid  you  in  their  name,  a 
CORDIAL  WELCOME  HOME  AGAIN ! 

"  We  have  invited  you  to  unite  with  us  in  reviewing  a  history 
which  is  our  mutual  inheritance, — a  past  whose  story  is  written  all 
over  these  hills  an<l  valleys.  Around  us,  smiling  meadows  and 
cheerful  homes  speak  of  the  patient,  unobtrusive  toil  that  has 
wrought  this  "  Dwelling  in  a  Wood."  Moss,  gathered  and  gath. 
ering  on  the  tomb-stones  in  our  grave-yards,  tells  how  long  ago 
the  early  builders  began  to  fall  asleep.  Their  homes  are  our  pos- 
session— their  memory  a  legacy  to  all. 

"  We  are  happy  to  see  you  here,  not  only  on  account  of  the 
pleasure  your  presence  adds  to  the  general  enjoyment ;  but  more 
especially  because  your  coming  assures  us  that  our  histoi*y,  and 
song,  and  services,  are  not  the  result  of  mere  local  pride,  but  that 
you  esteem  them,  as  we  do,  a  proper  tribute  to  departed  worth, 
an  expression  of  gratitude  justly  due  from  us  on  such  an  anni- 
versary, to  the  noble  and  the  good  who  have  gone  before.  We 
commemorate  no  ordinary  struggles  and  necessities  of  frontier 
life.  We  rehearse  the  fortitude  and  success  of  no  common 
adventurers.     Were  those  whose  memory  we  are  here  to  honor. 


960  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

mere  first  settlers,  actuated  by  no  higher  motive  than  usually  leads 
such  into  the  wilderness,  our  theme  would  perhaps  be  unworthy 
of  this  occasion.  The  pioneer  is  rarely  a  man  of  exalted  virtue. 
Hardy,  courageous,  and  uncouth,  he  resembles  those  lichens, 
which,  forerunners  of  vegetation,  fix  themselves  on  the  barren 
rock,  by  their  acids  disintegrate  its  surface  and  assimilate  its  sub- 
stance, till  the  soil  adheres,  the  grasses  grow,  and  waving  fiowers 
succeed  them.  Not  such  were  the  Puritan  fathers.  They  were 
holy  Pilgrims,  and  the  place  they  sought  became  a  shrine. 

"To  such  a  spot  you  return  to-day — return  to  meet  cheerful  faces 
and  hospitable  dwellings.     How  different  was  their  coming  ! 

'  The  rocking  pines  of  the  forest  roared, 
Thin  was  their  '  welcome  home.' ' 

"  They  followed  God's  guidance  into  the  wilderness,  and  brought 
.  His  worship  with  them.  Hardships  were  before,  dangers  around 
them :  but  they  encountered  all  in  that  spirit,  which  instead  of 
choosing  castles,  towers,  or  beasts  of  prey,  the  emblems  of  con- 
quest and  pride,  for  armorial  bearings,  placed  three  vines  upon  a 
shield,  and  wrote  beneath, 

"  Qui  Transtulit  Sustinet." 

"  Behold  to-day  how  He  has  '  sustained !'  See  it  in  these  fruitful 
valleys !  Read  it  in  this  happy  throng  !  Truly  it  is  not  wonder- 
ful that  a  past  thus  begun  and  thus  resulting,  should  move  us  to 
unite  in  public  rejoicing.  Let  other  and  older  nations  do  liomage 
to  conquerors  and  triumph  in  their  battle-fields.  New  England 
celebrates  her  centuries,  which  brins;  down  the  Puritan's  blessinsr 
to  ever  increasing  thousands  in  her  land  of  peace. 

"|Welcome,  then,  sons  and  daughters  of  Ancient  Woodbury,  who 
return  as  emigrants  to-day — welcome  to  the  land  of  your  fathers, 
to  the  scene  where  we  unite  to  do  honor  to  their  memory !  How 
longsoever  you  have  been  absent,  though  you  meet  with  few 
familiar  faces,  we  greet  you  as  old  acquaintances,  as  near  relations. 
And  knowing  that  the  child  of  New  England  .never  forgets  his 
birth-place,  though  you  have  your  habitations  elsewhere,  return- 
ing here,  we  bid  you  welcome  HOME." 

A  historical  address  was  then  delivered  by  the  author  of  this 
work,  who  introduced  his  subject  as  follows: 

"  We  stand  this  day  upon  the  grave  of  two  hundred  years. 
We  have  come  with  solemn  awe  and  reverent  tread  to  commune 
with  the  long  buried  past.     We  are  assembled,  on  this  anniversary 


n  I  s  T  o  i;  V    OF    a  x  c  i  e  x  t    ^^'  o  o  i>  b  u  k  y  .  961 

morn,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  long  hipse  of  two  centuries,  to 
commemorate  the  deeds  of  our  departed  sires.  We  are  come, 
after  years  of  absence  from  the  old  firesides,  to  recall  the  memo- 
ries and  renew  the  associations  of  former  days.  Some  of  us  come 
to  look  upon  the  old  homesteads  among  the  hills,  and  breathe  a 
sigh  over  the  moss-grown  graves  of  ancestors  long  since  gone  to 
their  rest.  Some  of  us  come  to  view  the  hallowed  spot  on  which 
our  eyes  first  saw  the  light ;  where  we,  in  the  hours  of  innocent 
childhood,  received  a  father's  and  a  mother's  blessing,  and  where 
wo,  could  we  have  our  wish,  at  the  close  of  a  well-spent  life, 
would  yield  our  tired  spirits  up  to  the  Giver  of  all  good.  We  are 
this  day  surrounded  with  the  results  of  all  the  labors  of  the  past, 
and  occupy  the  proud  positions  long  years  ago  so  nobly  adorned 
by  the  sainted  fathers  and  mothers  who  planted  this  fertile  terri- 
tory, and  who,  having  ceased  from  their  labors,  have  '  ascended 
into  glory.'  They  have  passed  away  to  the  land  of  spirits  like  the 
dissolving  of  a  sunset  cloud  into  the  cerulean  tints  of  heaven — 
stealing  from  existence  like  the  strain  of  ocean-music,  when  it  dies 
away,  slowly  and  sweetly,  upon  the  moonlit  waters.  We  do 
well,  on  this  glad  day  of  liberty,  to  celebrate  their  lofty  achieve- 
ments, and  do  meet  honor  to  their  deathless  names.  If  those  re- 
vered spirits,  who  have  so  long  enjoyed  their  sacred  repose,  can 
look  down  through  the  veil  that  ol)scures  our  view  of  Heaven, 
they  will  approve,  with  a  smile  of  love,  the  design  of  our  assem- 
bling here.  And  when,  on  the  morrow,  you  shall  leave  this  place 
to  revisit  it  no  more  forever,  you  will  feel  that  it  has  been  good 
for  you  to  have  been  here  on  this  glad  occasion." 

Tlien  followed  a  rapidly  sketched  ejjitome  of  the  history  of  the 
town.  The  old  first  mill  stone  of  1681,  being  placed  on  a  table, 
was  used  for  a  reading  desk — rude  memorial  of  the  early  days 
which  has  escaped  the  ravages  of  "  time's  effacing  finger !" 
During  the  progress  of  this  address  various  ancient  articles  were 
exhibited  to  the  audience,  some  of  which  were  thus  described  ; 

"  Here  is  the  ball  which  buried  itself  in  the  groin  of  Col.  Hin- 
man,  where  it  remained  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-three  years, 
when  it  was  extracted  by  Dr.  Anthony  Burritt.  On  its  passage 
it  hit  a  bayonet  by  his  side,  cutting  and  fiattening  the  edge  as  you 
see.  And  here  is  another  Revolutionary  relic,  aye,  a  relic  of  the 
first  days  of  the  colony,  two  hundred  years  ago.  It  has  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  son,  from  its  first  known  owner,  Capt. 


962  HISTORY      OF      AXCIENT      WOODBURY, 

John  Minor,  the  Indian  interpreter,  and  is  known  to  be  at  lea^^t 
220  years  old.  By  closer  inspection,  I  see  the  manufacturer's 
date  upon  the  barrel  is  1624.  It  was  used  in  the  Pequot  war,  in 
all  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  and  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
It  is  said  to  have  caused,  first  and  last,  the  death  of  forty  red  men, 
and  from  this  circumstance  has  been  familiarly  known  as  the 
'forty  Indian  gun.'  And  here  is  still  another  relic  of  two  centu- 
ries ago — the  old  arm  chair  of  Col.  Benjamin  Hinman,  brought 
from  Stratford,  and  formerly  the  property  of  Francis  Stiles. 
Here,  too,  is  his  pipe  of  peace,  presented  to  him  at  the  peace  of 
1783,  with  a  request  that  he  would  smoke  it  as  often  as  the  4th  of 
July  should  return — a  request  with  which  he  faithfully  complied. 
Here,  too,  is  a  chair  used  by  Gen.  Washington  at  New  York." 

After  recounting  the  various  historical  events  in  the  proud 
history  of  the  old  town,  the  address  closed  with  some  reflections 
oTowing  out  of  the  circumstances  attending  the  occasion  : 

"Thus  have  we  wandered  through  the  flowery  fields  of  the  past, 
plucking  here  and  there  a  sweet  garland  of  wild  flowers  by  the 
wayside,  and  anotlier  in  the  cultivated  gardens  of  advancing 
civilization,  as  best  suited  our  purpose.  We  have  endeavored,  in 
our  humble  way,  duly  to  reverence  and  honor  the  past.  We  have 
traced  with  pious  toil  the  varying  tints,  the  lights  and  shadows  of 
the  pioneer  life  of  our  sainted  lathers,  who  occupied  these  seats 
before  us.  We  have  rendered  them  a  willing  and  a  filial  tribute 
of  love,  duty  and  recollection.  There  is  a  pure  and  unalloyed 
pleasure  in  wandering  amid  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  the  long 
buried  past.  There  is  a  sad,  though  ennobling  interest  in  seeking 
the  faintest  recorded  trace  of  the  early  fatliers.  The  eye  has 
kindled  at  the  ancient  glories,  and  the  soul  has  been  warmed  with 
a  placid  flow  of  tender  heart  sympathies.  In  the  wealth  of  the 
past,  full  well  have  we  traced  'God's  hand  in  history.'  No  inqui- 
ries can  be  more  interesting  to  the  intelligent  student  seeking 
guid  mce  from  the  light  of  former  days,  and  desiring  above  all  to 
emulate  that  sublime  intermixture  of  the  true  principles  of  sta- 
bility and  progress,  so  happily  blended  in  the  history  of  our  fore- 
fathers. The  feelings  that  prompt  these  filial  inquiries  are  just 
and  natural — they  give  birth  to  some  of  the  dearest  charities  of 
life,  and  fortify  some  of  its  sternest  virtues.  The  principle  that 
prompts  them  lies  deep  within  our  nature. 

"  While   rendering,   therefore,   due   homage   to   the  past,  and 


HISTOIIY      OF      ANCIENT      W  O  O  D  15  U  K  Y  .  963 

profiting  by  all  its  honored  maxims,  we  would  not  blindly  worsliip 
it.  In  the  proud  consciousness  of  manhood,  we  should  not  fear 
the  present,  or  its  bold  and  stai-tling  issues,  nor  should  we  be  dis- 
trustful of  the  future,  and  of  the  hidden  mysteries  it  may  have  in 
store.  We  should  not  fear  the  rapid  march  of  events  across  the 
stage  of  life.  We  would  not  build  a  fair  superstructure  on  the 
ruins  of  former  times,  nor  would  we  '  bind  down  the  living, 
breathing,  burning  present,'  to  the  mouldering  though  honored 
lelics  of  the  past.  We  would  rather  imitate  all  that  was  glorious 
in  the  acts  and  example  of  the  '  men  of  seventy-six,  the  boldest 
men  of  pi'ogress  the  world  lias  ever  seen.'  We  would  emblazon 
their  great  principles  of  conservative  progress  with  a  pencil 
dipped  in  lire.  We  are  proud  of  the  past,  glory  in  the  present, 
and  look  hopefully  forward  to  the  future.  We  do  not  even  tear 
enthusiasts  and  ultraists,  as  from  the  collision  of  extremes  comes 
the  ever  truthful  mean.  We  would  so  mingle  them  that  there 
'should  flow  inharmonious  procession  the  cadence  of  a  histoi'y 
chiming  on  through  the  centuries,  full  of  faith  and  praise.'  We 
would  fearlessly  meet  the  issues  Vv'e  cannot  avoid,  while  the  past 
impels  .and  the  future  summons  us  to  prompt  action,  occupying  as 
we  do  the  great  middle  ground  between  the  early  age  of  planting 
and  the  bright  harvest  of  the  future,  which  stretches  towards  us 
its  hands  laden  with  ripened  Iruit.  We  would  hasten  to  the 
golden  fields  and  bright  realizations  of  the  days  to  come.  Our 
acts  are  not  for  an  age,  but  for  all  time. 

"Glorious,  thrice  gloi'ious  is  the  day  we  celebrate !  It  is  the 
two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  exploration  of  this  valley,  the 
one  hundred  and  eighty-ninth  of  the  gathering  of  the  First 
Church,  and  the  eighty-third  of  our  national  independence.  On 
this  glad  day  of  liberty,  what  sacred  emotions  arise  in  the  patri- 
otic breast !  How  shall  we  rightly  honor  a  day  consecrated  by 
the  deeds  of  the  noble  men  of  all  the  past— not  more  the  patriots 
who  fought  in  the  gloomy  days  of  the  revolution,  than  those  who 
struggled  amid  the  dangers  of  defenceless  and  remote  forests.  It 
has  taken  all  the  labors  of  oui-  fathers,  from  the  first  hardy  pio- 
neer, to  make  the  glorious  present.  We  enjoy  the  fruits  of  all  the 
toil  and  blood  of  our  fathers  for  two  hundred  years.  It  is  meet,^ 
then,  that  we  greet  with  enthusiastic  joy  the  smiling  morn  of  the 
anniversary  of  that  last,  most  daring  and  sublime  of  all  the  acts  of 
our  forefathers,  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  It  is  well  that 
we    hail   its  annual    return   with   the  ringing  of    bells  upon  ten 


964  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      ■\VOODBUEY. 

thousand  hills  ;  by  the  booming  of  innumerable  cannon  and  smaller 
arms ;  by  rockets,  fire-works  and  illuminations ;  by  solemn  pro- 
cessions and  grateful  prayers  to  God ;  by  stirring  orations  and 
patriotic  songs  !  May  the  hymns  of  liberty  never  die  out  from 
our  breezy  mountains,  nor  the  lofty  sentiment  of  patriotism  from 
our  happy  valleys !  Let  the  glad  echoes  be  repeated  from  the 
Eastern  to  the  Western  Ocean,  and  from  the  icy  regions  of  the 
North  to  the  sunny  climes  of  the  ever-blooming  South ! 

"What  shall  be  the  developments  and  improvements  in  our 
highly  favored  territory,  a  hundred  years  hence  ?  The  answer  to 
this  question  must  depend  mainly  upon  ourselves.  Of  all  this 
vast  concourse,  not  one  will  be  here  to  celebrate  the  next  centen- 
nial. Long  ere  another  centennial  sun  shall  rise  over  this  lovely 
valley,  we  shall  have  experienced  the  '  last  of  earth,'  and  passed 
to  join  the  innumerable  company  of  the  dead  !  '  The  dead  of  old 
Woodbury !  Lost,  yet  found  forever — absent,  yet  present  now 
and  always — dead,  but  living  in  that  glorious  life,  which,  com- 
mencing on  the  confines  of  time,  spreads  onward  and  ever 
onward  through  the  endless  ages  of  eternity.'  Then  let  tis,  by 
the  nobleness  of  our  conduct,  and  the  purity  of  our  lives,  eschew- 
ing all  low  delights  and  jarring  discords,  strive  to  add  our  mite 
to  the  great  and  good  history  of  our  sainted  fathers,  who  have 
*■  ascended  into  glory.'  Then  will  our  children,  as  they  shall,  with 
wet  lids,  assemble  here,  a  hundred  years  hence,  to  commemorate 
our  history,  be  enabled  to  say  of  us,  '  they  wrought  well,  and 
have  received  the  reward  of  their  labors,'  Then  shall  our  fame,  as 
well  as  that  of  those  glorious  men  who  have  already  entered  into 
their  rest,  be  perennial  with  our  noble  language,  in  which  it  is  re- 
corded, now  '  spread  more  widely  than  any  that  has  ever  given 
expiession  to  human  thought.'  " 

At  the  close  of  the  address,  after  music  from  the  Band,  the 
vast  multitude  repaired  to  the  tents,  provided  with  an  abundance 
of  eatables  by  the  good  ladies  of  the  several  towns,  where  they 
were  hospitably  entertained.  In  a  brief  space,  the  people  were 
again  summoned  to  the  stand,  and  the  exercises  were  opened  by 
music  from  the  Band,  followed  by  the  well-known  song,  "The 
Pilgrim  Fathers,"  sung  with  fine  effect  by  Gilbert  Somers  Minor, 
an  aged  man  of  silvery  locks  and  long  white  beard.  Then  fol- 
lowed a  Historical  Poem  by  Kev.  William  Thompson  Bacon,  of 
Woodbury. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  965 

Mr.  Bacon  is  a,  native  of  Woodbury,  and  the  chief  poet  of  all 
the  ancient  territory.  He  has  written  much  and  well,  but  no 
effort  of  his  pen  ever  did  him  more  credit  than  his  poem  on  this 
occasion.  We  will  quote  a  passage  or  two,  applicable  to  this 
history,  which  may  serve  as  a  sample  of  the  whole.  Describing 
the  advent  of  our  fathers  in  this  valley,  to  found  a  new  town,  he 
says  : 

"It  13  a  thought  of  beauty  and  of  fear, 

To  look  upon  those  lonely  wanderers  here, — 

The  first  white  men  that  ever  stood  upon 

This  ancient  soil,  or  look'd  upon  the  sun, — 

And  try  an  instant  to  call  up  the  power, 

That  lay  upon  their  souls  in  that  still  hour  ! 

Was  it  not  solemn,  as  they  paused  to  view 

The  embracing  hills,  or  look'd  upon  the  blue 

Broad  heaven,  that,  like  a  canopy,  came  down, 

And  rested  on  the  circling  mountains'  crown, 

They  all  alone,  alone,  amid  the  scene, — 

A  solemn,  silent,  wilderness  of  green? 

O,  had  some  power,  one  little  moment  then. 

Flashed  through  the  minds  of  these  heroic  men, 

The  mighty  future,  from  the  distance  caught. 

With  all  its  splendid  wealth  of  soul  and  thought. 

It's  strength  and  beauty,  innocence  and  truth, 

And  reverend  age.  and  loviug  dreams  of  youth. 

Each  age  successive  gathering  up  the  past. 

Till  the  bright  present  on  their  souls  was  cast, — 

Would  there  been  wanting  to  that  spot  and  time, 

One  single  element  of  the  grand  sublime? — 

And  would  they  not  have  trembled,  in  each  sense, 

At  God's  unfolding,  mighty  Providence  ? 

"  These  brave  men  st'onre;!  the  region  all  around. 
Sought  every  spot,  and  all  its  promise  found, — 
The  gentle  valley  and  the  rounded  hill. 
The  winding  stream  and  solitary  rill ; 
Each  opening  vista  through  the  forest  glade. 
And  every  charm  by  freak  of  Nature  made, — 
From  the  cool  grotto,  where  the  brooklets  run, 
To  splinter'd  peak,  tall  black'niig  in  the  sun; — 
At  last,  discovering  what  they  came  for,  pleas'd 
With  what  they'd  purchas'd,  not,  like  robbers,  seized. 
Back  to  old  Stratford's  strand  they  turn  once  more, 
And  tell  the  vvondrons  story  o'er  and  o'er. 


"  R'dl  back  the  tide  of  time  !  and  let  us  stand 
Two  hundred  years  ago,  with  that  brave  band, 


966  HISTORY     OF     A  N  0  I  E  N  T    \\'  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y 

Who,  from  the  hill,  that,  westering,  skirts  this  scene. 
Looked  down  upon  its  rolling  forests  green, 
And,  gazing,  as  they  might,  with  strange  surprise, 
Let  the  whole  mighty  landscape  flU  their  e\es! 

"  Roll  back  the  tide  !   and  let  us,  as  we  ma\ , 
Group,  in  our  thought,  the  picture  of  that  Jay, — 
Of  that  brave  band  along  the  forests  led. 
Now  climbing  steeps,  now  whore  the  waters  spread,— 
Startled,  how  oft,  to  catch  that  sound  of  fear, 
The  bark  of  cat,  or  yell  of  mountaineer, — 
Till  where  yon  mountain  rising  to  the  blue, 
Gave  all  this  glorious  landscape  to  their  view  ! 

"Far  to  the  north,  hills  over  hills  survey. 
Till  their  blue  tops  are  mingled  with  the  day  ; 
Far  to  the  south  the  widenicg  vale  extends, 
Whose  wealth  of  splendor  every  beauty  lends ; 
Far  to  the  west,  in  wide  succession  spread, 
Valley  and  hill,  and  jutting  mountain  head  ;    ■ 
While  right  before  them,  'ueath  tiie  morning  sky, 
Nature's  wide  wonders  all,  were  in  their  ej'e  ! 

"  I  woader  much,  if  those  broad-breasted  men, 
In  that  rough  age — (it  will  not  come  again — 
Should  not  perhaps) — I  wonder  if  they  view'd 
As  we,  this  mighty  stretch  of  wave  and  wood  I 
The  Spring's  first  bird  was  whistling  in  the  skj-, 
The  fragrant  birch  its  tassels  flaunted  nigh  ; 
Through  the  moist  mould,  in  beauty  ever  young. 
Tall  ranks  of  flowers  on  every  bank  were  flung; 
Far  by  the  streams,  as  here  and  there  they  view'd, 
The  classic  willow,  by  the  brook-side  stood. 
Trembling  all  over  in  the  morning's  beam, 
Or  playing  with  its  shadow  on  the  stream  ; 
The  young  winds  bore  their  fragrance  all  about, 
Mingled  with  hum  of  bee  and  torrent's  shout, 
And  the  wide  air  with  all  those  sounds  was  filled, 
That  fancy  ever  dream'd,  or  heart  has  thrill'd  ; — 
I  wonder  how  those  men,  of  stalwart  mien, 
In  that  sweet  morn  looked  forth  upon  the  scene  ; 

"  One  mighty  purpose  all  that  age  had  fired, 
One  mighty  aim  each  swelling  soul  inspired ; 
Oue  truth,  fast  lock'd,  in  every  soul  was  kept, 
That  conscience  guarded,  and  that  never  slept ; — 
Man  came  from  God,  in  his  own  image  made, 
And  by  that  charter  certain  rights  conveyed ; — 
Those  rights  long  trampled  by  an  hireling  throne. 


II  I  S  T  O  R  Y      Ci  F     A  N  C  I  K  N  T    W  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y.  96*7 

Had  sent  them  forth,  to  waj'S  and  wilds  unknown; 
Here  on  bleak  shoros,  soft  breezes  seldom  press'd, 
Here  mid  rude  scenes,  gay  faucv  seldom  dress'd, 
Alone,  mid  death,  in  want  of  all  but  worth, 
They  battled  for  the  noblest  prize  on  earth, — 
Man  in  his  native  dignity  to  stand. 
Himself  a  prince  and  ruler  of  the  land ! 

"  Small  time  had  they  then  for  the  mere  ideal, 
Their  love  was  truth,  their  present  life  all  real ; 
They  walked  the  world,  faith's  vision  never  dim, 
Saw  not  God's  works,  they  only  gazed  on  i/iw;  / 

"  Tell  me,  ye  sons  of  that  imperial  race, 
Imperial  only,  as  their  truth  ye  trace; — 
Those  brave  men,  scorning  courts,  and  kingly  crew, 
And  only  daring  less  tlian  angels  do  ;  — 
Tell  me,  if  prince  or  nobleman  there  be, 
Can  boast  a  prouder  ancestrj'  than  we  !" 

At  the  close  of  the  poem,  which  occupied  an  liour  and  a  lialf  in 
the  delivery,  the  assemblacre  united  in  siui!'ini>;  an  oricrinal  cono-rat- 
ulatory,  and  reminiscient  ode,  furnished  by  the  writer  of  this. 
Then  followed  the  benediction,  by  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  of 
Jewett  City,  Conn.,  formerly  Pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Southbury.  The  invited  guests  then  scattered  among 
the  hospitable  homes  of  our  town,  and  never  was  their  hospitality 
taxed  to  so  great  an  extent  before  or  since.  Happy  greetings  of 
friends,  and  long  deferred  reunions  were  the  order  of  the  hour 
that  Avill  never  be  forgotten  while  life  remains. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day,  at  eight  o'clock,  about  one 
thousand  persons  convened  in  that  sacred  dell  in  the  thick  woods, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Orenaug  Rocks,  half  a  mile  from  the  vil- 
lage, which  was  consecrated  by  the  prayers  and  praises  of  the 
early  fathers,  and  by  them  called  Bethel  Rock.  This  meeting  was 
held  for  the  special  purpose  of  commemorating  this  most  interest- 
ing fact  in  the  history  of  our  revered  ancestors,  and  the  occasion 
was  one  long  to  be  remembered  by  every  devout  heart. 

Rev.  Robert  G.  Williams,  pastor  of  the  old  Pioneer  Church, 
opened  the  meeting  by  giving  out  one  verse  of  the  hymn  com- 
mencing— 

"Be  Thou,  O  God,  exalted  high," 
which,  being  sung  with  great   solemnity,  in  the  ever  welcome  air 


968  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

of  "  Old  Hundred,"  Dea.  Eli  Summers  was  called  upon  to  lead  in 
prayer,  which  he  did,  after  making  some  feeling  and  appropriate 
remarks.  .  Then  followed  the  reading  of  portions  of  the  28th  and 
.^5th  chapters  of  Genesis,  which  contain  the  account  of  Jacob's 
setting  up  a  stone  to  indicate  the  place  where  God  had  talked  with 
him,  and  naming  it  his  Bethel ;  which  passages  occasioned  the 
giving  by  our  falhers  of  the  name  of  Bethel  Rock  to  this  beauti- 
fully wild  and  secluded  place  of  prayer  and  communion  with  God. 
Then  followed,  in  rapid  succession,  appropriate  remarks  by  Mr. 
B.  H.  Andrews,  of  Waterbury,  Rev.  Anson  S,  Atwood,  of  Mans- 
field Centre,  Dea,  Truman  Minor,  of  Woodbury,  and  Rev,  Philo 
Judson,  of  Rocky  Hill.  Mr.  Judson  became  much  aifected  while 
giving  reminiscences  of  the  great  and  good  men  with  whom  he 
had  communed  in  prayer  in  this  sacred  retreat,  in  former  years, 
and  who  now  rest  from  their  labors  till  the  "  Great  Day  of  Ac- 
counts."    Then  followed  the  hymn — 

"  Once  more,  my  soul,  the  rising  day,'"'  &c. 

Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Meigs,  late  missionary  to  Ceylon,  where  he 
had  labored  for  more  than  forty  years,  now  led  in  a  beautiful  and 
impressive  prayer,  after  having  made  the  following  remarks  : — 

REMARKS    OF    MR.    MEIGS    AT   THE    BETHEL    ROCK. 

My  Friends  !  I  feel  that  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here.  Here  is 
the  place  where  our  Puritan  fathers  assembled  to  worship  God, 
before  they  had  any  sanctuary  built  for  this  purpose,  and  while 
their  savage  foes  r^oamed  in  these  forests.  In  this  beautiful  ravine, 
under  these  sheltering  rocks,  by  setting  a  watch  on  younder  point, 
they  could  worship  in  comparative  safety.  Hence  the  name  by 
which  this  place  is  known — "  Bethel  Rock."  Surely  the  God  of 
Bethel  is  here  this  morning.  "This  is  none  other  but  the  house 
of  God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven."  May  we  not  suppose 
that  our  pious  forefathers  are  now  looking  down  upon  us,  while 
we  are  gathered  together  in  this  consecrated  place  of  worship  ? 
With  what  delight  will  they  behold  this  assembly,  while  we  pour 
out  our  hearts  before  God  in  prayer  ? 

A  few  appropriate  remarks  by  Dea.  Judson  Blackman,  were  fol- 
lowed by  a  prayer  from  Rev.  Anson  S.  Atwood,  and  the  singing 
of  a  verse  from  the  ninetieth  Psalm.  The  regular  exercises  being 
now    closed,  a   few   moments    were   spent   in    hearing  volunteer 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  U  U  K  Y .  9G  9 

remarks,  when   the  audience    united   in   singing  the   verse,  com- 
mencing— 

"  Lord,  dismiss  us  with  thy  blessinfj," 

Then  followed  the  brief  concluding  prayer,  by  Rev.  Philo  Jud- 
son,  and  the  benediction  by  Rev,  Austin  Ishani,  of  Roxbury,  and 
this  solemn  and  interescing  occasion  was  numbered  with  the  events 
of  the  past,  an  event  never  to  occur  again  during  the  life  of  any 
soul  present  at  the  revered  spot.  Many  lingered,  as  if  unwilling 
to  separate,  and  many  more  procured  and  carried  away  portions 
of  the  rock  and  moss,  to  be  treasured  as  sacred  mementoes  of  a 
hallowed  spot  and  a  sacred  scene. 

At  ten  o'clock,  a  procession  was  formed  in  the  same  ordei-  as 
the  first  day,  with  the  exception  of  the  "  antique  "  portion  of  it, 
which  was  omitted,  and  marched  to  the  Tent,  escorted  by  the 
Band  and  Warner  Light  Guards. 

The  services  were  opened  by  music  from  the  Band,  followed  by 
reading  of  the  following 

CENTENNIAL  HYMN. 

BY    REV.    WILLIAM    THOMPSON    BACON. 

Supposed  to  be  sung  on  the  spot  where  the  Pilgrim  Settlers  held  their  Jir.tt  Sabbath 

Worship. 

Here,  then,  beneath  the  greenwood  shade, 

The  Pilgrim  first  his  altar  made ; 

'T  was  here,  amid  the  mingled  throng, 

First  breathed  the  prayer,  and  woke  the  song. 

How  peaceful  smiled  that  Sabbath  sun, 
How  holy  was  that  day  begun, 
When  here,  amid  the  dark  woods  dim, 
Went  up  the  Pilgrims'  first  low  hymn  ! 

Look  now  upon  the  same  still  scene. 
The  wave  is  blue,  the  turf  is  green  ; 
But  where  are  now  the  wood  and  wild. 
The  Pilgrim,  and  the  forest  child  ? 

The  wood  and  wild  have  passed  away  ; 
Pilgrim  and  forest  child  are  clay ; 
But  here,  upon  their  graves,  we  stand, 
The  children  of  that  Ckristian  band. 


970  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIE.VT     WOODBURY. 

An  exceedingly  eloquent,  fervid,  and  appropriate  prayer  was 
then  offered  by  Rev.  Friend  W.  Smith,  Pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  Woodbury. 

Then  followed  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Henry  Beers  Sherman,  of  Belle- 
ville, New  Jersey,  a  native  of  Woodbury.  It  was  a  labored  and 
finished  production,  and  gave  great  pleasure  to  the  friends  on  the 
occasion. 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  short  speeches,  in  reply  to  previ- 
ously prepared  sentiments,  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  consti- 
tuted one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  most  memorable 
occasion. 

The  first  sentiment  was, — "  The  early  Clergy  of  Ancient  Wood- 
bury," and  was  responded  to  by  Rev.  Anson  S.  Atwood,  of  Mans- 
field Center,  Conn.,  a  native  of  Woodbury.  A  passage  or  two 
will  show  the  character  of  the  eflbrt,  and  will  be  read  with 
pleasure : — 

"  Zechariah  Walker  was  the  first  Pastor  of  Ancient  Woodbury. 
It  is  a  good  name — Zechariah — it  is  a  Bible  name,  and  he  was  a 
Bible  man.  The  church  was  organized  in  1670,  and  he  assumed 
the  pastorate.  And  if  tradition  tells  the  truth,  and  the  little  of 
history  that  has  come  down  to  us,  may  be  credited,  he  is  not  to 
be  numbered  among  the  minoi'  prophets  of  his  day  and  placed  on 
the  last  leaves  of  the  Bible.  He  was  not  an  ordinary  man,  but 
made  of  sterner  stufl' — a  man  for  the  times  and  the  work  Provi- 
dence had  for  him  to  do  ;  every  way  worthy  to  be  the  minister  of 
that  little  adventurous  band,  who  came  from  Stratford  to  explore 
and  seek  a  home  in  the  wilderness  of  Pomperaug  ;  and  when  they 
reached  the  elevation  of  that  western  summit,  and  had  gazed  and 
gazed  again  upon  the  valley,  the  object  of  their  search,  reposing 
at  their  feet  in  all  its  primitive  beauty  and  loveliness,  they  fell  on 
their  knees  in  gratitude  to  return  thanks  to  God,  and  John  Minor 
ofl'ered  that  memorable  prayer,  which  your  own  historian  has  re- 
corded— a  prayer  for  a  divine  blessing  on  their  enterprise,  and  that 
they  might  have  an  upright  and  godly  posterity  in  all  coming  gen- 
erations. A  prayer  that  has  proved  well  nigh  prophetic  for  ten 
generations  of  the  descendants  of  some  of  these  pioneers. 

"Yes,  Zechariah  Walker  was  fitted  for  such  an  enterprise,  casting 
in  his  lot  with  theirs,  comforting  and  cheering  them  on  in  their 
toils,  labors,  sacrifices  and  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  new  order  of  things. 


H  I  S  T  O  n  Y     ()  F     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     W  <>  O  I)  I*.  U  U  V  .  971 

"  For  a  lew  of  the  first  years  of  his  ministry,  tlte  place  of  worship 
in  the  winter  was  the  log  cabins  of  his  parishioners ;  in  tlie  sum- 
mer, the  Bethel  rock  was  his  sanctuary  and  altar,  the  beat  of  the 
drum  his  bell,  the  heav^ens  his  sound-board,  his  chorister  unknown, 
but  perched  on  a  rocky  eminence  might  be  seen  the  sentinel  watch- 
ing the  approach  of  danger,  while  they  bowed  the  knee  of  devo- 
tion before  God.  There,  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest,  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  gospel  were  heard  by  attentive  ears,  and  the  songs 
of  Zion  were  sung  by  strong  and  joyful  hearts. 

''  History  says  of  him,  that  he  had  a  sound  mind,  was  a  ])o^verful 
and  pungent  preacher,  that  he  lived  in  harmony  with  his  people 
thirty  years,  died  beloved,  and  sleei)S  in  deatli  with  those  to  whom 
he  ministered. 

"Anthony  Stoddard  followed  in  the  pastorate  in  1*702.  A  part 
of  his  name  Hoviari^  but  all  the  rest  of  him  was  Stoddard,  from 
the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  sole  of  his  foot ;  and  he  had  a  brave, 
strong,  Christian  heart,  that  beat  full  and  clear,  as  it  sent  out  its 
piilsations  through  all  the  channels  of  the  duties  of  his  sacred  of- 
fice. Who  was  his  father  ?  Whence  came  he  ?  AVe  have  the 
answer.  He  had  an  enviable  descent,  from  one  of  the  ablest  di- 
vines New  England  had  raised  on  her  soil.  Solomon  Stoddard,  of 
Northampton,  Mass.,  was  that  father,  who  had  few  equals,  if  any 
superior,  in  the  ministry  of  that  day.  He  was  of  a  liberal  heart, 
and  he  gave  to  the  cause  of  Christ  some  large  donations.  He  had 
a  daughter,  Esther,  much  beloved,  and  he  gave  her  away  to  be 
the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Edwards,  of  East  Windsor,  Conn., 
and  the  mother  of  the  immortal  Jonathan  Edwards.  He  had  a 
son,  Anthony,  equally  beloved,  and  he  gave  him  to  Ancient  Wood- 
bury. 

"This  son  honored  his  parentage.  His  intellect  and  furniture  of 
mind  were  of  a  high  order ;  and  one  would  think  from  the  amount 
of  labor  he  performed,  his  mind  must  have  been  kept  from  rust- 
ing. He  must  have  had  almost  a  giant's  strength,  to  have,  in  no 
unimportant  sense,  discharged  the  duties  of  three  professions :  that 
of  a  pastor,  a  physician,  and  a  counsellor  or  judge,  while,  it  is  said, 
he  neglected  no  part  of  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  It  was  from 
a  necessity  of  the  times  that  all  these  labors  devolved  upon  him. 
It  must  be  remembered,  that  education  was  almost  entirely  "with 
and  in  the  hands  of  ministers  in  the  early  infancy  of  our  colonial 
State.  Hence,  they  had  to  do  many  things  that  belong  to  otlier 
professions.  To  teach  school-masters,  and  fit  them  for  their  work 
9 


972  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

draw  deeds,  wills,  keep  records,  aud  even  be  judges,  in  some  cases ^ 
of  probate.  Many  of  these  burdensome  duties  pressed  upon  Stod- 
dard, but  he  met  them  cheerfully,  manfully  devoting  soul  and  body 
and  every  energy  of  his  being  to  the  advancement  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  his  flock,  temporal  and  eternal,  and  not  without  bles'sed 
results.  A  long,  prosperous  and  happy  ministry  of  sixty  years 
crowned  his  labors.  The  divine  approbation  set  its  seal  to  his 
ministry,  in  permitting  him  to  see  almost  constant  additions  to 
the  church  through  the  whole  period  of  his  ministry,  numbering 
in  all  four  hundred  and  seventy-four  persons. 

"  At  an  advanced  age,  having  served  his  generation  faithfully, 
he  came  to  the  grave,  "  as  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe,"  and  his 
record  is  on  high. 

"  Noah  Benedict,  the  third  pastor  of  Ancient  Woodbury,  was 
ordained  October  22, 1*760.  We  now  come  within  the  recollection 
of  living  witnesses,  to  speak  of  a  man  whose  name  is  hallowed  in 
the  memories  of  many  who  have  gone  before  me.  You  remember 
him  well — remember  him  as  you  remember  no  other  minister  you 
ever  knew,  and  loved  him  as  younever  loved  any  other  man.  Nor 
can  I  think  you  wrong  in  it.  My  earliest  years  were  impressed 
with  the  godliness,  purity  and  excellency  of  his  character,  as  I 
heard  it  from  parental  lips  with  so  much  adoration  and  venera- 
tion, that  I  came  to  feel,  long  before  I  knew  him,  that  he  was 
something  more  than  a  man.  I  am  not  alone  in  this  impression, 
I  have  heard  grave  and  venerable  men,  in  the  profession  and  out 
of  it,  say  of  him,  that  "  he  was  born  a  minister,  lived  a  minister, 
died  a  minister,  and  could  not,  if  he  would,  be  any  thing  else  but 
a  minister;"  a  minister  at  all  times,  in  all  circumstances,  in 
the  pulpit  and  out  of  the  pulpit — a  noble  minister — a  Nathaniel 
indeed,  in  whom  there  was  no  guile. 

"  There  are  three  men,  of  the  good  aud  the  great  that  I  have 
known,  that  I  would  like  much  to  hear  pray  again,  of  all  men  I 
ever  heard  pray,  if  they  might  come  back  to  the  world  for  a  briet 
space.  Noah  Benedict,  his  Deacon,  Matthew  Minor,  and  Azel 
Backus.     They  are  better  employed.     I  recall  my  impertinent  wish. 

"The  venerated  pastor  of  whom  I  am  speaking,  and  Benjamin 
Wildman,  of  Southbury,  were  near  neighbors,  and  long  tried  and 
intimate  friends ;  very  difierent  were  they  in  natural  temperament 
and  ministerial  gifts  and  graces.  I  remember  an  anecdote  I  heard 
in  my  youth,  iilustrative  of  the  two  men.  Said  one  of  their  breth- 
ren, who  well  knew  them  both  and  their  different  gifts,4n  a  circle 


FIRST  CHURCH,   W JUDHl'llY,  CONN. 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  9Y3 

of  Christian  friends  on  a  certain  occasion,  "  Give  me  Benedict  to 
pray,  Wildraan  to  preach,  and  I  get  as  near  to  God  and  Heaven 
as  I  ever  expect  to  while  in  the  body." 

Next  followed  well  approved  speeches  by  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Ship- 
man,  of  Jewitt  City,  Conn.,  on  the  "  Departed  clergy  of  the  present 
generation,"  and  Truman  Minor,  a  deacon  of  the  First  church,  on 
the  "  Pioneer  Church  "  of  "Woodbury. 

After  another  re-union  at  the  refreshment  tents,  the  booming 
cannon,  and  the  music  of  the  Band,  again  «alled  the  delighted 
multitude  to  the  Speakers'  tent,  where  the  exercises  of  the  last 
afternoon  were  opened,  on  the  part  of  the  choir,  by  singing  with 
hearty  joy,  the  following 

ODE. 

BY    WILLIAM    COTHREN. 

Air — "  Sweet  Home." 

Thrice  welcome  the  day  which  aow  brings  to  the  mind, 
The  deeds  of  our  fathers,  so  noble  and  kind ; 
An  incense  of  sweetness  breathes  out  on  the  air. 
The  incense  of  welcome,  the  incense  of  prayer. 
Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  liome, 

No  place  like  our  firesides, 

No  place  like  our  homes. 

The  earth  has  grown  old  for  full  many  a  year, 
Since  the  people  of  God  came  to  worship  Him  here  ; 
And  the  graves  are  moss-grown  of  the  sturdy  old  stock, 
vYho  prayed  in  their  Bethel,  the  shade  of  the  Rock. 
Home,  &c. 

Oh  !  shades  of  the  mighty,  most  faithful  of  men, 
Will  the  meed  of  your  virtues  e'er  greet  us  again  ? 
A  halo  of  glory  surrounds  each  fair  brow, 
Which  shall  shine  in  yon  Heaven  forever  as  now. 
Home,  <fec. 

Then  followed  a  speech  in  reply  to  the  Sentiment,  "  The  Early 
Lawyers  of  Ancient  Woodbury,"  by  Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers,  of  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  a  native  of  Woodbury. 

He  spoke  with  much  feeling,  having  been  absent  from  the  home 
of  his  birth  nearly  sixty  years.  A  few  passages  of  his  speech  are 
appended,  of  biographical  interest,  now  that  he  has  passed  away 
to  his  great  reward  : — 


974  HISTORY     OF       ANCIENT     M'  O  O  I>  P.  U  K  Y  . 

*'  I  go  back  to  seventy  eight  years  ago  ;  and  from  tliat  stand- 
point glance  over  the  succeeding  time. 

"In  yonder  mansion,  late  the  residence  of  the  much  lamented 
and  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps,  on  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1781,  was 
found  pnling  in  its  nurse's  arms,  a  child — now,  the  humble  indi- 
vidual who  addresses  a  generation  that  knew  not  Joseph. 

"My  coming  hither  to-day,  seems  a  completion  of  the  circle  of 
my  life.  It  brings  me  round  to  the  point  Avhence  I  started,  and 
connects  the  termination  of  the  line  with  its  beginning ;  amid  the 
scenery  of  my  early  days  the  experiences  of  my  early  life  come 
back  to  me. 

"  And  now  while  here,  a  retydniscent,  with  the  aid  of  objects 
around  me,  which  call  to  mind  the  early  events  of  a  life  which  must 
soon  terminate,  and  of  which  the  jjresent  generation  possesses  lit- 
tle if  any  knowledge,  my  thoughts  naturally  linger  upon  that  early 
portion  of  my  life,  which  was  passed  in  this  my  birth-place. 

"  Whatever  opinions  may  be  entertained  by  others  on  this  sub- 
ject, so  far  as  it  respects  myself,  there  is  no  part  of  my  life  to 
which  I  recur  with  greater  satisfaction,  or  of  which  I  am  more 
proud,  than  the  first  chapter  of  my  history.  It  would  deface  the 
rest,  if  that  were  obliterated  from  the  account.  Some  person  has 
said,  (I  don't  remember  who — but  am  willing  to  stand  sponsor  to 
the  sentiment,)  "  the  best  and  most  inqwrta.nt  section  of  every 
mari^s  life  is  itsfirsty  I  go  back,  therefore,  to  my  best,  and  be- 
gin with  the  beginning. 

"I  can  say  of  myself,  that  I  am  'native  and  to  the  manor  born  ;' 
and  if  I  am  entitled  to  indulgence  anywhere,  for  lingering  upon 
personal  details,  I  may  fairly  claim  it  here.  As  no  person  will  be 
likely  to  undertake  my  biography,  I  may  as  well,  perhaps,  do  it 

myself. 

******** 

"  I  can  ansAver  as  to  my  own  family,  who  were  all  here  in  force 
when  I  emigrated,  that  the  name  of  Beers  has  become  extinct  in 
the  tOAvn ;  and  all  that  now  remains  here  of  the  Beers  blood  has 
flowed  back  into  a  branch  of  my  mother's  family,  and  the  name  is 
lost  in  that  of  Preston. 

"  The  annals  of  my  father's  family  are  for  the  most  pai't  to  be 
found  upon  the  monuments  in  yonder  grave-yard.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  myself,  the  solitary  remainder  of  a  generation  that  has 
passed  away,  and  a  few  descendants  of  my  sister,  all  ai'e  gone. 
Having  reached  that  extreme  point  in  human   life  which  is  close 


i!  IS  r  O  R  V      O  KAN  C  i  K  X  T     W  O  O  I)  U  U  11  Y  .  975 

upon  fourscore  years,  though  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  liealth  and 
strength,  and  hardly  feeling  in  its  full  weight  the  burden  of  my 
years — for  which  I  bless  God,  and  am  thankful, — I  cannot  but  feel 
that  my  coming  hither  on  this  occasion  is  as  a  bringing  together 
the  two  ends  of  the  line,  and  a  making  up  of  the  circle  of  my  his- 
tory. Farewell. 

An  extended  and  studied  speech  by  David  B.  W.  Hard,  M.  D., 
of  Bethlehem,  followed  in  answer  to  the  Sentiment,  "  The  early 
physicians  of  Ancient  Woodbuiy." 

The  next  Sentiment.  ''The  founders  of  iVncient  Woodbury," 
was  most  eloquently  and  appropriately  responded  to  by  Ex-Gov. 
William  T.  Minor,  of  Stamford,  a  grandson  of  Woodbury.  In 
opening,  he  said  : — 

"  It  has  given  me  great  i)Ieasure  that  I  have  been  able  to  accept 
the  invitation  of  your  committee  and  be  present  with  you  to  join 
in  these  commemorative  services.  Since  my  arrival  here  last  Sat- 
urday afternoon,  from  what  I  have  seen  and  heard,  I  have  been 
somewhat  disposed  to  doubt  my  own  identity.  I  am  inclined  to 
the  opinion  that  I  ought  to  have  been  "  Deacon  Minor."  I  rather 
think  I  ought  to  have  been.  I  am  certain  that  if  I  had  been,  and 
discharged  faithfully  the  duties  appertaining  to  that  office,  I  should 
have  been  a  much  l»etter  man  than  at  i^resent ;.  but  as  I  am,  it  has 
long  been  a  cherished  wish  of  my  heart,  to  visit  the  home  of  my 
ancestors;  to  look  at  the  spot  which  gave  them  birth,  at  the  play- 
grounds of  their  childhood,  at  the  old  school-houses  in  which  their 
education  was  commenced,  and  in  many  instances,  finished,  at  the 
fields  cultivated  in  their  middle  age,  at  the  houses  which  sheltered 
their  old  age,  at  the  churches  where  tliey  ever  worshipped,  and  at 
the  graveyards  where  now  rest  all  of  their  mortal  remains.  Un- 
til now  the  active  business  of  life  has  i)revented  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  wish.  I  only  regret  now,  as  I  look  u})on  your  beau- 
tiful hills  and  valleys,  and  partake  of  your  generous  hospitality, 
that  duty  has  been  so  long  neglected.  One  of  thq,  niost  obvious 
reflections  forcing  itself  upon  the  mind,  as  the  eye  passes  over  the 
immense  concourse  here  assembled,  is,  what  numbers  of  the  de- 
scendants of  ancient  Woodbury,  have  come  together  here,  from 
all  parts  of  our  common  country  ;  the  merchant  from  his  counting- 
room,  the  mechanic  from  his  work-shop,  the  farmer  from  his  field, 
the  professional  man  from  his  oflice,  the  authoress  from  her  stu<ly, 
bringing  with  her  poetical  gnrlands  all  green  and  fresh — all  leav- 


976  HISTORY      OF     AN  O  IE  XT     WOODBURY. 

ing  behind  the  active,  stirring  scenes  of  life,  some  to  clasp  the 
hand  of  living  friends,  fondly  welcoming  them ;  others,  to  drop  a 
tear  over  the  graves  of  departed  ones — all  to  commemorate  the 
virtues  of  the  founders  of  Woodbury. 

"  Although  I  mingle  with  you  but  as  a  grandchild,  of  this  good 
old  town,  yet  I  doubt  not  my  appreciation  of  its  growth  and  pros- 
perity will  be  as  true,  and  my  relish  for  these  exercises  as  keen 
and  hearty,  as  of  the  children  and  immediate  heirs ;  from  all  of 
us  a  tribute  of  admiration  and  respect  is  equally  due  to  the  vir- 
tues, the  true  nobility  and  the  undying  energy  of  its  founders." 

In  closing,  he  gracefully  alludes  to  the  fathers : — 

"  If  the  spirits  of  those  good  old  men,  who,  two  hundred  years 
ago,  stood  on  Good  Hill,  surveying  the  prospect  before  and  about 
them,  could  be  brought  back  to-day,  and  placed  upon  the  exact 
spot  where  first  they  looked  upon  the  valley  of  Woodbwry ;  if 
they  could  look  upon  these  side  hills,  all  luxuriant  with  vegetation, 
these  valleys  all  dotted  over  with  beautiful  residences;  if  they 
could  hear  the  hum  of  industry  from  mountain  top  and  valley, 
and  above  all,  could  they  look  upon  this  immense  concourse  of 
their  descendants,  prosperous,  happy  and  contented ;  if  their  view 
could  be  extended  over  the  thirty-three  States  of  this  confederacy, 
teeraing^with  a  population  everywhere  busy  and  active,  just  now 
engaged  in  commemorating  the  birth-day  of  the  government 
whose  protecting  power  guarantees  to  all  its  citizens  life,  liberty, 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  they  would  feel  that  their  first  prayer 
offered  up  in  this  then  wilderness,  had  become  prophecy,  and  that 
their  great  faith  had  been  more  than  realized  in  its  results.  Such 
were  our  ancestors,  the  founders  of  Woodbury  ;  they  did  well  the 
work  alloted  for  them  to  do,  each  in  his  own  sphere.  Erect  for 
them  the  monumental  stone!  Cherish  well  their  memory  in  your 
hearts  ;  above  all,  guard  with  fidelity  their  principles  which  you 
have  inherited,  that  on  our  government  may  be  inscribed  "  Esto 

"  A  word  more,  and  I  have  done.  It  is  said  that  communities, 
as  individuals,  when  thev  connnence  to  exist,  commence  to  die. 
With  reference  to  this,  I  will  close  with  offering  the  sentiment — 

"  Woodbury. — Its  head-stones  in  1659,  may  its  foot-stones  be  in 
eternity." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y .  977 

The  whole  audience  then  united  in  singing,  with  great  enthusi- 
asm, the  following 

ODE. 

BY    MRS.    ANN    S.    STEPHENS. 

Tiiue — "  America.'^ 

All  liail  our  brothers,  friends ! 
Each  heart  a  welcome  sends  — 

Come  neighbors,  come  ! 
Meet  where  your  fathers  dwelt  ; 
Kneel  where  our  mothers  knelt ; 
Think  how  they  toil'd  and  felt, 

In  the  old  home. 

Two  hundred  years  ago, 

Old  men,  with  heads  of  snow, 

Bared  to  the  breeze, 
'Mid  a  wild  Indian  band — 
I5y  the  red  council  brand — 
Grasped  the  proud  chieftain's  hand, 

Under  the  trees. 

Soon  the  log  cabin  stood, 
Deep  in  the  hemlock  wood, 

Hid  by  its  green  ; 
Sons  rose  to  aid  the  sire, 
Red  shone  the  "  fallow  fire," 
Up  rose  the  rustic  spire, 

Peaceful,  serene. 

As  forest  leaves  are  shed, 
All  round  a  silent  bed, 

Under  the  sod  ; 
There  foUow'd  sire  and  son, 
Eacli  when  his  race  was  run. 
And  all  his  work  was  done. 

Going  to  God. 

If  angels  wander  by. 

When  hearts  beat  warm  and  higli, 

Our  sires  are  here  ; 
Thankful  that  liberty 
Has  set  their  children  free — 
Smiling  with  sympathy, 

Gladness  and  cheer.  • 


978  li  I  S  T  O  11  Y      O  K     A  N  C  I  E  N  T     W  O  O  I)  li  U  B  Y  . 

Sons  of  that  pilgrim  few  ! 
Souls  that  are  firm  and  tnio  ! 

Hail  ye  the  day  ! 
Our  union  is  glorious, 
Our  strength  all  victorious, 
God  reigneth  over  us. 

Praise  Him  alway  ! 

Hon.  Charles  Chapman,  of  Hartford,  a  grand-son  of  Woodbury, 
next  responded  to  the  sentiment,  "The  grand-children  of  Ancient 
Woodbury." 

We  have  looked  this  speech  through  carefully,  to  see  if  we 
could  make  an  extract,  which  would  accomplish  at  once  the  pur- 
poses of  this  volume,  and,  at  the  same  time,  do  justice  to  one  of 
the  most  valued,  warm-hearted,  and  genial  friends,  the  author  has 
ever  possessed.  He  has  now  passed  the  "  bourne  whence  no  trav- 
eller returns,"  and  no  more  beautiful  and  graceful  garland  can  be 
placed  upon  the  grave  of  the  gifted  and  eloquent  speaker,  than  to 
present  his  offering  of  friendship  and  love  entire.     He  said  : — 

"  Having  been  called  to  respond  to  the  toast  last  announced,  I 
ought  perhaps  to  imitate  the  example  of  the  politicians,  and  '  de- 
fine my  position.'  The  nearer  we  can  approach  to  the  common 
grand-mother,  on  this  occasion,  the  better  pleased  we  are  ;  but, 
truth  to  tell,  I  am  but  a  great-grandson  of  '.Vncieut  Woodburj-.' 
The  difference,  however,  may  be  of  minor  importance,  (if  the 
Governor^  will  excuse  the  use  of  the  word  in  that  sense,)  inasmuch 
as  all  the  grand-children  are  (fveat  grand-children  to-day. 

"There  is  in  the  human  heart  an  instinctive  love  for  the  place  of 
one's  nativity.  The  youth  who  leaves  the  paternal  roof  to  seek 
his  fortune  elsewhere,  keeps  the  old  homestead  in  view,  toils  on  to 
acquire  a  competency,  and  when  he  has  achieved  the  end  for  which 
he  has  labored  many  years,  returns  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  re- 
purchases the  paternal  acres,  which  have  passed  into  other  hands, 
and  rears  a  more  expensive  edifice  upon  the  spot  Avhere  the  old 
mansion  stood.  He  adorns  and  beautifies  the  old  farm,  enriches 
the  old  fields,  plants  hedges  where  the  old  walls  stood,  and  calls 
the  place  by  a  fancy  name. 

"  Of  a  kindred  character  is  the  regard  which  one  feels  for  the 
home  of  his  more  remote  ancestors,  the  spot  where  the  family  took 
root  in  the  then  new  world.  This  sentiment  will  show  itself  in 
various  ways.     It  'crops  out,'  (in  the  language  of  the  miners,  I 


n  I  S T  O  11  Y     O  FAX  < •  I  E  N  T     WOOD  H  IT  li  Y .  979 

mean  the  ralners  in  met.ils,)  from  time  to  time,  and  on  this  occa- 
sion may  be  observed  upon  every  hand.  The  remote  descendants 
of  the  early  settlers  in  this  lovely  valley  are  here  in  great  num- 
bers, and  others  residing  in  distant  regions  have  sent  their  con- 
tributions to  this  festival  in  letters,  relics,  and  touching  senti- 
ments. * 

"  I  have  been  commissioned  by  one  of  these  descendants  to  pre- 
sent to  the  town  of  Woodbury  some  tokens  of  his  regard,  which 
I  trust  you  Avill  carefully  preserve  in  the  archives  of  the  town. 
I  will  read  to  you  my  "  Power  of  Attorney,"  (excuse  the  language 
of  the  profession,)  and  when  you  hear  that,  and  the  name  of  the 
mail  from  whom  it  comes,  you  will  regret  Avith  me,  that  he  can 
not  be  heard  from  this  stand,  upon  an  occasion  so  well  suited  to 
his  tastes  as  this  is.  You  will  recognize  in  liim  the  historian  of 
Ilarttord. 

"Hartfokd,  July  1st,  1859. 
"  Hon.  Charles  Chapman  : 

Dear  Sir: — In  compliance  with  your  solicitation,  I  take 
pleasure  in  sending,  tbrougli  you,  some  memorials  for  the  forth- 
coming celebration  of  the  settlement  of  Ancient  Woodbury.  They 
are,  a  piece  of  the  wood  of  the  far-famed  Ciiarter  Oak,  a  view  of 
this  Monarch  Tree  as  it  looked  in  life,  and  a  view  of  it  as  it  looked 
in  death,  the  morning  after  it  fell.  It  was  within  the  period  of  the 
birth  of  Woodbury — but  a  Wtw  years  only  after  the  Stileses,  and 
Curtises,  and  Judsons,  and  Minors,  first  settled  there — that  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  made  his  impotent  attempt  to  seize  and  inval* 
idate  that  noble  Charter  under  whose  folds  Samuel  Sherman  and 
his  associates  obtained  liberty  from  the  General  Court  "to  erect  a 
plantation  at  Pomperauge" — and  those,  the  early  dwellers  there — 
in  common  with  the  Colonists  of  Connecticut  at  large — rejoiced, 
then  in  the  olden  time,  in  that  gnarled  old  Oak,  which  protected 
their  Constitution  of  government,  and  saved  their  liberties — liber- 
ties wliicli  have  never  since  been  overthrown — but  which — conse- 
crated by  the  sacrifices  and  services  of  her  sons  in  the  councils 
and  on  the  battle-tields  of  the  Union — are  now,  thank  Heaven, 
"imperishable  and  impregnable." 

"Pleasant,  therefore,  I  have  thought  it  would  be  to  the  descend- 
ants of  the  first  settlers  of  Woodl)ury,  to  receive   the  particular 


Gov,  \Vm.  T.  Minor,  wiio  was  sitting  on  the  pland. 


980  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WO  O  D  B  U  R  Y . 

memorials  which  I  commit  to  your  charge,  A  thousand  interest- 
ing historic  associations  cluster  around  them.  They  vividly  renew 
the  Past.  They  point  to  an  heroic  age  for  Connecticut.  They 
should  incite  patriotic  emotion.  They  should  teach  us  all  to  love 
and  honor  our  State  as  it  has  loved  and  honored  us. 

"  I  am  myself,  Sir,  a  descendant,  in  the  fourth  generation,  of 
that  worthy  and  distinguished  divine,  who,  for  nearly  sixty  years, 
ministered  in  Ancient  Woodbury — the  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard — 
and  I  therefore  feel  a  special  gratification  in  the  fact  that  the  birth 
of  this  town  is  to  be  duly  celebrated,  and  that  you,  Sir — one  of  its 
grand-sons — are  to  mingle,  actively,  in  the  "  high  festival."  Few 
municipalities  in  Connecticut  can  point  to  a  more  historic  past 
than  Woonbury.  Its  Indian,  civil,  ecclesiastical  and  Revolutionary 
life — so  admirably  portrayed  by  its  historian,  Wm.  Cothreu,  Esq. 
— place  it  among  the  first  of  our  towns,  and  justify  its  good  re- 
pute. That  the  celebration  in  which  its  citizens  propose  to  in- 
dulge, may  prove  gratifying  to  themselves — may  call  up  gladden- 
ing memories — may  glow  with  the  spirit  of  patriotism — and  aug- 
ment their  love  for  their  venerable  and  happy  home,  is  the  hearty 
wish  of,  Yours  truly, 

I.  W.  STUART. 

[Then  Mr.  Chapman  exhibited  the  block  from  the  Charter  Oak, 
the  picture  of  the  tree  as  it  appeared  when  standing,  and  after  it 
was  prostrated  by  the  storm.] 

There  are  others,  and  many  others,  who  are  neither  inhabitants 
of  Woodbury,  nor  descendants  of  those  who  were,  who  feel  a  deep 
interest  in  its  history,  and  in  these  festivities,  which  mark  the  two 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  exploration  of  this  valley.  Your 
industrious  and  talented  fellow-citizen,  William  Cothren,  Esq.,  has 
done  much  to  create  and  foster  this  interest,  by  his  carefully 
prepared  work — a  work  that  does  honor  to  him  and  to  you,  and 
which  is  a  most  valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  our  State. 

Our  own  poetess,  who  is  t}te  poetess  of  Connecticut,  ^>ar  excel- 
lence, has  committed  to  ray  hands  a  little  "  gem  of  purest  ray  se- 
rene" from  her  casket  of  jewels,  which  she  lias  authorized  me  to 
present  to  you  on  this  occasion.  She  rejoices  in  your  history,  as 
you  do  in  her  well-earned  fame.  Like  another  eminent  lady  who 
went  from  among  you  in  her  youth,  {JSIrs.  Ann  /S.  Stejfhens,)  and 
who  has  contributed  to  this  Festival  by  her  presence  and  by  her 
pen,  she  has  risen  to  her  enviable  position  in  the  world  of  letters 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIKNT      WOODBURY.  981 

by  her   own  merit.     Long   may  she  live  to  entertain  us  by  her 
works,  and  teach  us  by  her  example. 

RETURN  TO  WOODBURY. 

Back  to  the  hills  by  summer-breezes  courted. 

Back  to  the  ancient  roof,  the  sliaded  plain, — 
Back  to  the  play-ground  where  their  fathers  sported, 

The  summon'd  children  turn  their  course  again. 

And  as  the  Fountain  loves  the  tuneful  voices 

Of  her  far  streamlets,  whereso'er  they  tend, 
And  at  the  echo  of  their  fame  rejoices 

When  nobly  with  the  ocean-tide  they  blend, — 

So  this  fair  Region— rich  in  vales  and  waters, 
Swells  with  maternal  pride  her  flowery  zone, 

At  this  re-uaion  of  her  sons  and  daughters, — 
And  in  their  well-earned  honor  finds  her  own. 

L.    H.    SlGOURNEV. 

Hartford,  June  28th,  1859. 

There  is  another  of  the  other  sex,  who  is  bound  to  you  by  no 
tie,  but  who  has  yielded  to  my  request,  and  sent  a  sparkling  con- 
tribution to  this  intellectual  banquet.  He  may  be  known  to  some 
of  you  as  a  regular  contributor  to  the  Knickerbocker,  and  as  an 
occasional  correspondent  of  some  of  the  journals  in  this  State.  He 
would  enjoy  this  scene,  were  he  present,  and  for  his  sake  and  yours, 
I  regret  his  absence.  I  suppose  I  ought  to  tell  you  who  he  is.  He 
is  one  of  ray  fellow-citizens,  who  deals  in  iron  for  gain,  and  courts 
the  muses  for  fun — brimful  of  mirth  and  with  a  wit  that  is  keener 
than  a  Damascus  blade.  He  is  a  living  refutation  of  the  truth  of 
a  paragraph  in  Hudibras,  to  the  eftect  that 

"  A  man  of  quick  and  active  wit 
For  drudgery  is  more  unfit. 
Compared  to  those  of  duller  parts, 
Than  running  nags  to  draw  in  carts." 

Alike  a  man  of  business  aud  a  poet,  success  attends  his  efforts  in 
both  departments. 

"Our  friends,  the  Ciergy,  who  have  figured  so  largely  and  so  suc- 
cessfiiUy  in  these  exercises,  will  pardon  the  spice  of  levity  which 
may,  by  a  careful  examination,  be  detected  in  the  verses  which  I 
am  about  to  read.  Yes,  I  know  they  will.  I  see  it  in  their  be- 
nevolent  faces,  and   I  remember,   too,  that  the   holidays  of  the 


982  IIISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Clergy  are  "few  and  far  between,"  and  1  am  persuaded  that  they 
enjoy  this  to  the  very  "  top  of  their  bent." 

"  But  it  is  time  I  should  tell  you  the  name  of  my  friend  who 
has  been  so  kind  to  us  all.  It  is  George  H.  Clark,  and  here  is  what 
he  sends  "  greeting,"  as  the  Lawyers  say  : 

Geo.  H.  Clark's    Woodbury  Centennial  Poem. 

Mysterious  notes  were  abroad  on  the  air — 
Significant  hints  of  some  weighty  affair: 
Rumors  increased  till  they  rose  to  a  shout, 
And  now  we  all  see  what  the  stir  was  about. 

Ye  modest  admirers,  who've  nothing  to  say, 
Make  room — for  spread  eagle  is  coming  this  way. 
We  stand,  as  it  were,  in  our  forefathers'  shoes, 
And  the  time  for  tall  talliing's  too  precious  to  lose. 

ilere  frolicsome  age  shall  grow  young  at  the  core. 
And  youth  shall  strike  hands  with  the  boys  of  threescore; 
Brim  full  of  good  feeling — Oh!  call  il  no  folly — 
We've  assembled  on  purpose  to  laugh  and  be  jolly. 

Ye  attorneys — turn  over  a  holiday  leaf; 
The  facts  are  before  you — and  here  is  the  brief  ! 
So  give  us  as  much  as  you  please  of  your  jaw, 
But  don't,  if  you  love  us,  don't  let  it  be  law. 

Ye  grave  Boanerges — who  thunder  at  sin, 

Let  your  features  relax  to  a  good  natured  grin  : 

Pretermit  theological  chafing  and  chat. 

And  talk  about  buttercups,  Ijirds,  and  all  that. 

Forget,  0  my  friends,  in  this  glorified  hour. 

The  Parson  who  vanquished  that  dreadful  pow-wow-er; 

But  remember  the  Backus  and  Bellamy  jokes, 

And  up  and  be  merry  like  rational  folks. 

Sink  the  shop,  0  ye  trader  in  dry  goods,  to  day, — 
Just  look  at  the  prospect  right  over  the  way  ! 
Don't  the  siglit  of  the  Pomperaug  hills  and  green  valleys 
Beat  all  your  gay  patterns  on  muslins  ami  clniliies? 

Ye  medical  men — whose  dreams  are  of  drugs, 
Omit  for  a  while  your  professional  shrugs: 
Give  the  go-by  to  boluses,  blisters,  and  nux. 
And  think  of  the  dandelions,  daisies,  and  duf^ks. 


II I  S  T  O  U  Y      ()  V      A  X  C  I  K  N  T     W  ()  O  D  15  U  R  Y  .  983 

Ye  farmers — the  uearest  to  Nature's  own  breast, 
Who  draw  from  h«r  stores  what  her  eliildreu  love  best; 
Who  irradiate  towns  with  fresh  butter  and  cheese, 
And  tickle  our  palates  witli  lamb  and  green  peas; 

We  remember  your  haymows  so  fragrant  in  June; 
Your  pumpkins,  as  large  and  as  round  as  the  moon  ; 
The  green  corn  we  roasted  and  ate  on  the  sly, 
And  the  r\-e  'n  'ndian  bread,  and  the — Oh !   let  us  cry  ! 

It  makes  my  mouth  water  to  talk  of  such  things, — 

The  truth  is,  you  farmeivs  are  Nature's  own  kings: 

And  the  queens ! — would  you  see  the  true  test  of  their  worth? 

Just  look  at  those  boys!   arn't  they  proud  of  their  birth  ? 

Of  course,  we'll  remember,  and  speak  of  with  pride, 
Seth  Warner,  and  others  who  fought  by  liis  side  : 
And  grand  Ethan  Allen — the  hero  all  over — 
Who  conquered  Fort  Ti,  in  the  name  of  Jehovah ! 

Historians  assert  that  you'd  only  one  witch — 

Ijut  liistory  luakes  an  unfortunate  hitch  ; 

For  witches  still  flourish — as  witness  the  groups  ! 

Though  for  halters  and  faggots  yon  substitute  hoops. 

Then  a  health  to  old  Woodbury — merry  or  grave — 
And  long  in  the  land  may  her  progeny  wave, 
Nor  forget  where  their  excellent  grand-mothers  sleep, 
While  their  own  little  babies  are  learning  to  creep. 

"  Now,  ray  friends,  I  have  disposed  of  tlie  props  upon  which  I 
have  relied  to  sustain  me  in  the  event,  that  my  own  thoughts 
should  fjxil.  I  am  left  to  my  own  resources,  and  begin  to  be  ap- 
prehensive that  you  may  be  mirthfully  inclined  when  I  am  seri- 
ous, and  seriously  disposed  when  I  am  gay.  Topics  were  plenty, 
yesterday  morning,  but  in  the  two  days'  speaking  they  have  been, 
for  the  most  part,  used  up.  All  the  leading  features  in  your  his- 
tory have  been  passed  in  review.  Those  men  Avho  have  distin- 
guished themselves  most  among  you  have  also  been  already  noticed. 
Of  some  of  them  too  much  could  hardly  be  said.  First  and  fore- 
most among  the  intellectual  giants  in  our  State,  was  the  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel Smith,  who  was  born  and  lived,  until  his  death,  within  the 
ancient  limits  of  this  town,  lie  was  indeed  a  great  man.  With- 
out the  advantages  of  early  culture,  he  worked  his  way  to  the 
front  rank  of  the  legal  profession,  at  a  period  when  the  ablest  men. 


984  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

who  have  been  known  in  the  courts  of  this  State,  were  in  full  prac- 
tice. He  stood  among  them  p7'im us  inte?-  pares.  As  an  advocate 
he  had  great  power,  and  his  efforts  were  attended  with  marked 
success.  At  a  later  period  he  was  an  ornament  to  the  Bench,  and 
has  left  a  record  upon  the  pages  of  our  Reports  of  which  the 
worthy  President  here,  (his  son,)  may  well  be  proud. 

"I  must  be  indulged  in  saying  a  few  words  of  another  member 
of  the  profession  who  has  recently  passed  away.  He  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  this  celebration,  and  one  of  the  Committee  to 
carry  out  the  plan  adopted  a  year  ago.  The  vacant  chair  upon 
the  stage  draped  in  mourning,  reminds  us  of  him,  who,  had  he 
lived,  would  have  mingled  in  these  festivities  with  a  keen  relish. 
He  (the  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps)  was  a  man  of  genius,  and  a 
highly  respectable  member  of  the  Bar.  A  ready  debater,  he  was 
always  equal  to  the  emergency  of  an  occasion.  He  had  a  keen 
wit  and  overflowed  with  humor. 

"  A  merrier  man 
Within  the  limit  of  becoming  mirth, 
I  never  spent  an  hour's  talk  withal." 

"  He  had,  moreover,  a  kind  heart,  which  displayed  itself  on  all 
suitable  occasions,  and  long  will  he  be  remembered  for  his  many 
good  deeds.     You  will  hardly  "  look  upon  his  like  again." 

"  You  will  pardon  me  for  speaking  a  word  of  another  gentle- 
man of  another  profession,  who  has  long  since  gone  to  his  rest.  I 
mean  the  Rev.  John  R.  Marshall,  who  was  the  first  Episcopal  cler- 
gyman in  this  town.  He  was  an  eminently  good  man,  and  much 
beloved  by  those  to  whom  he  ministered  in  holy  things.  He  plant- 
ed a  vine  here  which  he  carefully  nurtured  while  he  lived,  and 
which  flourishes  now  in  full  vigor.  He  closed  his  ministry  here 
with  the  termination  of  his  life,  leaving  behind  him, many  blessed 
fruits,  "  Allured  to  brighter  worlds  and  led  the  way." 

"There  are  many  others  who  have  distinguished  themselves  here 
in  the  different  professions,  and  many  who  have  gone  from  among 
you,  and  distinguished  themselves  elsewhere,  who  deserve  to  be 
mentioned  on  this  occasion,  did  time  permit.  There  have  been,  too, 
very  many  equally  worthy  and  estimable  men,  who  never  attained 
to  any  particular  prominence  in  the  eye  of  the  world,  men  who 
pursued  the  noiseless  tenor  of  their  way,  but  who  have  done  their 
share  in  building  up  your  institutions,  and  in  making  this  valley 
bud  and  blossom.     They  were  the  fathers  and  the  grand-fathers 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  985 

of  many  Avliom  I  see  before  me,  and  this  gathering  attests  the  in- 
terest which  their  posterity  feel  in  their  memory.  While  the 
blood  of  some  of  them  courses  in  the  veins  of  their  descendants, 
their  names  have  become  extinct  among  you.  This  is  true  of  the 
names  of  my  maternal  grand-father  and  grand-mother,  (Perry  and 
Beers,)  names  once  well  and  favorably  known  here.  One  of  the 
latter  name  [Hon.  S.  P.  JBeers,)  has  addressed  you  to-day,  but  he 
has  resided  elsewhere  for  more  than  half  a  century.  From  his 
account  of  himself,  nearly  seventy  years  ago  he  had  the  ambition 
to  sit  cross-legged  ,upon  a  tailor's  bench,  but  because  perhaps  (in 
the  language  of  the  old  song,)  "the  money  came  slowly  in,"  he 
concluded  to  pursue  the  legal  profession,  supposed  by  some  to  be 
more  productive.  It  would  seem  from  his  statement  that  he  is 
now  an  old  man,  which,  from  his  full  head  of  brown  hair,  (which 
I  envy,)  and  his  youthful  appearance,  we  should  all  doubt,  had  we 
not  confidence  in  his  veracity,  and  did  we  not  know  that  he  had 
been  the  popular  commissioner  of  the  School  Fund,  since  the  ear- 
liest recollection  of  the  "  oldest  inhabitant."  The  sons  of  many 
have  emigrated  to  other  portions  of  the  country,  and  thus  have 
their  names  become  extinct  here.  The  daughters,  although  emi- 
nently worthy  of  trust,  in  all  other  particulars,  cannot  be  relied 
upon  to  bear  up  a  name.  In  this  particular,  however  honest  they 
may  be,  they  resemble  the  most  practiced  rogues.  They  are,  with 
now  and  then  a  solitary,  (not  to  say  melancholy  exception,)  in 
search  of  an  alias,  and  are  quite  sure  to  find  and  adopt  it.  I  have 
always  wondered  why  they  mark  their  linen  with  their  maiden 
names.  Nearly  two  days  have  been  spent  here  in  glorifying  our 
grand-fathers.  But  there  has  been,  as  there  now  is,  a  "better- 
half"  of  humanity,  of  whom  I  have  heard  nothitig  said.  I  mar- 
vel that  such  an  omission  could  have  occurred  in  such  a  presence. 
A  '•  mutual  admiration  society,"  composed  exclusively  of  men,  I 
confess  is  not  to  my  taste.  We  have  heard  much  about  great  men 
— good  men — valiant  men — self-taught  men,  and  about  "all  sorts 
and  conditions  of  men."  It  has  been  from  the  beginning — men — 
men — men;  nothing  but  men.  Had  they  no  mothers — no  wives? 
Men  have  indeed  fought  the  battles  of  the  country;  felled  the  for- 
est trees ;  tilled  the  earth,  and  toiled  in  the  difierent  professions 
and  trades.  But  woman  has  toiled  too  amid  dangers  which  ap- 
palled the  stoutest  heart's.  She  has  braved  suffering  in  its  count- 
less forms,  such  as  woman  only  kiiows,  and  submitted  to  priva- 
tions with  a  patient  meekness  of  which  woman   is  alone  capable. 


986  ri  I  s  T  o  i;  y    o  f     a  n  o  i  e  n  t    w  o  o  d  b  u  k  y  . 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  the  mother  nursed  and 
reared  her  own  children;  was  mistress  and  servant;  carded  the 
wool ;  spun  it  into  yarn,  and  made  it  into  cloth.  She  was  her 
husband's  and  boy's  tailor,  her  own  and  her  daughter's  milliner 
and  mantuamaker ;  and  in  a  word,  discharged  every  domestic  duty 
unaided.  It  is  not  strange  that  such  women  should  have  reared 
such  sons  as  we  have  been  boasting  about  here  for  two  days. 

"Let  us  do  fitting  honors  on  this  occasion  to  the  female  charac- 
ter. Every  man  who  has  risen  to  distinction  in  any  of  the 
walks  of  life,  is  indebted  to  his  mother  for  those  traits  of  genius 
which  he  inherited  from  her,  and  those  habits  of  thinking  and  of 
action,  which  are  the  result  of  her  early  teaching. 

"  The  mother  in  her  office,  holds  the  key 
Of  the  soul :  and  she  it  is  who  stamps  the  coin 
Of  character,  amd  makes  the  being  who  would  be  a  savage, 
But  for  her  gentle  cares,  a  Christian  man. — " 

"  How  dear  to  us  is  the  sacred  name  of  mother !  She  it  was 
whose  loving  care  and  ceaseless  vigilance  protected  and  nurtured 
us  in  helpless  infancy.  We  learned  from  her  those  earliest  lessons 
which  are  most  deeply  impressed  upon  our  memories,  and  which 
time  does  not  obliterate.  Our  recollections  of  a  mother's  love,  a 
mother's  care,  a  mother's  patience,  and  a  mother's  forgiveness  of 
our  faults,  freshen  and  become  more  and  more  tender,  as  our  shad- 
ows lengthen  upon  the  dial.  It  is  to  her  we  owe  all  that  we  are 
and  all  we  hoi)e  to  be. 

"  I  might  speak  of  woman  in  the  relation  of  Avife,  and  of  the 
love,  respect,  and  kindness  which  she  deserves  as  such.  She  is 
sought  and  won,  forsakes  father  and  mother,  and  cleaves  unto  the 
husband.  With  an  amazing  confidence,  she  entrusts  her  happi- 
ness, her  all,  in  his  hands.  She  shares  Iiis  sorrows,  participates  in 
his  joys,  labors  for  his  advancement,  and  occupies  the  position  in 
life  in  which  his  success  or  misfortuae  may  place  her.  If  we 
loved  her  when  seeking  an  alliance,  how  much  more  tenderly 
should  we  feel  toward  her,  when  she  has  committed  herself  to  our 
fostering  care,  and  has  become  the  mother  of  our  children. 

"  There  is  still  another  relation  in  which  I  might  speak  of  woman. 
I  mean  as  daughters.  None  but  fathers  know  aught  of  the  emo- 
tions of  a  father's  heart  toward  them.  With  what  solicitude  do 
we  watch  their  growth  and  development.  AVith  what  intense  in- 
terest do  we  gaze  upon  their  budding  beauty,  and  varied  accom- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  98*7 

plishments.  With  what  tender  aftection  do  we  cliug  to  them,  and 
how  they  wind  themselves  about  our  hearts.  And  then,  endeared 
to  us  as  they  are,  and  in  the  flush  and  beauty  of  their  youth,  we 
are  called  to  relinquish  them  into  other  hands,  as  their  mothers 
were  relinquished  to  us.  Then  we  know  for  the  first  time,  what 
the  yielding  to  our  request  cost  some  few  years  ago. 

"Were  there  time,  and  were  there  not  some  Governors,  Lawyers, 
Doctors,  and  Clergymen  yet  to  speak,  and  whom  you  are  anxious 
to  hear,  I  should  be  pleased  to  enlarge  upon  this  fair  topic  ;  but 
even  at  tlie  hazard  of  standing  between  you  and  those  gentlemen 
for  an  unreasonable  time,  I  could  not  say  less.  When  I  look  upon 
this  immense  audience,  and  especially  upon  this  bed  of  flowers  be- 
fore me,  in  which  I  see  the  spring  violet,  the  summer  rose,  and  the 
dahlia  of  antumn,  all  in  bloom  at  the  same  time,  as  if  the  three 
seasons  had  been  consolidated,  I  wish  we  had  another  day  in  which 
we  could  say  what  we  feel  and  think. 

"  Since  my  earliest  recollection,  great  changes  have  been  wrought 
in  this  valley.  The  stately  elms  and  maples  that  line  the  way 
southward  to  the  western  limit  of  the  village  of  Southbury,  were 
in  their  infancy  fifty  years  ago ;  but  now  they  spread  their  giant 
arms  in  every  direction,  and  are  models  of  strength  and  beauty. 
This  was  then  a  sparsely  settled  village;  but  since  that  period  it 
has  undergone  such  alterations  as  to  change  its  appearance  alto- 
gether. Then  it  was  purely  an  agricultural  town  ;  but  now  it  de- 
rives its  prosperity  in  a  degree  from  the  successful  prosecution  of 
some  of  the  mechanic  arts. 

"  The  men  of  that  day  have  been  for  the  most  part  gathered  to 
their  fathers ;  but  I  recognize  in  some  of  those  here,  the  family 
likeness,  and  hear  on  every  hand  the  familiar  names.  The  names 
of  Stiles,  Curtiss,  Ilinman,  Sherman,  Judson,  Atwood,  Strong,  and 
many  others,  are  still  preserved,  and  last,  but  not  least,  you  have 
'  saved  your  Bacon.'  We  had  yesterday  afternoon  a  taste  of  the 
attic  salt  which  gives  it  value. 

"In  conclusion,  let  me  congratulate  the  originators  of  this  cele- 
bration, and  all  who  have  been  interested  in  it,  upon  the  singu- 
larly fortunate  circumstances  attendant  upon  this  Festival.  The 
heavens  have  smiled  upon  us — no  accident  has  occurred  to  mar  the 
festivities  of  the  occasion — and  the  i"e-union  has  been  or.e  of  un- 
mixed enjoyment.  We  can  be  present  but  upon  one  sTich  occa- 
sion in  a  life-time.  Here  Ave  have  renewed  old  friendships,  and  I 
trust  have  formed  new  ones  of  an   enduring  character.     Many  a 

10 


988  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

history  will  date  from  this  occasion,  for  it  would  not  be  strange  if 
some,  who  have  met  here  for  the  first  time,  will  pursue  life's  jour- 
ney hand  in  hand — will  'climb  life's  hill  together,'  and  when  the 
journey  is  concluded,  will  'sleep  together  at  the  foot'  the  sleep  of 
death.  The  youth  of  both  sexes  here  present,  will  excuse  this 
public  allusion  to  a  delicate  subject,  which  may  have  found  a  place 
in  their  private  thoughts. 

"  Now,  my  friends,  I  must  take  my  leave  of  you.  There  is  a 
small  army  of  orators  behind  me,  who  are  waiting  for  turns,  as  the 
old  settlers  waited  at  the  old  mill ;  and  there  are  many  here  whose 
thoughts,  radiant  with  beauty  as  they  are,  will  not  find  vent  in 
words.  We  part  with  pleasant  recollections  of  this  memorable 
interview,  which  we  shall  cherish  while  we  live." 

Hon.  Henry  Dutton,  of  New  Haven,  a  native  of  Watertown, 
within  the  limits  of  the  Woodbury  deed  of  1659,  responded  to 
the  sentiment,  "  The  Cousins  of  Ancient  Woodbury." 

Mr.  President  : — An  incident  has  occurred  since  I  have  been 
on  this  platform,  which  has  almost  induced  me  to  withdraw.  The 
distinguished  gentleman  from  Litchfield  related  an  anecdote,  which 
seemed  to  reflect  upon  the  honored  practice  of  "  cousining."  Now 
as  I  am  here  only  under  that  long  established  custom,  and  have  no 
right  to  be  heard,  except  as  a  remote  cousin  of  Woodbury,  had  I 
not  felt  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  friendship  of  that  gentleman, 
I  should  have  been  disposed  to  take  oflTence.  I  have  been  some- 
what reassured,  however,  by  the  course  taken  by  the  eloquent 
gentleman  who  has  preceded  me.     When  that  gentleman, 

"  Whose  head  is  silvered  o'er  with  age," 

but  whose 

"  Long  experience  has  [not'\  made  him  sage," 

and  whom  I  have  known  for  many  years  as  a  grand-father,  comes 
here  and  palms  himself  ofl"  as  a  great-grandchild  of  Woodbury,  I 
trust  I  shall  be  excused  if  I  claim  the  relationship  of  only  fourth 
cousin." 

Gov.  Dutton  then  proceeded  to  give  some  very  interesting  re- 
miuiscenses  of  the  men  of  the  early  and  the  Revolutionary  times, 
to  the  great  interest  of  the  audience. 

Samuel   Minor,  Esq.,  of  Sandusky,   Ohio,  a  native  Woodbury, 


HISTORY     OF       ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  989 

then  spoke  to  the  sentiment,  "  The  Emigrants  from  Ancient  Wood- 
bury," as  follows :  " — 

Mr.  President: — Under  a  brief  notice,  I  am  desired  to  make  a 
few  remarks  in  behalf  of  the  Emigrants  from  Ancient  Woodbury, 
those  who  have  left  these  hills  and  valleys  for  distant  abodes,  and 
returned  .to  unite  in  this  festive  occasion.  In  their  names,  we  ten- 
der most  cordial  thanks,  for  the  invitation  we  have  received,  to 
visit  our  paternal  homes — to  gather  again  around  the  domestic 
hearthstones,  and  to  sit  again  iu  the  old  arm  chairs  of  our  ances- 
tors. 

"  Personally,  this  occasion  has  a  special  interest,  for  around  the 
residence  near  by,  and  the  grounds  on  which  we  are  assembled, 
are  gathered  all  the  associajiions  of  a  New  England  Home.  Here 
were  spent  my  childhood  and  youth,  and  here  were  received  those 
instructions  prized  higher  than  any  other  legacy  earthly  parents 
could  bestow.  The  rocks  and  trees  and  hills  are  as  familiar  as 
household  words.  When  I  call  to  mind  those  who  have  fallen 
asleep,  and  look  upon  those  who  live ;  when  recollection  runs  over 
the  reminiscenses  of  the  past,  and  then  turn  to  the  present,  the  soul 
is  filled  with  emotions  which  can  not  be  uttered,  and  I  can  only 
exclaim  in  reference  to  this  loved  spot,  as  can  each  returning  wan- 
derer as  to  his  own  : 

'  Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  home, 
There's  noplace  like  our  old  firesides, 
There's  no  place  like  our  good  old  homes.' 

Those  of  us  who  have  removed  from  among  you,  observe  with  pe  . 
culiar  interest  one  feature  of  this  celebration,  and  that  is,  the 
presence  of  so  many  of  advanced  and  maturing  years,  so  many 
bright  links  connecting  the  past  to  the  present,  so  many  Elishas, 
upon  whom  have  fallen  the  mantles  of  the  Elijahs  that  have  gone 
before  ;  and  when  I  speak  for  myself,  I  speak  for  all  who  reside  in 
the  newer  States,  and  assure  you,  there  is  nothing  we  there  so 
much  miss  as  the  presence  of  good  old  men.  Happy  is  that  com- 
munity which  is  blessed  by  many  of  them.  It  is  for  you,  my  aged 
Fathers,  to  remember,  that,  as  physical  strength  diminishes,  the 
fruits  of  a  worthy  character  are  ripening,  and  the  fragrance  of 
useful  lives  is  being  shed  abroad  over  the  community.  Your  in- 
fluence, like  gravity,  is  silent,  but  powerful.  To  you  we  look  with 
confidence  and  respect.     We  feel  that  you  have  imbibed  the  spirit 


990  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

and  principles  of  our  Puritan  ancestors,  and  are  manifesting  these 
principles  in  your  lives,  and  that  you  have  thus  become,  not  only 
sons  of  the  past,  but  fathers  of  the  future. 

"  But  time  is  passing.  Again,  we  thank  you  for  this  occasion  ; 
we  thank  you  for  the  hospitality  and  kindness  received,  and  for 
the  able  addresses  we  have  heard.  We  thank  you  for  the  influence 
your  character  still  exerts,  and  that,  as  we  wander  over  the  earth, 
we  are  enabled  to  point  with  pride  to  New  England,  with  pride  to 
Connecticut,  with  pride  to  Woodbury. 

"Permit  me,  in  behalf  of  my  adopted,  and  also  my  native  home, 
without  disparagement  to  others,  to  close  with  this  sentiment : 

"  Ohio — Noblest  of  the  Western  States. 

*'  Connecticut — Parent  of  the  best  part  of  Ohio." 

Dr.  Leman  Galpin,  of  Milan,  Ohio,  a  native  of  Woodbury,  next 
spoke  of  the  early  days,  and  gave  pleasing  reminiscenses  of  early 
life,  followed  by  Gen.  William  Williams,  of  Norwich,  who  con- 
gratulated us  on  our  successful  celebration,  and  invited  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  to  be  present  at  a  like  celebration,  to  be  held  at 
Norwich  in  the  succeeding  September.  Gen.  Williams'  remarks 
were  followed  by  the  reading,  by  Rev.  Robert  G.  Williams,  of  an 
interesting  ])oem  by  Miss  Hortensia  M.  Thomas,  now  Mrs.  Elam 
B.  Burton. 

Rev.  C.  Trowbridge  Woodruff  then  read,  with  admirable  effect, 
the  closing  poem  of  the  occasion,  written  by  Mrs.  Ann  S.  Stephens, 
the  distinguished  authoress  of  New  York,  a  native  of  Ancient 
Woodbury : — 

"  We  have  met — we  have  met,  by  the  graves  of  our  sires, 
Where  the  forest  once  reddened  with  war  council  fires, 
Where  the  smoke  of  the  wigwam,  while  curling  on  high, 
Left  its  bloom  on  tlie  liemlock, — its  cloud  on  the  sky. 

'■Let  us  turn  from  the  brightness  of  tliis  happy  hour. 
Two  centuries  l)ack,  when  the  savage  held  power. 
From  the  Naugatuck,  sweeping  through  gorges  and  glen, 
To  the  bright  Housatonic  and  onward  again. 
Here  a  wilderness  spread  in  its  wildness  and  gloom, 
Revealed  by  the  starlight  of  dogwood  in  bloom, 
And  the  broad  rivers  ran  in  the  flickering  shade. 
Which  the  pine  trees  and  cedars  alternately  made. 
Here  the  chiefs  gathered  wild  in  their  gorgeous  array, 
And  their  war-path  was  red  at  the  dawning  of  day 
Along  the  broad  plain  where  light  lingers  clear, 
Came  the  crack  of  the  musket— tlie  leap  of  the  deer. 


HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  I  E  N  T     WOODBURY  991 

"  When  the  leaves  of  the  oak  were  all  downy  and  red. 
And  the  wild  cherry  blossoms  were  white  overhead, 
When  the  buds  and  the  sap  of  the  maple  were  sweet, 
And  the  child  lay  asleep  on  the  moss  at  her  feet. 
Here  the  squaw  sat  at  work  in  the  cool  of  the  trees, 
While  her  lord  roamed  at  will,  or  reclined  at  his  ease, — 
This — this  is  the  picture  all  savagely  grand, 
Which  our  forefathers  found  when  they  sought  out  this  land. 

"  The  contract  was  honest  our  ancestors  made 
When  they  found  the  red  warriors,  lords  of  the  shade; 
They  came  not  to  wrangle  or  fight  for  the  sod, 
But  armed  witli  the  law  and  the  blessing  of  God, 
With  the  gold  they  had  won  by  privation  and  toil. 
They  purchased  a  right  to  the  rivers  and  soil. 
Then  their  cabins  were  built,  and  they  planted  the  corn, 
Though  the  war-whoop  soon  answered  the  blast  of  the  horn, 
And  the  sound  of  the  axe  as  it  rang  through  the  wood 
But  challenged  a  contest  of  carnage  and  blood. 
Still,  upward  and  onward  in  peril  of  life 
They  planted  our  homesteads  with  labor  and  strife. 
For  labor  is  mighty,  and  courage  is  grand, 
When  it  conquers  the  foe  as  it  toils  with  the  hand. 
While  the  war-cry  resounded  from  valley  and  hill, 
The  smoke  oi  the  fallow  rose  sttady  and  still ; 
If  a  cabin  was  burnt  on  the  hills  or  the  plain, 
A  score  of  stout  hearts  piled  the  logs  up  again. 
If  famine  appeared,  it  was  not  to  one  roof, 
For  charity  tlien  had  its  power  and  its  proof; 
No  mortar  stood  empty  while  one  teemed  with  corn, 
For  of  danger  and  want  is  true  brotherhood  born. 
Thus  our  forefathers  worked,  and  our  forefathers  won 
The  wealth  we  inherit  from  father  to  son, 
Till  their  heads  grew  as  white  as  the  snow  when  it  lies 
On  the  pine  branches  lifted  half-way  to  the  skies. 
And  they  laid  themselves  down  in  the  ripeness  of  years, 
AVhile  a  new  generation  baptized  them  with  tears. 
While  the  meeting-house,  crowned  with  its  belfry  and  spire. 
Takes  rose  tints  from  dawn — from  the  sunset  its  fire, — 
While  our  homesteads  are  built,  where  the  log-cabin  stood, 
And  our  fields  ripen  grain  to  the  verge  of  the  wood.— 
We  ask  for  no  trophies  to  tell  of  their  deeds, 
No  thunder  of  cannon,  nor  tramping  of  steeds. 
For  each  wild  flower  that  springs  to  the  smile  of  its  God, 
lias  written  their  virtues  abroad  on  the  sod. 

"  We  have  met — we  have  met,  in  the  bloom  of  the  year, 
The  first  glow  of  summer  encircles  us  here  ; 
The  sunshine  is  warm  on  the  ripening  fruit, 
And  the  whip-poor-will  sings  when  the  robin  is  mute ; 


992  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Our  mills  as  they  toil  through  their  burden  of  grain, 

Send  over  the  waters  a  mellow  refrain. 

While  the  wind  whispers  low  as  it  whispered  to  them 

And  sways  the  pale  rose  on  its  delicate  stem, 

Our  souls  as  they  feel  the  melodious  thrill, 

Send  up  a  thanksgiving  more  exquisite  still, 

And  our  fathers  might  bend  from  their  heaven  of  bliss, 

To  smile  on  a  scene  of  rejoicing  like  this. 

Rev.  C.  T.  Woodruff,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury, 
then  said  the  coucluding  prayer. 

Rev.  Philo  Judson,  an  aged  clergyman  of  Ptocky  Hill,  Conn.,  a 
native  of  Woodbury,  after  making  the  following  remarks,  pro- 
nounced the  benediction,  and  the  great  assembly  broke  up,  to  meet 
no  more  on  a  similar  occasion,  within  our  beautiful  valley .' 

"Mr.  Peesieent: — This  is  a  glorious  and  interesting  day  to 
Woodbury.  I  am  proud  to  say  that  I  am  a  descendant  of  the 
Pilgrim  fathers. 

"I  have  attended  celebrations  before,  but  never  one  equal  to 
this.     It  excells  all  that  have  been  held  in  this  State. 

"This  morning  we  met  for  prayer  at  Bethel  Rock.  My  friends, 
my  feelings  and  emotions  were  such  as  language  cannot  describe. 
We  stood  on  sacred  and  holy  ground.  There  our  Pilgrim  fathers 
and  mothers  worshipped  on  the  Sabbath  for  about  eight  years, 
during  the  summer  season.  The  over-hanging  rock,  as  you  saw, 
is  perhaps  300  feet  long,  and  very  high.  Our  fathers,  seated  by 
this  rock,  would  to  some  extent  be  shielded  from  the  storms.  Sen- 
tinels were  placed  on  the  top  of  the  rock,  so  as  to  give  the  alarm 
if  the  Indians  approached.  There  was  a  stone  pulpit,  as  you  saw. 
O!  what  prayers  were  there  offered  by  our  fathers.  Prayer-meet- 
ings have  been  held  there,  more  or  less,  ever  since.  In  1811, 1  at- 
tended a  prayer-meeting  there  with  Dr.  Azel  Backus,  Dr.  Bennett 
Tyler,  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  Rev.  Messrs.  Clark,  Harrison,  and  others. 
It  was  one  of  uncommon  interest  and  solemnity — we  wrestled  with 
God  in  prayer. 

"  Woodbury  has  produced  more  great  and  eminent  men  than 
any  other  town  of  equal  size.  Dr.  D  wight,  of  Yale  College,  re- 
marked, that  Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith's  native  talent  was  superior  to 
that  of  any  man  he  ever  met.  He  had  not  his  equal  in  this  State 
— some  say,  not  his  equal  or  superior  in  New  England. 

"  This  has  been  a  glorious  celebration.  Even  our  friend,  Hon. 
Charles  Chapman,  of  Hartford,  comes  here  to  share  in  the  glory, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY,  993 

trying  to  claim  some  relationship  here.     We  had  supposed  he  had 
popularity  and  glory  enough  in  Hartford  for  any  one  man. 

"But  he  labored  very  hard,  as  you  have  seen,  to  make  out  that 
he  was  the  great-grandson  of  souiebodg  in  Woodbury  !  I  do  not 
know  but  lie  made  it  out,  because  he  will  make  out  anything  he 
undertakes. 

"But  while  listening  to  his  spicy,  eloquent,  and  able  S2:)eech,  I 
believe  we  should  have  been  willing  to  adopt  him  as  a  grandson  »- 
At  the  next  centennial  celebration,  they  will  probably  be  willing 
to  adopt  him  as  a  son  !  " 

"  The  Historical  address  by  William  Cothren,  your  able  historian, 
was  very  learned,  interesting,  eloquent,  and  instructive.  He  is 
deserving  of  much  credit,  and  has  done  immense  service  to  the 
community,  in  giving  us  the  History  of  Woodbury.  It  is  an  able 
work,  and  must  have  required  much  persevering  research.  It  is 
read  with  deep  interest  by  those  away  from  Woodbury.  Many 
lay  it  on  their  tables,  next  to  their  Bibles.  It  is  read  by  those 
that  are  not  descendats,  with  great  interest.  It  is  a  very  popular 
work  among  intelligent  and  literary  men.  Its  interest  will  increase 
as  time  passes  on.  In  fifty  or  one  hundred  years  from  this  time, 
it  will  be  read  with  tenfold  more  interest  than  now,  even  in  Wood- 
bury. It  will  go  down  to  generations  yet  unborn,  and  be  consid- 
ered as  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  histories,  Cothren's  name 
will  be  immortal — remembered  as  long  as  time  shall  endure. 
Many  will  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  ! 

"  Woodbury  has  sent  forth  more  ministers  than  any  other  town 
within  my  knowledge.  Nearly  eighty  heralds  of  the  cross  have 
descended  from  the  loins  of  the  first  William  Judson.  Many  of 
them  have  borne  his  honored  surname,  and  many  others  have 
borne  the  honorable  names  of  the  female  alliances.  They  have 
jDreached  the  Gospel  far  and  wide,  and  their  labors  have  been 
greatly  blessed.  None  can  estimate  the  great  and  good  results 
which  have  arisen  from  the  lal)ors  of  the  ministers  who  have  gone 
out  from  Ancient  Woodbury.     Eternity  alone  can  unfold  them." 

Very  interesting  letters  were  received  from  numerous  sons  and 
descendants  of  Woodbury,  for  the  occasion,  which,  for  want  of 
time,  could  not  be  read,  but  they  were  all  published  with  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  celebration.  Among  these  contributors  were,  Hon, 
John  Lorimer  Graham,  of  New  York,  Hon.  Charles  J.  Hill,  of  Ro- 
chester, N.  Y,,  Hon.  John  Sherman,  of  Ohio,  Hon.  Royal  R,  Hinraan, 


994  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY. 

of  Hartford,  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller,  D.  D.,  Col.  Henry  Stoddard, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Butler,  Chief  Justice  of  Con- 
necticut, Col.  John  E.  Hinman,  of  Utica,  N".  Y.,  Jonathan  Knight, 
M.  D.,  of  New  Haven,  Prof.  Harvey  P.  Peet,  of  New  York,  Hon. 
Henry  Booth,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  Rufus  Murray,  of 
Detroit,  Mich.,  Hon.  Hiland  Hall,  ex-Gov.  ot  Vermont. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

The  weather,  during  the  two  days  devoted  to  the  exercises,  was 
clear,  cool,  and  delightful.  It  was  a  general  remark  that  Provi* 
dence  seemed  to  smile  on  the  celebration.  The  immense  concourse 
of  people  exhibited  very  great  interest  in  the  proceedings,  which 
never  flagged  during  the  extended  exercises,  and  constant  sittings 
of  the  two  days.  There  was  a  generous  and  intelligent  apprecia- 
tion of  the  intellectual  feast  prepared  for  them  on  this  occasion, 
never  excelled  at  any  similar  celebration.  Although  the  labors  of 
the  Committee  were  severe  and  painful,  beyond  the  comprhension 
of  many,  and  might  exceed  the  belief  of  all,  yet  its  members  felt 
fully  compensated  for  all  their  pains  and  toil,  by  the  expression  of 
entire  satisfaction  and  approbation,  on  the  part  of  the  people, 
which  greeted  them  on  every  side.  So  far  as  we  know,  every  hear- 
er, whose  voice  was  heard,  declared  the  celebration  to  have  been 
an  unbounded  success. 

On  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  4th,  allusions  to  the  approaching 
celebration  were  made  in  several  of  the  Churches  in  town,  and 
an  appropriate  welcome  to  the  returned  emigrants  from  the  old 
town  extended.  In  the  First,  or  old  Pioneer  Congregational 
Church,  the  oldest  by  many  years  in  this  county,  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Robert  G.  Williams,  read  a  sermon,  preached  by  Rev.  Anthony 
Stoddard,  its  second  minister,  on  the  6tii  of  July,  1754,  to  the 
same  Church,  in  presence  of  the  levies,  raised  to  march  against 
Crown  Point,  in  the  old  French  War.  The  sermon  was  written 
on  leaves  about  three  inches  square,  and  showed  evident  traces  of 
the  patriarchal  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  years.  The  historical 
associations  which  clustered  around  it,  the  place,  the  identical  man- 
uscript, the  very  presence  in  which  we  were  assembled,  listening 
to  the  same  words  which  our  fathers,  who  have  been  slumbering 
for  generations  in  the  old  church-yard,  heard  on  that  occasion,  so 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  995 

momentous  to  many  hearts,  wrought  up  the  imagination  to  a  tem- 
porary companionship  with  the  silent  shades  of  the  spirit  land. 
It  was  a  fitting  introduction  to  the  exercises  of  the  celebration, 
that  was  so  soon  to  occur. 

It  was  not  a  small  matter  to  feed  and  shelter  the  vast  multitude 
assembled  at  tlie  celebration.  But  the  most  ample  provision  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  occasion  had  been  made  by  the  ladies. 
Tents  had  been  prepared  by  the  Committee,  for  each  of  the  towns 
once  included  within  the  limits  of  Ancient  Woodbury,  "  with  en- 
signs flying,"  to  direct  the  people  to  the  proper  places.  There 
was  also  a  tent  appropriated  to  the  use  of  invited  guests  from 
abroad.  In  these  the  multitudes  united,  in  a  mammoth  Antiqua- 
rian Pic-Nic.  No  price  was  demanded,  but  like  the  sunshine,  all 
was  free.  But  the  antique  pic-nic  proper  was  celebrated  beneath  the 
deep  blue  sky,  within  the  shade  of  some  large  apple-trees,  spread 
on  old  tables,  covered  with  pewter  platters,  wooden  trenchers,  pew- 
ter and  wooden  spoons,  and  all  the  antiquarian  articles  that  had  been 
preserved,  and  handed  down  to  us  from  "  former  generations."  The 
viands  consisted  of  bean  porridge,  baked  pork  and  beans,  Indian 
pudding,  hominy,  rye  and  Indian  bread,  and  numerous  other  primi- 
tive dishes.  Mrs.  N.  B.  Smith  presided  over  the  table  arrangements 
for  Woodbury,  with  that  ease  and  grace  for  which  she  is  so  much 
distinguished,  aided  in  the  most  eflective  manner  by  nearly  all  the 
other  ladies  of  the  town.  In  all  the  tents  the  tables  groaned  with 
abundance,  and  were  set  out  with  a  taste  in  arrangement,  and  ex- 
cellence of  viands,  rarely  equalled  on  any  similar  festive  occasion. 
Great  praise  was  awarded  to  the  ladies  for  the  indispensable  aid 
they  furnished  at  the  joyous  festival. 

Among  the  many  pleasing  incidents  of  the  celebration,  was  the 
reading  of  the  beautiful  and  thrilling  poem,  in  the  preceding 
pages,  of  Mrs.  Ann  S.  Stephens,  a  native  of  "Ancient  Wood- 
bury." There  was  a  soul,  and  an  emotion,  pervading  the  whole 
of  the  production,  that  showed  the  heart  of  the  writer  was  in  the 
subject ;  and  so  striking  was  its  effect  on  an  audience  wearied  by 
the  almost  uninterupted  exercises  of  ten  hours,  that  when  the 
reading  was  concluded,  and  the  writer  advanced  to  the  front  of 
the  stand,  and  moved  three  cheers  for  the  "Poetess  of  Ancient 
Woodbury,"  it  was  responded  to  by  the  great  assemblage,  with 
an  enthusiasm  which  must  have  been  grateful  to  the  distinguished 
authoress,  who  was,  at  the  moment,  sitting  quietly  upon  the  stand. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  keep  a  Register  of  the  names  of  all 


996  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

who  attended  the  celebration,  with  a  view  to  preservation.  The 
request  that  every  person  would  register  his  name,  was  announced 
from  the  stand.  But  owing  to  the  great  multitude,  and  to  the 
fact  that  every  moment  was  occupied  with  interesting  public  ex- 
ercises, very  few  complied  with  the  request. 

Among  the  distinguished  persons  in  attendance,  besides  those 
already  named,  we  noticed  the  following  named  persons  ;  and 
doubtless  there  Avere  many  others,  whom  we  did  not  see  in  the 
«rush  and  hurry  of  the  occasion ; — Hon.  John  Boyd,  of  Winches' 
ter,  Secretary  of  Connecticut ;  Hon.  Origen  S.  Seymour,  of  Litch- 
field, Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  with  his  son,  Edward  W.  Sey- 
mour, Esq., ;  Jonathan  Knight,  M.  D.,  of  New  Haven,  Professor 
in  Yale  College ;  Hon.  Ralph  D.  Smith,  of  Guilford,  a  native  of 
Southbury;  Hon.  William  B.  Wooster,  of  Birmingham;  E.  B- 
Cooke,  Esq.,  Editor  of  the  Waterbury  American  ;  Rev.  J.  M.  Wil- 
ley,  of  Waterbury  ;  Hon.  Judson  W.  Sherman,  Member  of  Con- 
gress, of  Angelica,  N.  Y. ;  Hon.  Green  Kendrick,  of  Waterbury ; 
Nathaniel  A.  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven ;  William  Nelson  Blake- 
man,  M.  D.,  a  distinguished  physician  of  New  York,  and  a  native 
of  Roxbury;  Charles  Nettleton,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  a  native  of 
Washington ;  Hon.  Samuel  G.  Goodrich,  of  Southbury,  late  Con- 
sul at  Paris,  the  well-known  "  Peter  Parley ; "  C.  S.  Trowbridge, 
Esq.,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y. ;  R.  F.  Trowbridge,  Esq.,  of  Syracuse,  N» 
Y. ;  Rev.  Charles  W.  Powell,  of  Middlebury;  Alexander  Frazer. 
Esq.,  of  New  York ;  Rev.  C.  S.  Sherman,  of  Naugatuck ;  Rev. 
Abijah  M.  Calkin,  of  Cochecton,  N.  Y. ;  Rev.  Ira  Abbott,  of  South- 
bury; Rev.  Jason  Atwater,  of  West  Haven;  Pvev.  J.  K.  Averill, 
of  Plymouth  ;  Rev.  E.Lyman,  and  Hon.  Charles  Adams,  of  Litch- 
field, Editor  of  the  Litchfield  Enquirer. 

Among  the  venerable  men  of  other  days,  we  noticed  on  the 
stage,  Capt.  Judson  Hurd,  85  years  of  age,  so  active  and  vigorous, 
that  he  had  ridden  on  horseback  in  the  morning,  with  his  "  lady 
love  "  of  72,  on  a  pillion  behind  him.  We  also  noticed  Dea.  Da- 
vid Punderson,  of  Washington,  aged  86,  Nathaniel  Richardson, 
of  Middlebury,  aged  85,  and  Mr.  William  Summers,  of  the  ripe 
age  of  nearly  ninety  years,  a  resident  of  Woodbury,  and  the  old- 
est man  in  town. 

The  extended  and  efficient  arrangements  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee, for  providing  strangers  with  accommodations  and  protec- 
tion, were  thoroughly  carried  out.  Perfect  satisfaction  and  quiet 
reigned  throughout  the  celebration.     More  than  fifteen  hundred 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      W  O  O  1)  1!  U  R  Y  .  997 

visitors  were  lodged  in  the  town  tlie  first  night,  and  in  the  other 
towns  of  the  ancient  territory,  at  least  twice  that  number.  All 
the  inhabitants  threw  open  their  doors,  and  from  ten  to  seventy- 
five  persons  to  a  house  found  quarters  for  the  night.  Even  our 
least  opulent  citizens  displayed  an  anxiety  to  add  to  the  general 
enjoyment  of  the  occasion.  As  an  instance,  Mr.  Harry  H.  Fox, 
who,  certainly,  is  not  much  ])Iessed  witli  this  world's  goods,  fed 
twenty-six  persons,  and  lodged  twelve.  We  have  not  yet  heard 
of  an  individual  who  was  not  provided  with  reasonable  accommo- 
dations. 

A  very  pleasing  feature  in  the  "  Antique  Procession,"  not  before 
noticed  in  these  pages,  was  the  fine  turn-out  of  King  Solomon's 
Lodge,  No.  T,  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Woodbury,  in 
the  splendid  regalia  of  its  mystic  brotherhood.  This  is  not  only 
one  of  the  oldest  lodges  west  of  Connecticut  river,  having  received 
its  first  charter  in  1765,  from  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts,  but  it  has  been  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  respectable  in  the  State,  both  for  the  number  and  character 
of  its  members.  It  was  with  becoming  pride,  that  they  joined  in 
the  antique  portion  of  the  proceedings  of  the  festival,  celebrating 
at  once  the  antiquity  of  the  town,  and  the  establishment  therein 
of  their  own  ancient,  benevolent,  and  honorable  fraternity. 

The  music  of  the  occasion  was  furnished  by  the  New  Milford 
Band,  in  a  highly  creditable  and  satisfactory  manner.  During  the 
evening  of  the  first  day,  it  serenaded  the  orator  of  the  day,  and 
other  residents  connected  with  the  active  exercises  of  the  occa- 
sion. In  short,  every  part  of  the  programme  was  well  performed, 
and  the  whole  celebration  was  pronounced  by  all  jiresent  to  be  a 
perfect  success.  As  it  was  the  largest,  so  it  was  more  perfect,  in 
all  its  arrangements,  than  any  similar  celebration  in  this  country. 


998 


HISTOKY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 


the  19th  of  July,  1865,  King  Solomon's 
Lodge,  No.  1,  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
celebrated  the  one  hundredtli  anniversary  of 
its  organization. 

At  a  meeting  of  sundry  brethren  of  King 
Solomon's  Lodge,  held  May  10,  1862,  at 
tlie  residence  of  the  late  Bro.  Ckarles  B. 
Phelps,  assembled  upon  the  invitation  of  Past 
Master  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis,  Past  Master 
Charles  H.  Webb  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and 
A.  N.  Lewis  appointed  Secretary. 


"  On  motion  of  Bro.  Lewis,  it  was  voted  that  a  Committee  be 
nominated  to  the  Lodge,  to  take  in  hand  the  celebration  of  the 
approaching  Centennial  Anniversary  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge. 
The  following  brethren  were  appointed  : — 


"  P.  M.  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis, 
"     William  Cothren, 
"    James  Huntington, 
"     Charles  H.  Webb, 


P.  M.  Benjamin  Doolittle, 

"      Nathaniel  Smith, 
Bro.  G.  Plati'  Crane. 


EXTRACT  FROM    RECORDS  OF  KING  SOLOMON'S 

LODGE. 

Aug.  15,  A.  D.,  1862,  A.  L.,  5862. 

"A  Communication  from  a  meeting  of  Masons,  nominating 
Bro's  Lewis,  Cothren,  Huntington,  Webb,  Doolittle,  Smith,  and 
Crane,  a  Committee  to  arrange  for  the  Celebration  of  the  Centen- 
nial Anniversary  of  this  Lodge,  was  received,  the  Committee 
appointed,  and  the  Communication  ordered  on  file." 

The  committee  immediately  entered  on  the  performance  of  the 
duties  of  preparation  for  an  event  so  interesting  to  the  brethren* 
and,  in  due  time,  every  thing  was  "  made  ready." 

The  appointed  day,  Wednesday,  July  19,  A.  D.,  1865,  A.  L., 
5865,  dawned  bright  and  fair,  as  if  Nature  herself  smiled  npon 
the  occasion. 

At  half  past  10  o'clock,  A.  M,,  the  procession  was  formed, 
under  the  direction  of  Past  Master  Benj.  Doolittle,  Chief  Marshal, 


iriSTORY     OF     A  NCI  EXT     \V  O  O  I>  B  U  K  Y  .  •     999 

assisted  by  his  Deputies,  Bro's  Elli  Sperry  and  G.  Eugene  Betts, 
in  tfie  following 

O  R  D  E  R; 

Two  Tylers,  with  drawn  Swords. 

Tompkins'  l^rass  Baud. 
Two  Stewards,  with  White  Rods. 
Monroe  Lodge,  Monroe. 
Eureka  Lodge,  No,  83,  Bethel. 
*  George  Washington  Lodge,  No.  82,  Ansonia. 
^  Wooster  Lodge,  No.  79,  New  Haven. 

g,  *  Shepherd  Lodge,  No.  78,  Naugatuck. 

^  Meridian  Lodge,  No.  77,  Meriden. 

St.  Andrews'  Lodge,  No.  54,  West  Winsted. 
Seneca  Lodge,  No.  55,  Wolcottville. 
St.  Luke's  Lodge,  No.  48,  Kent.        * 
*  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  47,  Seymour. 

Harmony  Lodge,  No.  42,  Waterbury. 
*  Rising  Suu  Lodge,  No.  36,  Washington. 
St.  Peter's  Lodge,  No.  21,  Now  Milford. 
^  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  20,  New  Britain. 

|,  Federal  Lodge,  No.  17,  Watertown. 

P  Frederick  Lodge,  No.  14,  Plainville. 

*  St.  Paul's  Lodge,  No.  11,  Litchfield. 
*  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  No.  7,  Woodbury. 
St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  3,  Bridgeport. 
Hiram  Lodge,  No.  1,  New  PLaven. 
Royal  Arch  Masons. 
Council  Masons. 
Knight  Templars. 

A  Junior  Deacon.  ij'>«    Holy   Writings,  ^    Senior  Deacon. 
(  Square  and  Compasss,  ) 

A  <Sf «„.«,. /I   i  The  Worshipful  Master  of  )    .  t.,  , 

^  A  Steward.  <    ^^.       o  ,  ,    -r    ,         [  -^  Steward. 

^  (    Kmg  Solomon  s  Lodge.    ) 

g,  ^  Officers  of  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge. 

P  The  Clergy. 

*  Lodijes  marked  by  a  star,  were  present  as  Lodges. 

1  Tlie  f'jllowing  were  present : — The  M.  W.  Grand  Master,  Eli  S.  Quintard,  o 
New  Haven;    Past  Grand   Master   Howard   B.   Ensign,  of  New  Haven;    Past 
Grand  Master  D.  E.  Bostwick,  of  Litchfield,  and  Grand  Lecturer  C.  M.  Hatch,  of 
Bridgeport. 


1000  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 

The  procession  marched  to  the  South  Congregational  Church, 
and  entering  in  reverse  order,  when  all  were  seated,  the  acting 
W.  M.,  A.  N.  Lewis,  introduced  the  Most  Worshipful  Eli  S. 
Quintard,  of  New  Haven,  Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  Connecti- 
cut, who  took  the  Chair,  when  the  following  Order  of  Exercises 
was  proceeded  with : 

I. 

Ode  by  the  Woodbury  Mucisal  Association,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq.,  and  accompanied  by  Tompkins' 
Band. 

II. 

Reading  of  the  Scriptures  (1  Corinthians,  xiii)  by  Rev.  C.  T. 
Woodruff,  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Ridgefield. 

III. 

Ode. 

IV. 

Prayer  by  Rev.  John  Purves,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Woodbury. 

V. 

Chant. 

Past  Master  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis  then  delivered  an  eloquent 
and  interesting  address,  from  which  we  select  a  few  passages,  our 
limits  forbidding  more  extended  quotations  : 

"  W.  M.  Officers  and  Brothers  of  Kmg  iSolonioti's  Lodge : 

"You  stand,  to-day,  upon  the  hither  coast  of  a  seemingly 
boundless  ocean.  You  strain  your  eyes,  in  vain,  to  catch  one 
faint  glimpse  of  the  other  shore.  At  last,  as  you  are  about  to 
turn  away  in  despair,  a  small  boat  heaves  in  sight.  You  gather 
around  the  weary  voyager  as  he  steps  from  his  tempest-beaten 
craft,  upon  the  strand,  and  anxiously  inquire  if  he  has  brought 
any  tidings  or  relics  of  those  who  have  gone  down  upon  the 
deep.  The  solitary  navigator,  who  has  crossed  the  trackless 
waste,  exhibits  a  few  moth-eaten  books  and  MSS.,  and  informs 
you  that  these  are  all  that  remain  of  the  gallant  mariners  whose 
loss  you  deplore.  To  drop  the  figure ;  you,  my  brethren,  are  the 
anxious  inquirers    by  the    sea-side;    the  speaker  is   the    'weary 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  C!  I  E  N  T       W  O  O  li  B  U  R  Y  .  3  00  i 

voyager '  who  has  crossed  the  sea  '  in  search  of  that  wliich  was 
lost,'  and  returned  not  without  tidings. 

"  An  historical  address  furnishes  but  a  narrow  field  for  the 
tlowers  of  rhetoric,  or  the  graces  of  oratory.  Facts,  dates,  rec- 
ords, names,  and  details  are  the  wares  of  the  historian.  If  I  do 
not  fatigue  you  in  the  story  of  my  communings  Avith  the  past — if 
I  present  you,  in  the  brief  period  assigned  me,  with  an  epitome  oi 
the  history  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  from  its  foundation,  one 
hundred  years  ago,  to  the  present  time,  I  shall  have  fulfilled  the 
duty  with  which  I  was  entrusted.  Leaving,  therefore,  to  my 
reverend  brother,  who  is  to  follow,  the  more  pleasing  task  of 
moving  your  hearts  with  the  strains  of  eloquence,  I  set  out  at 
once  upon  the  journey  before  me. 

"King  Solomon's  Lodge  was  constituted  upon  the  l7th  of  July, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1765,  and  ot  Masonry  5765.  I  hold  in 
my  hand  the  original  charter,  beautifully  engrossed  upon  stamped 
paper,  in  the  plain  round  hand  of  the  oldeii  time. 

"To  the  uninitiated  it  may  be  pro^^er  to  say,  in  explanation  of 
the  almost  sacred  reverence  with  which  a  mason  regards  his 
charter,  that  no  lodge  can  be'  held  without  its  presence  at  the 
place  of  meeting ;  and  if  lost  or  destroyed  as  by  fire,  a  dispensation 
must  be  obtained  from  the  Grand  Master  before  lodge-meetings 
can  be  again  held.  If  revoked  by  the  proper  authority,  the  lodge 
ceases  to  exist  until  it  is  legully  restored.  The  charter,  there- 
fore, is  most  carefully  })reserved  in  the  lodge  archives. 

"  While  the  lodge  was  located  in  Waterbury,  the  regular  coni- 
nmnicatlons  (which  is  the  masonic  term  ^ov  meetings)  were  holden 
monthly  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Bro,  James  Brown,  then 
the  residence  of  Capt.  Geo.  Nicholls.  The  hall  was  an  upper 
room,  running  the  whole  length  of  the  house,  with  '  gambrel- 
roof '  and  windows,  it  being  a  dancing-hall,  such  as  were  often 
found  in  the  private  residences  of  that  day. 

''  Of  the  doings  of  the  lodge,  while  it  sat  in  Waterbury,  we 
have  no  record,  save  the  paper  which  I  hold  in  my  hand.  It  is  the 
original  draft  of  the  'Bye-Laws,'  enacted  and  approved  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1765,  which  I  beg  leave  to  read,  as  a  relic  of  '  ye  olden 
time.' 

"  At  the  period  of  which  I  am  speaking  (1765  to  1775)  Wood- 
bury exceeded  Waterbury  in  population  and  importance.  After 
a  few  years  it  is  probable  that  the  members  of  the  lodge,  dwelling 
in  the  valley  of  the  Pomperaug,  began  to  outnumber  those  residing 


1 002  1[IRT0RV       OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

iu  Mattatuck,  or  Waterbury,  The  lodge  was,  therefore,  in  1775 
(or  previously)  removed  to  Woodbury,  where  the  tabernacle  has 
ever  since  rested.  The  names  of  Joseph  Perry,  James  Raynolds, 
Hezekiah  Thompson,  and  other  of  the  Waterbury  brethren, 
appear  upon  the  records  as  in  attendance  upon  lodge  meetings, 
the  weary  distance  of  twelve  miles  through  woods  and  swamps, 
over  hills  and  streams,  not  being  sutTicient  to  keep  from  them  the 
monthly  reunion  with  the  '  Sons  of  Light.' 

"The  Records  from  1765  to  1775,  are  missing.  In  that  valua- 
ble work,  by  a  brother  who  sits  before  me  to-day,  the  '  History  of 
Ancient  Woodbury,'  we  re^ad,  that  '  all  the  records,  except  the 
charter,  from  its  first  organization  to  1782,  are  no  longer  in  exist- 
ence.' This  paragraph  was  written  in  1854.  Three  years  later, 
while  'searching  among  the  rubbish'  of  the  lodge-roonj,  the 
speaker  had  the  good  fortune  to  discover  this  ancient  record  book, 
containing  minutes  of  all  the  '  communications,'  or  meetings, 
from  St.  John's  Day,  Dec.  27,  1775,  to  Sept.  7,  1780.  The  first 
entry  is  as  follows : 

"  Att  a  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  held  att  the  bouse  of  Br.  Peter 
-Gilchrist,  in  Woodbury,  Dec.  27th,  1775, 

PjlESENT. 

R.  W.  Bro.  Joseph  Perry,  Mai^ter, 

"     Peter  Gilchrist^  Senior  Warde7i, 
"     Mitchell  Lampson,  Junior    " 
"     Delucena  Backus,  Treasurer, 
"     Aaron  Mallory, 
"     Zimry  Moody. 

"The  same  evening  the  Lodge  was  Led  to  the  Choyse  of  a  Master  for  the 
year  ensuing,  when  they  unanimously  mad  choyse  of  R.  W.  Bro.  Joseph  Perry  to 
SlI  the  Chear. 

"The  Lodge  likewise  mad  choyse  of  Bro.  Peter  Gilchrist,  S.  W.,  and  Bro. 
Mitcheil  Lampson,  J.  W.,  Bro.  Delucena  Backus,  Sec,  and  Bro.  Aaron  Mallory, 
Treas.,  very  agreeable  to  the  Lodge. 

Expense  of  the  night  -  -  -  £0  110 

Paid  -  -  -  "    "  " 

"From  1775  to  1797,  a  period  of  twenty-two  years,  the  lodge 
met  in  an  '  upper  room,'  or  ball-room  of  Peter  Gilchrist's  house, 
now  the  residence  of  Geo.  B.  Lewis,  Esq.  Bro.  Gilchrist  seems 
to  have  been  a  prominent  mason,  and  was  for  many  years  Secre- 
tary of  the  lodge. 

■"In  Oct.,  1796,  the  lodge  voted  to  remove  to  a  room  to  be  pre- 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     AVOODBUKY.  1 003 

pared  for  their  use  by  Bro.  David  Tallman,  in  the  house  of  widow 
Damaris  Gilchrist,  now  the  ball-room  of  Kelly's  hotel. 

"This  room  was  finished  in  due  time,  with  'suitable  pews  for 
the  Master  and  Wardens,'  and  the  lodge  voted  Bros.  Tallman  and 
Fabrique  a  further  allowance  of  18  and  12  dollars  respectively  for 
'stock  extraordinary  furnished.'  Masonic  tradition  informs  us 
that  this  hall  was  fitted  up  in  magnificent  style :  Upon  the  ceiling 
over  head,  were  delineated  the  '  starry  decked  heavens,'  with  the 
'  All-Seeing  Eye,'  and  other  emblems  well  known  to  the  craft. 

"Sept.  18th,  1823,  the  lodge  removed  to  a  new  hall  in  the  build- 
ing lately  occupied  by  Bros.  Chapin  and  Lathrop  (more  recently 
perverted  into  a  barn  by  Bro.  H.  W.  Shove)  where  the  meetings 
were  held  for  some  fifteen  years,  when  they  again  removed  to  the 
old  lodge-room  over  Kelly's  hotel,  in  183*7,  where  they  continued 
to  meet  until  the  dedication  of  the  present  lodge  edifice  in  1839. 

"Aug.  29th,  1838,  at  a  regular  communication  ot  the  lodge,  it 
was  voted  'that  Bros.  Benj.  Doolittle,  Chas.  B.  Phelps,  Edwd, 
Hinman,  and  Edgar  Botsford,  be  appointed  a  committee  to  obtain 
subscriptions  to  build  a  lodge  room.'  This  committee  reported  at 
the  next  meeting  that  one  could  be  built  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed 
the  sum  of  $700.  They  were,  therefore,  instructed  '  to  commence 
the  building  when  half  the  amount  should  be  subscribed,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  existing  funds  of  the  lodge.'  The  money  was  raised 
by  dividing  the  stock  into  shares  of  $10  each,  some  of  which 
were  taken  by  persons  not  members  of  the  fraternity.  For  many 
years  after,  candidates  for  initiation  paid  their  fees  by  purchasing 
the  requisite  number  of  shares  at  a  low  rate.  In  this  way,  and 
from  the  natural  anxiety  of  the  brethren  to  extinguish  the  out- 
standing shares,  some  were  inducted  into  the  mysteries  of  Mason- 
ry, who  have  since  proved  anything  but  ornaments  to  the  lodge 
and  institution.  At  last,  in  the  year  J  857,  the  last  share  and  a 
half  was  cancelled,  being  held  by  our  late  Bro.  Mitchell  S.  Mitch- 
ell, of  New  Haven. 

"The  new  lodge  edifice  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  'Holy 
Saints  John,'  by  the  Grand  officers,  upon  the  festival  of  St.  John 
the  Jxx[)tist,  1839.  The  oflicers  and  brethren  of  King  Solomon's 
Lodge,  were  present  at  the  exercises,  and  many  visiting  brethren 
from  other  lodges.     In  the  language  of  the  records : 

"  The  marshalls  (which  were  Bros.  W.  H.  Hunter  and  Bethel  Castle)  funned 
the  procession,  and  proceeded  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  to  liear  an  oration  by  Rev. 
Bro.  Burhanns,  after  which  the  procession  formed  and   marched  to  Bro.  Chas.  S. 

11 


1006  HISTORY      OP     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

nectiyjg  link  between  the  generation  of  '76  and  the  present.  In 
his  tsstes  and  habits,  a  'gentleman  of  the  old  school;'  with  a 
high  loned  sense  of  honor  that  is  too  rarely  found  in  these  modern 
times  •,  his  mind  unusually  well  stored  with  that  knowledge  which 
only  aabits  of  observation  can  acquire ;  a  never-failing  flow  of 
wit,  and  anecdote,  and  keenest  irony  and  sarcasm,  if  the  occasion 
demanded  ;  of  great  power  as  a  public  speaker  and  an  advocate ;' 
full  ot  '  wise  saws  and  modern  instances,'  and  quaint  sayings  and 
coriparisons,  which  convulsed  the  listener  with  merriment ;  a  kind 
a,^d  unselfish  neighbor ;  an  ever  faithful  and  sympathizing  friend ; 
strong  in  his  likes  and  dislikes ;  a  man  who  read  character  at  a 
glance ;  hospitable,  charitable,  and  generous  to  a  fault, 

"  '  As  many  a  beggar  and  impostor  knew  ;' 

though  a  larayer,  a  peace-? na/cer ;  (his  proudest  boast  being  that 
he  '  had  settled  more  cases  than  he  had  tried ')  ;  to  those  who 
knew  him,  in  the  sanctity  of  his  home,  (whatever  he  may  have 
seemed  to  the  world),  a  man  of  deep  religious  feelings  and  yearn- 
ings ;  in  the  language  of  another, 

"  '  Not,  like  too  many,  worser  than  he  seemed, 
But  always  better  than  himself  had  deemed  :'  1 

Charles  B.  Phelps,  '  the  Old  Judge,'  as  we  loved  to  call  him,  will 
never  be  forgotten,  so  long  as  there  is  one  who  knew  him  left  to 
cherish  his  memory ! 

"  '  The  upright  judge,  the  wit,  the  mind  intent, 
With  the  large  heart,  that  always  with  it  went ; 
Passing  his  years  among  us,  softened,  sage, 
Almost  the  feature  of  another  age  ; — 
In  one  dread  moment  sent  to  that  far  shore 
"Where  praise,  nor  blame,  shall  ever  reach  him  morc.'a 

There  is  another  brother,  whose  hoary  head  and  Christian 
character  deserves  a  passing  notice.  The  oldest  member  of  the 
fraternity,  initiated  into  Masonry  in  1813,  fifty-two  years  ago,  he 
still  lingers  among  us,  at  the  good  old  age  of  three  score  and  ten, 
and  eighteen  years.     Though  he  has   come  to  realize  by  sad  expe- 


1  Rev,   Wm.  Thompson  Bacon,  in  his  Woodbury  Centennial  Poem,  July  4, 
1869. 
Ibid. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1007 

rience  the  iafirmities  of  age,  '  when  the  keepers  of  the  house 
tremble,  and  the  strong  men  bow  themselves,  and  the  grinders 
cease  because  they  are  few,  and  those  that  look  out  of  the 
windows  be  darkened ;  and  the  doors  are  shut  in  the  streets 
when  the  sound  of  the  grinding  is  low;  when  fears  are  in  the 
way,  and  the  almond  tree  flourishes  and  desire  fails :' — though  all 
this  is  come  upon  him,  he  still  retains  his  first  love  for  the  Insti- 
tution, before  whose  altar  his  youthful  knees  bowed  in  fealty  and 
prayer.  Need  I  say  that  I  refer  to  our  venerable  Brother  James 
Moody  ? 

"It  may  seem  invidious  to  speak  of  the  living,  where  so  many 
are  worthy  of  praise.  When  the  anti-masonic  tempest  of  1828 
had  well-nigh  extinguished  our  '  three  lesser  lights  ;'  when  '  the 
love  of  many  waxed  cold,'  and  to  acknowledge  one's  self  a  Mason 
required  more  courage  than  to  storm  a  battery ;  when  mobs  pro- 
scribed, and  churches  excommunicated  the  known  or  suspected 
Mason  ;  prominent  among  a  faithful  few,  a  brother  who  sits  before 
me,  was  untiring  in  his  eftbrts  to  keep  the  masonic  flame  a-light 
upon  the  altar  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge.  Unlike  too  many,  he 
never  'renounced  Free  Masonry'  at  the  bidding  of  party  or  sect. 
Filling,  as  necessity  required,  every  oftice,  from  the  chair  in  the 
East  to  the  Tyler's  station  '  without  the  door ;'  for  many  years  the 
faithful  and  eflicient  Treasurer  ;  twice  elected  Worshipful  Master  ; 
present  at  nearly  every  meeting  of  the  lodge  since  his  affiliation, 
more  than  forty-tour  years  ago  ;  King  Solomon's  Lodge  is  in- 
debted for  its  present  existence,  to  no  brother,  living  or  dead, 
more  than  to  Brother  Benjamin  Doolittle !  i 

"My  task  is  done!  My  communings  with  the  past,  though 
tinged  with  sadness,  have  been  pleasing  and  profitable  to  myself; 
I  trust  the  result,  even  if  somewhat  tedious,  has  not  been  without 
interest  and  instruction  to  my  hearers. 

"Finally,  Brethren  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  let  us  strive  to 
grow  wiser  and  better  for  our  masonic  associations.  Let  us  never 
confound  Masonry  with  Religion,  nor  Religion  with  Masonry. 
Let  us  ever  remember  that  Masonry,  though  not  religion,  is  her 
handmaid :  and  thai  he  who  would  be  a  true  Mason  must  also 
aspire  to  that  Jiigher  name,  a  follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Thus,  at  the  last,  when  the  grim  tyrant  Death  shall  alarm  for  us 

1  Bro.  Doolittle  passed  to  the  Lodge  on  high  about  three  years  ago,  at  the  age 
of  70,  and  this  eulogy  is  not  overdrawn. 


1008  HISTORY     or      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

'the  inner  door'  of  the  lodge — we  may  welcome  him  as  a  kind 
messenger,  sent  to  translate  lis  from  this  imperfect  to  that  all- 
perfect,  glorious,  and  celestial  lodge  above,  where  the  Supreme 
Grand  Master  of  the  universe  presides  !" 

The  address  was  succeeded  by  a  very  eloquent  and  instructive 
sermon,  by  Rev.  C.  Trowdridge  Woodruff,  of  Ridgefield,  for- 
merly rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury.  From  this  sermon 
we  make  a  few  brief  extracts : — 


serm:on 


I.  KINGS  VI.  7. 
"  And  the  house,  when  it  was  building,  was  built  of  stone,  made  ready  before 

IT  WAS  brought    thither  ;    so  THAT  THERE    WAS    NEITHER     HAMMER,   NOR  AXE,  NOR 
TOOL  OF  IRON,  HEARD  IN  THE  HOUSE  WHILE  IT  WAS  BUILDING." 

"  Wonderful  record !  record,  made  of  no  other  building  in  the 
history  of  our  world;  record,  worthy  of  Him  Avho  planned  the 
building,  and  of  him  who  sought  the  "  understanding  heart,"  that 
he  might  work  out  the  woundrous  design  ;  record,  significant  of 
tlie  mighty  Past,  whose  history  it  was  to  embody,  and  of  the  Fu- 
ture, whose  prophetic  analogies  were  to  cluster  around  it!  The 
work  then  going  on,  the  massive  stones  then  rising  into  walls,  in- 
dicating no  ordinary  work,  nor  yet  the  usual  architecture  of  the 
time.  No  !  in  the  centuries  by-gone,  upon  the  rugged  and  scarred 
brow  of  awful  Sinai,  amid  lightnings  and  thunders,  with  the  huge 
mountain  shaking  beneath  the  overshadowing  presence  of  the 
great  Jehovah,  Moses  was  showed  the  pattern  of  that  majestic 
Temple,  which,  with  all  its  sacred  rites,  afterwards  stood,  the  joy 
of  the  whole  earth,  on  Mount  Moriah's  stately  brow.  The  Tab- 
ernacle, set  up  in  the  wilderness,  and  carried  along  with  the  Israel- 
ites as  they  journeyed  to  the  Promised  Land,  was  but  the  finished 
model  of  the  vast  and  magnificent  edifice,  whose  foundation  stones 
of  costly  worth,  reached  down  as  deep  as  Kedron's  shadowed 
glen,  and  whose  pinnacles  towered  to  heights  too  dazzling  for  the 
sight. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY,  1009 

For  many  years  had  the  pious  David  been  carefully  gathering 
the  varied  materials  for  the  sacred  house,  and  now  his  illustrious 
son,  Solomon,  with  all  the  aid  of  native  and  foreign  artists,  was 
consummating  the  grand  design.  The  forests  resounded  to  the 
stroke  of  the  woodman's  axe ;  the  quarries  of  Zeradathah  echoed 
to  the  ring  of  the  hammer  and  maul;  the  smitheries  glowed; 
carpenters,  and  carvers,  and  cunning  workmen  went  in  and  out, 
intent  upon  their  mighty  work,  and,  day  by  day,  the  ponderous 
beams,  the  perfect  ashlers,  the  polislied  cedar,  and  the  olive,  and 
the  golden  plates,  came  by  the  hands  of  tlie  seventy  thousand 
Apprentices,  from  the  eighty  thousand  Fellow-Crafts,  till  the  co- 
ping Avas  tinished,  pilaster  and  column  were  set,  the  burnished 
roof  thrown  over  all,  and  the  great  Temple,  from  foundation  to 
dome,  stood  the  fairest  and  the  noblest  structure  that  greeted  the 
sun  in  his  daily  course. 

"  So  stands  the  Temple  to  the  view  of  every  true  and  enlighten- 
ed Mason  ;  at  once,  the  first  and  highest  type  of  the  Masonic  art 
in  operative  Masonry,  and  the  sacred  historical  symbol  of  all  that 
is  dignified  and  ennobling,  and  purifying  in  speculative  Masonry. 
It  embodies  the  great  principles  of  our  order  ; — charity  and  unity ; 
— around  it  cluster  the  emblems,  and  from  it  are  derived  the  cer- 
emonies and  the  working  tools  of  the  craft. 

"  It  is  a  singular  fact,  and,  aside  from  the  belief  of  its  high  ori- 
gin, an  inexplainable  fact,  that,  while  thrones  of  earth  have  crum- 
bled, while  orders  and  systems  of  men  have  passed  away, — des- 
potic, patriotic,  benevolent,  and  religious, — while  opposition  has 
fiercely  assailed,  backed  by  influence,  wealth  and  power  ;  while 
persecution  has  flamed,  and  driven  into  the  wilderness ;  while  po- 
litical fanatics  have  denounced  and  religionists  have  anathema- 
tized, and  false  friends  sought  to  betray  ;  whiie  barbarians  have 
demolished  the  grand  monuments  of  the  Order;  and  all  that  mal- 
ice could  invent,  and  man  perform,  has  been  combined  against  it, 
still,  Masonry  lives  !  Yes,  and  will  liae  till  Time  itself  shall  be 
no  more  !  Nothing  else,  save  Christianity,  has  stood  the  test  of 
the  ages!  It  stands  to-day,  adorned  with  life  and  beauty,  simply 
because  its  great  Light,  the  Bible,  shines  full  upon  and  irradiates 
its  throbbing  heart !  Its  chief  corner-stone,  its  central  idea,  like 
that  of  the  symbolic  Temple,  and  like  Christianity  itself,  is  Love, 
love  to  God  supreme,  love  to  our  neighbors  as  ourselves.  The 
golden  chain  which  links  us  to  the  Past,  to  each  other  in  the  Pres- 
ent, and  which  shall  join  us  indissolubly  with  the  Future,  is  that 


1010  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

heaven-born  Charity,  which  is  the  '  bond  of  peace  and  the  perfec- 
tion ol  every  virtue.' 

"  In  the  great  struggle  through  which  the  nation  has  so  success- 
fully passed,  Masonry  has  come  out  as  grandly  as  the  nation,  tested 
as  in  no  other  age,  glorious  as  never  before.  Under  its  almost 
magic  influence,  foemen  have  been  made  friends  in  rifle  pits,  on 
skirmish  lines,  at  bayonet  points,  and  at  the  cannon's  mouth. 
Rebel  and  loyal,  each,  have  learned  on  bloody  fields,  wounded  and 
captive,  in  ambulance  and  hospital,  that  brothers  ever  answer  to 
the  sign,  and  fly,  at  the  mystic  cry  for  help,  with  comfort  and  suc- 
cor such  as  needed.  And  all  this  is  full  of  richest  promise  for  the 
future. 

Go  forward,  then,  ye  faithful  sons  of  faithful  craftsmen  gone! 
By  all  that  is  sacred  in  the  antiquity  of  the  Order,  by  all  that  is 
tender  in  the  bond  of  brotherly  love,  by  all  that  is  aifecting  in  the 
condition  and  wants  of  your  erring  and  needy  brethren,  by  all  the 
resources  which  heaven  has  poured  into  your  lap,  by  all  the  pre- 
cious memories  of  those  beloved  in  the  lodge  on  high,  and  by  all 
the  motives  addressed  to  you  in  every  degree  in  which  you  have 
wrought,  I  say,  go  forward  !  And,  when  all  the  bonds  of  earthly 
circumstances,  the  outward  conformations  of  ministries  and  ordi- 
nances, have  passed  away  forever,  then,  the  whole  body  of  Ma- 
sons, true  and  faithful  Masons,  who  have  adorned  the  divine  prin- 
ciples of  the  Order  by  a  godly  life,  shall  stand  up  together  in  an 
imperishable  fellowship,  known  by  one  name,  animated  by  one 
spirit,  and  combined  together  in  one  glorious  employment  for 
eternity." 

After  the  exercises  at  the  Church,  the  procession  was  again 
formed,  and  marched  to  the  site  of  the  building  recently  occupied 
by  Bro's  Chapin  and  Lathrop,  where  the  Lodge  was  held  for  fif- 
teen years, — from  1823  to  1837.  Here  a  halt  was  made,  and  the 
"  grand  honors  "  given,  in  honor  of  the  fraternal  dead.  The  march 
was  then  continued  to  the  residence  of  Geo.  B.  Lewis,  Esq.,  for- 
merly the  Inn  of  Peter  Gilchrist,  where  the  Lodge  was  held,  from 
1775  to  1797,  where  the  "grand  honors"  were  again  given. 
Thence  the  procession  moved  to  the  Hotel  of  F.  Kelly,  where  the 
"  grand  honors  "  were  given  in  front  of  the  "  north  chamber," 
where  the  Lodge  held  its  meetings,  from  1797  to  1823,  and  again 
from  1837  to  1839. 

The   vast  concourse  of  Masons,  Masons'  wives,  daughters,  and 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1011 

invited  guests,  then  entered  the  large  Tent  of  the  Litchfield  Co. 
Agricultural  Society,  where  they  partook  of  a  bountiful  Collation. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES  AT  THE  TENT. 

After  the  "  cloth  had  been  removed,"  the  assembly  was  called 
to  oder  by  Past  Master  A.  N.  Lewis,  who  announced  the  regular 
toats,  and  on  giving  the  sentiment,  "Oar  Sister  Lodges,"  re- 
marked : — 

*'I  see  before  me  those  who,  as  Entered  Appentices,  have  delved 
and  hewed  in  the  quarries ;  have  wrought  upon  the  Temple  as 
Fellow-Crafts ;  and  learned  lessons  of  fortitude  and  fidelity  at  the 
grave  of  the  widow's  son  — others  who  have  received  the  "  white 
stone,"  in  which  a  "  new  name  is  written,  which  no  man  knoweth, 
save  him  to  whom  it  is  given  ; "  who  have  been  inducted  into  the 
"Oriental  Chair,"  and  learned  lessons  in  government  from  eai'nest 
and  practical  instructors ;  who  have  assisted  at  the  dedication  of 
the  Temple,  "  when  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  house,  so  that 
the  priests  could  not  stand  to  minister,'  but  bowed  themselves 
upon  the  pavement,  exclaiming,  '  for  He  is  good,  and  His  mercy 
endureth  forever  ;  and,  '  at  the  peril  of  your  lives,'  searched  for 
and  brought  to  light  those  valuable  secrets,  which  lay  buried  and 
hidden  from  the  craft,  for  the  space  of  four  hundred  years  ; — oth- 
ers, who  liave  '  wrought  in  the  secret  vault,  when  prying  eyes  were 
closed  in  sleep.' — Others  who,  as  valiant  and  magnanimous  Sir 
Knights,  have  worshipped  upon  the  Island,  at  the  Sepulchre,  and 
in  the  Temple.  And  if  there  be  any  other  and  higher  than  these, 
I  bid  you  all  an  earnest,  a  heart-felt,  a  Masonic  welcome  !" 

This  was  followed  by  the  third  regular  toast ;  "The  Fraternal 
Dead  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge, — Their  failings  are  hidden  by  the 
sod  that  covers  them  ;  their  virtues  are  on  perpetual  record  upon 
living  tablets,  the  hearts  of  their  brethren  !" 

Past  Master  William  Cothren  responded  in  the  following  words  : 

Bkotiiers  and  Friends  : — 

In  rising  to  respond  to  the  toast  just  read  in  your  hearing  by 
our  worthy  presiding  officer,  I    seem  to  be  addressing  some  five 


1012  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

hundred  living,  sentient  beings, — a  company  of  friends  and  broth- 
ers. And  yet,  as  I  firmly  believe,  not  only  am  I  doing  this,  but  I 
am  addressing  an  equal  number  of  the  "  faithful  dead,"  whose 
mortal  remains  sleep  peacefully  in  this  beautiful  valley,  the  home 
of  the  honored,  and  the  resting  place  of  the  tried  worthies  who 
have  gone  before  us  to  the  ''  echoless  shore."  I  take  pleasure  and 
consolation  in  believing,  that  that  large  company  of  the  good  and 
"  great  lights  "  of  our  beneficent  Order,  look  down  from  their  se- 
rene and  happy  abode  upon  us,  their  children,  who,  with  filial 
hearts,  unite  in  celebrating  their  virtues  on  this  happy  hundreth 
birth-day  of  our  beloved  Lodge,  which  they  did  so  much  to  "  adorn 
and  beautify."  Secure,  themselves,  from  the  perils  of  life,  they 
smile  benignantly  upon  the  noble  actions  of  their  descendants. 
They  speak  to  us  from  every  lowly  and  sacred  mound, — they 
speak  to  us  from  their  high  abode  in  Heaven. 

A  sacred  feeling  comes  over  us,  as  we  remember  the  character, 
and  recount  the  noble  deeds  of  our  revered  brethren,  who  lived 
and  acted  during  the  century  which  has  now  gone  to  "join  the 
tormer  ages  "  in  the  world's  history.  We  look  around  us,  and  note 
the  resting-places  of  those  sainted  men,  in  the  pleasantest  nooks 
of  this  most  beautiful  of  valleys.  We  tread  lightly,  as  we  ap- 
proach the  sacred  dust,  that  silently  reposes  till  the  resurrection 
morn.  Their  ashes  are  all  around  us,  as  their  spirits  are  above  us. 
I  firmly  believe  that  the  faithful  dead  take  cognizance  of  things 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  friends  below.  They  smile  on  us  from 
their  high  seats  to-day.  "  Their  crowu  is  secure,  and  their  mem- 
ory precious  forever  ;  to  us  the  strife  yet  remains."  Errors  they 
had,  like  all  the  human  race ;  for  the  Book  of  books  declares,  that 
all  have  gone  astray.  But  their  errors  are  "hidden  by  the  sod" 
that  covers  them.  They  have  "  reached  that  silent  home  of  all  the 
living,  which  buries  every  error,  covers  every  defect,  extinguishes 
every  resentment." 

They  lived  in  "  days  that  tried  men's  souls."  They  lived  in 
times  that  required  great  and  heroic  deeds.  They  lived  in  a 
period  when  moral  courage,  as  well  as  manly  hearts,  was  re- 
quired,— the  great  demands  of  history,  the  great  urgencies  of  life 
in  perilous  periods.  Even  one  of  our  Ministers,  bearer  of  good 
tidings  to  men,  was  obliged,  right  there,  two  hundred  yards  irom 
our  place  of  meeting,  to  take,  two  savage,  lurking  lives,  and  send 
their  guilty  spirits  to  their  dread  account.     Like  courage  was  re- 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1013 

quired  of  other  men,  in  that  period  of  violence,  a  hundred  years 
ago.  ' 

Look  through  the  hi>^toi'y  of  our  State  during  the  century  that 
is  past,  and  the  part  that  our  good  old  town  has  borne  in  all  its 
great  events,  and  you  will  find  the  worthies  of  our  Order  preemi- 
nent in  every  good  and  great  work.  In  the  deadly  struggle  of  the 
American  Revolution,  which  gave  us  our  nation's  life,  and  planted 
the  germ  of  freedom  forever  ; — in  all  the  wars  and  struggles  which 
have  increased  and  shown  our  nation's  strength  ;  and  now,  in  the 
last,  most  momentous  and  greatest  civil  war  in  the  history  of  the 
ages,  which  has  signalized  itself  over  those  of  all  the  past,  in  giv- 
ing freedom  to  an  entire  race,  the  brethren  of  the  craft  have  ever 
been  conspicuous, — foremost  in  every  great  undertaking.  In  the 
history  of  the  Revolution,  their  names  are  radiant  on  every  page, 
both  in  the  crash  of  battle,  and  in  the  steady  support  of  the  breth- 
ren at  home,  giving  more  aid  and  comfort,  with  the  other  patriotic 
citizens,  to  the  brave  boys  in  the  field,  than  came  from  any  other 
interior  town  known  to  your  speaker.  Time  would  fail  me  to 
give  a  list  of  those  brave  men,  or  to  speak  of  the  deeds  and  vir- 
tues of  the  Hinmans,  the  Perrys,  the  Ortons,  the  Curtisses,  the 
Osborne s,  the  Chapmans,  the  Prestons,  the  Shermans,  the  Hic- 
ocks,  the  Brinsraades,  the  Beers,  the  Nichols,  and  a  host  of  others, 
who  did  great  service  in  that  memorable  conilict.  In  our  later 
civil  struggle,  our  fraternal  band  has  offered  up  of  its  numbers, 
and  has  increased  the  concourse  of  the  "  fraternal  dead."  In  these 
early  hours  of  our  grief,  need  I  speak,  (while  I  say  nothing  of  the 
living  brothers  who  have  done  good  service  to  our  country)  of  Pol- 
icy," and  Orton,  who  have  delivered  up  their  lives,  a  willing  sac- 
rifice, to  the  great  cause  of  freedom,  and  of  our  country.  Need 
I  speak  of  their  gentle,  home  virtues ;  their  orderly  walk  and  con- 
versation, their  unwavering  fidelity  to  friends  ?  Of  Sergeant 
Walter  J.  Orton,  dying  by  a  shot  through  the  breast,  received  at 
the  battle  of  Winchester,  I  speak  with  more  than  ordinary  friend- 
ship. He  was  more  than  a  sincere  friend.  He  was  at  once  a  devoted 
and  effective  one.  Well  do  I  remember  that  summer  Sabbath,  three 
years  ago,  when  the  members  of  Co.  I.,  19th  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. 


■  Reference  here  is  made  to  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  who  was  for  sixty-one 
years  pastor  of  the  Firs^t  Church  in  Woodbury.  His  house,  built  in  1700,  is 
still  standing. 

*  Jaraes  ('.  Pulley,  of  Company  I.  2d  Conn.  Artillery,  who  died  in  service,  o* 
fever,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  19th  Nov.,  186 2. 


1014  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

were  called  to  leave  iu  baste  for  the  tented  field,  to  "  dare  and  do  " 
for  their  country !  We  all  remember  bow  the  churches  were 
closed,  and  the  people  assembled  to  speed  the  brave  boys  on  their 
way,  for  the  salvation  of  the  country, — heroic  hearts  all! — On 
that  occasion  of  throbbing  hearts,  and  hasty  and  sad  farewells, 
well  do  I  remember  the  words  of  Orton,  as  he  talked  with  his 
friends,  and  bid  adieu  to  his  wife  and  children  ;  that  he  should 
never  more  be  a  citizen  of  Woodbury.  Something  told  him  he 
should  not  survive  the  war,  but  that  he  thought  it  his  duty  still 
to  go  and  tight  in  the  defense  of  his  country.  How  prophetic  were 
his  forebodings!  He  died  a  true  soldier,  from  wounds  received 
in  the  heat  and  shock  of  battle.  The  memory  of  such  a  soldier, 
such  a  brother,  will  be  forever  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  his  liv- 
ing brethren  of  the  "mystic  tie." 

I  have  already  intimated,  that,  in  all  the  civil  and  social  virtues, 
and  in  all  the  great  events  in  the  history  of  our  State  during  the 
past  century,  the  members  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge  have  been 
prominent.  Let  us  name  a  few  of  the  more  celebrated,  for  time 
would  fail  me  to  mention  all  who  have  done  the  State  good  ser- 
vice, and  done  honor  to  our  ancient  fraternity.  John  Hotchkiss, 
the  tirst  Worshipful  Master,  appointed  by  the  Grand  Master  of 
the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  and  residing  "  at  or 
near  Waterbury,"  assembled  the  first  members  of  our  Lodge,  and 
appointed  the  Wardens.  The  records  of  our  Lodge,  from  1765 
to  1775,  are  lost,  and  we  know  not  who  those  Wardens  were ;  but, 
in  the  latter  year,  the  Lodge  began  to  be  permanently  held  in 
Woodbury,  a  town  then  older,  and  considerably  more  important 
than  Waterbury.  The  history  of  the  Lodge  since  then  is  com- 
plete, even  through  the  dark  days  of  the  miserable  })olitical  Mor- 
gan excitement,  when  many  other  Lodges  yielded  to  the  fury  of 
that  relentless  storm  of  reasonless  indignation.  Of  John  Hotch- 
kiss, little  is  now  known,  save  that  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
our  Colony,  trusted  by  the  Massachusetts  Grand  Master,  and  the 
founder  of  the  Hotchkiss  family  in  this  part  of  Connecticut. 

Among  the  early  Masters  of  the  Lodge,  was  Ilezekiah  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  the  first  practicing  lawyer  in  the  present  limits  of  Wood- 
bury, and  a  leading  citizen,  lieginning  as  a  saddler,  by  trade,  he 
won  his  way  to  distinction  as  an  advocate  and  jurist,  a  magistrate, 
a  legislator,  a  soldier,  a  genial  friend  and  an  honest  man,  and  died, 
leaving  descendants  who,  in  this  and  the  adjoining  States,  have 
continued  to  take  a  leading  part  in  public  affairs,  and  to  exercise 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1015 

a  powerful  influence  in  the  places  of  their  residence.  From 
the  founding  of  the  Lodge,  for  near  forty  years,  he  was  one  of  its 
most  active  and  efBcient  members. 

Associated  with  Mr.  Thompson,  were  several  other  leading  spir- 
its of  those  early  days,  in  the  history  of  the  Lodge.  Among  these 
was  Dr.  Joseph  Perry,  who,  for  nearly  half  a  century,  adorned  the 
profession  of  Medicine,  and  for  three-fourths  of  that  time,  greatly 
contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Lodge,  and  the  spreading  of 
the  benefits  of  Masonry.  He  was  conspicuous  in  aiding  the  sol- 
diers in  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  and  in  curbing  the  impetuos- 
ity of  the  rampant  tories  in  our  midst.  And  in  this  place,  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  say,  that  the  name  of  no  tory  disgraces  the  fair 
historic  pages  of  our  ancient  Lodge.  He  died  an  honored  citizen, 
at  a  good  old  age,  leaving  his  son,  Dr.  Nathaniel  Perry,  fit  repre- 
sentative of  his  father's  virtues,  to  follow  with  reverence  in  his 
footsteps,  in  every  great  and  good  work.  Well  did  he  bear  up 
his  fathei-'s  reputation,  as  the  kind  and  skillful  physician,  the  firm, 
considerate,  and  eflective  friend,  the  friend  of  all,  the  Mason's 
champion,  the  friend  of  charity  and  all  good  works,  and  that  no- 
blest of  God's  works,  an  honest  man.  For  nearly  fifty  years  did 
these  worthy  men  labor  with  the  workmen,  and  for  half  that  time, 
directed  them  in  their  labors. 

In  the  galaxy  of  talent,  worth,  and  ability,  which  adorned  the 
Lodge  in  these  early  days,  was  Hon.  Ephraim  Kirby,  a  native  of 
Washington,  and,  for  a  long  time,  a  resident  of  Litchfield ;  after- 
wards dying  in  Mississippi,  while  on  his  way  to  assume  his  duties 
as  Judge  of  the  territory  of  Orleans,  by  the  appointment  of  Jeffer- 
son. He  served  during  the  whole  of  the  Revolutionary  war ;  was 
present,  and  participated  in,  nineteen  battles  and  skirmishes,  among 
which  was  Bunker  Hill,  Brandywine,  Monmouth,  and  German- 
town,  and  received  thirteen  wounds.  In  war,  in  civil. and  profes- 
sional life,  he  greatly  distinguished  himself  He  had  the  high  pro- 
fessional honor  of  being  the  author  of  the  first  volume  of  judicial 
decisions  ever  published  in  this  country.  He  Avas  a  fit  representa- 
tive of  our  Order, — a  inan  of  highest  moral  as  well  as  physical 
courage,  warm,  generous,  and  faithful  in  his  attachments,  and  of 
indomitable  energy. 

Associated  with  Past  Masters  Thompson  and  Perry,  was  Dr. 
Anthony  Burritt,  of  Southbury,  then  a  parish  of  Woodbury.  He 
was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  Lodge,  and  in  the  events  of  his  time. 
During  a  part  of  the  pei-iod  of  the  Revolution,  he  acted  as  Sur- 


1016  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

geon's-mate,  was  taken  a  prisoner,  and  carried  to  Long-Island,  but 
was  afterwards  liberated  by  the  intercession  of  his  friend,  Jabez 
Bacon,  of  this  town,  the  richest  man  that  ever  resided  here.  His 
son,  Daniel  Bacon,  Esq.,  and  General  Chauncey  Crafts,  his  son-in- 
law,  were  afterwards  honored  and  acceptable  members  of  the 
Lodge,  generous  friends,  and  useful  citizens  of  the  town. 

The  last  of  the  Past  Masters  who  assembled  at  the  grand  re- 
union Lodge  Meeting  in  the  Hollow,  with  those  before  mentioned, 
in  l'r82,  was  Hon.  Nathan  Preston.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Rev- 
olution, serving  in  the  ranks,  and  in  the  Commissary  Department. 
He  was  a  lawyer  of  ability,  with  a  full  practice.  He  was  Town 
Olerk  for  thirty-nine  years,  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
twelve  Sessions,  and  Judge  of  Probate  fourteen  years.  He  was 
often  Master  of  the  Lodge,  and  thoroughly  identified  with  its  in- 
terests, as  well  as  those  of  the  town. 

Among  the  "■  early  lights,"  serving  in  the  South  and  West,  was 
Elijah  Sherman,  familiarly  known  as  "  Father  Sherman,"  from  the 
fact  that  he  was  the  father  and  founder  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  this  town.  An  Elder  in  his  Church  for  twenty  years,  with 
some  few  companions,  worshippers  in  his  faith,  he  held  religious 
services  in  his  own  house,  but  lived  to  see  the  erection  of  a  Meth- 
odist Church  on  a  part  of  his  own  homestead,  and  a  devout  com- 
pany of  believers  worshipjiing  there.  He  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety,  in  1844  ;  a  useful  citizen, 
an  accepted  Mason,  and  a  Christian  man,  who  adorned  his  pro- 
fession. In  the  very  early  history  of  the  Lodge,  was  another  dis- 
tinguished man  and  Mason,  Col.  Joel  Hiumau,  who  did  much 
honor  to  the  Lodge,  by  his  earnest  zeal  and  brotherly  charity. 
Before  1800,  Rutgers  B.  Marshall,  Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq,  an  early 
lawyer  in  Southbury,  Capt.  Timothy  Hinman,  of  Revolutionary 
fame,  Dr.  Samuel  Orton,  a  physician  of  great  eccentricity,  but  of 
rare  ability  as  a  physician,  and  an  honest  man  ;  Deacon  Scovill 
Hinman,  for  many  years  the  oldest  member  of  the  Lodge,  and 
dying  at  the  age  of  more  than  ninety  years  ;  Jesse  Minor,  Esq., 
father  of  the  respectable  fixmily  that  bears  his  name ;  Bartimeus 
Fabrique,  and  nearly  thirty  others  of  the  best  inhabitants  of 
Woodbury,  during  the  years  of  1797  and  1798,  were  received  as 
Apprentices,  passed  as  Fellow'Crafts,  and  raised  to  the  sublime 
degree  of  Master  Mason. 

Previous  to  1787,  Rev.  John  R.  Marshall,  the  founder  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  (St.  Paul's)  in  Woodbury,  was  received  into 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBUKY.  lOlV 

the  benevolent  bosom  of  our  honored  Order,  and  well  did  he 
fulfill  the  sacred  duties  committed  to  bis  trust.  He  went  to 
England  in  1771  ;  was  ordained  Deacon  and  Priest,  returned  to 
Woodbury  the  same  year,  entered  upon  his  ministrations,  and 
at  a  period  between  that  and  1775,  when  the  preserved  records  of 
the  Lodge  commence,  he  received  the  benevolent  initiation  of  tiie 
"  mystic  tie."  In  the  measures  connected  with  the  establishment 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  after  the  war, 
Bro.  Marshall  bore  a  conspicuous  and  eftective  part.  Nor  was  his 
influence  less  in  the  Lodge.  Of  him  we  may  say,  he  "  wrought 
well,  and  his  works  do  follow  him." 

Of  all  the  members  of  our  venerated  King  Solomon's  Lodge, 
now  hoary  with  years,  perhaps,  all  things  considered,  the  most 
noted,  revered  and  celebrated,  by  his  works  in  the  ministry  as  well 
as  by  his  writings,  was  the  Rev,  Dr.  Azel  Backus,  then  of  the 
Woodbury  Parish  of  Bethleliem,  celebrated  as  a  theologian  of 
great  force  and  power,  revered  as  a  teacher  of  youth  for  the  min- 
istry and  the  colleges,  and  a  devout,  undeviating  Christian  ;  he 
was  no  less  a  decided  and  honored  Maeon.  At  the  festival  of  St. 
John  the  Baptist,  in  1794,  he  preached  a  sermon  to  the  Lodge,  in 
its  private  assembly,  of  great  power,  pathos  and  beauty,  and  the 
influence  of  this  eminent  man  was  ever  felt  in  the  honor,  useful- 
ness and  success  of  the  craft.  Sweet  flowers  of  memory  bloom 
over  the  graves  of  such  immortal  members  of  our  beloved  Lodge, 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  19th  century,  other  conspicuous 
names  begin  to  greet  our  vision,  of  whom  time  fails  me  to  speak. 
In  1812,  among  other  noble  men,  were  Hon.  Curtiss  Hinman,  and 
the  late  Judge  Charles  B.  Phelps.  And  there  are  many  living 
members  whose  masonic  modesty  would  not  allow  me  to  speak  of 
their  enduring  merits.  Judge  Phelps  has  too  lately  }»assed  to  the 
spirit  land  to  allow  us  to  forget  the  great  gifts  and  noble  traits 
which  he  possessed.  His  eulogy  has  been  fittingly  spoken  by 
the  orator  of  the  day — one  who  knew  them  well,  and  had  the 
right  to  speak  them.  His  kindly,  genial  and  charitable  acts  are 
enshrined  in  many  hearts. 

In  1826,  we  find  two  respected  members,  father  and  son,  occu- 
pying respectively  the  "East"  and  the  "South"  in  the  Lodge, 
They  passed  long  ago  to  that  "  bourne  whence  no  traveler  re- 
turns," and  have  gone  to  join  the  numerous  band  of  worthies  who 
had  passed  before  them  into  the  spirit  land.  Need  I  mention  the 
names  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Roderick  C.  Steele,  to  bring  to  the  re- 


1018  HISTORY      OF      ASrClENT     WOODBURY. 

membrance  of  this  fresence  the  brothers  to  whom  I  refer?  They 
were  lovely  in  their  lives.  Too  soon  for  earth  they  passed  to  the 
mansions  above.  The  father  was,  in  his  generous  nature,  a  father 
to  all  whom  he  knew.  The  true  hand  of  masonic  charity  was 
stretched  forth  to  all  who  were  in  need,  m  the  Order  and  out  of 
it.  Genial,  social  and  benevolent  to  the  core,  he  charmed  all  with- 
in the  circle  of  his  influence,  and  died  beloved  as  he  had  lived  re- 
spected, having  gained  the  aftections  of  all.  An  honest  man,  a 
true  friend,  an  honored  citizen,  a  sincere  Christian,  he  has  left  be- 
hind him  the  grateful  incense  of  an  affectionate  remembrance. 

Such  are  a  few  of  the  names  of  which  our  ancient  Lodge  has 
the  right  to  boast,  and  which  will  ever  be  held  by  the  fraternity, 
in  honorable  and  aft'ectionate  remembrance.  Their  characters  and 
noble  actions  will  rise  to  view  when  the  memory  of  others  will 
have  sunk  in  oblivion.  "  Tlie  good  never  die  ;  to  them  belongs  a 
double  immortality,  they  perish  not  on  earth,  and  they  exist  forever 
in  heaven.  The  good  of  the  present  live  in  the  future,  as  the  good 
of  the  past  are  now  with  us  and  in  us  to-day." 

I  close  with  the  finale  of  the  sentiment  to  which  I  am  respond- 
ing :  "  The  virtues  of  the  Masonic  dead  are  indellibly  recorded 
upon  living  tablets,  the  hearts  of  their  surviving  brethren." 

The  next  toast,  "  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  42,  of  Waterbury, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge.  May  she  live  to 
celebrate  the  one  thousandth  birth-day  of  her  venerable  mother," 
was  well  responded  to  by  Bro.  E.  A.  Judd,  Worshipful  Master  of 
Harmony  Lodge.     Among  other  things  he  said : 

"We  are  gathered  here  to-day,  brethren,  to  celebrate  the  Cen- 
tennial Anniversary  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge ;  and  I  feel  as  if 
Harmony  Lodge  had  a  peculiar  interest  in  the  ceremonies.  In  the 
words  of  the  toast,  she  is  the  'eldest  daughter  of  King  Solo- 
mon's Lodge.'  We  are,  therefore,  but  children,  come  home  to  the 
family  gathering — come  home  to  join  in  the  festivities  of  the  one 
hundredth  birthday  of  our  mother  Lodge. 

"  We  find  by  an  examination  of  the  records,  that  in  October, 
1*797,  'permission  was  granted  by  King  Solomon's  Lodge  to  the 
brethren  residing  in  Waterbury  and  Salem,  to  apply  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  for  a  charter  for  a  Lodge  to  be  located  in  Waterbury  or 
Salem,  as  the  Grand  Lodge  might  direct.'  A  charter  was  accord- 
ingly granted  for  a  lodge  '  to  be  holden  alternately  in  Waterbury 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT    WOODBURY.  1019 

and  Salem,'  and  on  the  festival  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  on  the 
27th  day  of  December,  1797,  the  first  officers  of  Harmony  Lodge 
were  installed  by  Bro.  Jesse  Beach,  of  Derby,  then  Deputy  G. 
Master.  Harmony  Lodge  then  and  there  commenced  her  work  ; 
a  work  that  she  has  carried  on  for  68  years,  adding,  we  humbly 
trust,  some  good  square  'ashlars'  to  the  great  temple  of  Masoniy. 

"  Previous  to  this  time,  many  of  the  brethren  had  been  com- 
pelled to  go  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  to  attend  Lodge;  and  per- 
mit me  to  say  that  their  regular  attendance,  as  it  appears  upon 
the  records,  should  put  to  shame  some  of  our  modern  Masons,  who 
can  not  make  it  convenient  to  attend  lodge,  though  living  almost 
within  the  shadow  of  its  portals. 

"  During  the  terrible  convulsion  through  which  our  country  has 
passed,  churches  have  been  rent  in  sunder,  societies  have  been 
scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  social  relations  between  the 
two  sections  have  been  destroyed ;  but  Masonry  has  stood  firm 
and  immovable,  repelling  every  attack  that  has  been  made  upon 
her,  like  some  vast  New  England  rock  which  the  waves  buffet  in 
vain  !  While  the  strife  lasted.  Masonry  could  do  but  little.  She 
can  never  gain  laurels  upon  the  tented  field,  or  in  the  wild  havoc 
of  war.  She  can  only  protect  the  fallen,  comfort  and  relieve  the 
wounded,  and  gently  bury  the  dead.  Now  that  Peace  once  more 
waves  her  olive  branch  over  the  nation,  it  is  for  Masonry  to  do  her 
work.  The  day  of  noble  deeds  and  manly  daring  is  not  yet  closed. 
There  are  still  broad  fields  in  which  we  can  work  and  win  crowns 
that  shall  never  decay,  laurels  that  shall  bloom  in  fiideless  beauty 
forever." 

Rev.  William  T.  Bacon,  though  not  a  member  of  the  Order,  was 
present  as  an  invited  guest,  and  being  called  on  to  reply  to  the 
toast  "  Charity,"  responded  : — 

*'  The  speaker,  en  route  to  the  east  't'other  day 
Met  his  friend,  "  Master  "  Lewis — yes,  right  in  bis  way  ; 

"  Tou  sir — all  th'  elite — have  express  invitation 
To  be  present  with  us  at  our  grand  celebration  ; 
Where  sermons,  historic  addresses,  and  toasts, 
And  last,  tho'  not  least,  Mr.  Kelly's  good  roasts. 
Are  expected — believed  too — if  anything  can, 
To  fill  full,  and  satisfy  every  man." 
And  he  added,  (you  all  know  his  genteel  persuasion,) 

"  You'll  give  us  a  word,  just  to  grace  the  occasion." 

Now  my  friend  Lewis  knows  mankind  has  its  weak  side ; 
Would  he  tickle  my  vanity,  or  touch  ray  pride  ? 

12 


1020  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  B  Y  . 

Or  resort  to  that  other  power  which  so  far  reaches, 
"Would  he  snare  me  with  dear  Mrs.  Kelly's  good  dishes 

Well,  whatever  his  motive,  he  caught  me,  that's  certain, 
And  he's  got  me  here  under  this  wide-spreading  curtain, 
And  demands  that  I  give,  in  response  to  his  whim, 
This  sentiment,  song,  or 

MASONIC  HYMN. 

Beside  the  Galilean  flood, 

"With  those  He  loved  so  well. 
The  earnest  Christ  at  evening  stood, 
And  words  of  blessing  fell. 
"Go  forth," — the  voice  rang  loud,  yet  sweet — 
"  Go  to  earth's  farthest  bound, 
And  where  one  sorrowing  soul  ye  meet, 
There  let  your  love  be  found." 

Upon  this  spot  our  sires  have  stood, 

One  hundred  years  or  so, 
And  heard  that  voice  roll  down  the  flood 

Of  ages  long  ago ; 
Here  their  warm  hearts  were  joined  as  one 

In  holiest  charities; 
Commending  thus  from  sire  to  son, 

Tiiis  message  from  the  skies. 

Down  the  far  future,  stretching  forth. 

We  send  our  earnest  gaze. 
Where  children's  children,  in  their  worth 

Exalt  their  fathers'  ways  : 
0  be  they  first  upon  the  list. 

Earnest  in  heart  and  hand. 
To  hold  aloft  this  sign  of  Christ, 

Long  as  the  world  shall  stand  ! 

Rev.  Jno.  Churchill,  Pastor  of  the  North  Congregational 
Church,  Woodbury,  replied  to  a  call  from  the  Brethren  : 

"  Officers  and  Members  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge  : 

"  It  was  the  custom  of  Dr.  Dwight,  when  lecturing  to  his 
classes,  to  inveigh  in  good  set  terms  against  the  use  of  tobacco, 
somewhat  in  this  wise: 

"  '  Young  gentlemen,  [taking  a  full  pinch  of  '  rappee  '  from  his 
vest  pocket]  never  be  guilty  of  using  [applying  it  to  both  aper- 
tures in  his  nasal  organ]   tobacco  [repeating  the    dose]    in   any 


HISTORY     OF     ANClliNT     \V  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1021 

form.  It  is  a  very  [applying  pinch  nwnber  three  as  aforesaid] 
deleterious  practice !'  [Finishing  the  balance  between  his  thumb 
and  two  fingers].  So  I  am  about  to  recommend  to  all  the  young 
men  present  to  do  what  I  have  never  done,  which  is  to  send  in  at 
once  to  King  Solomon's  Lodge  their  applications  to  be  made 
Masons.  Should  anyone  here  suggest  that  I  oxight  to  2^'ffctice 
what  I  preach,  I  reply,  that  were  I  not  somewhat  advanced  in  life, 
I  would  most  certainly  petition,  myself,  for  initation. 

"  In  making  this  recommendation,  I  do  it,  I  think,  for  good  and 
sufficient  reasons.  As  I  remarked  upon  a  former  occasion,^  I  saw 
the  open  Bible  borne  before  you  in  procession.  That  act  assured 
me  that  Masonry  teaches  a  respect  and  reverence  for  the  Scriptures. 
If  there  were  nothing  else  to  recommend  the  institution,  that 
alone  would  be  sufficient  to  convince  r/te  that  the  aims  and  objects 
of  Masonry  are  good. 

"  But  this  is  not  the  only  argument  which  commends  Masonry 
to  the  approval  of  my  judgment  and  conscience.  If  I  understand 
its  cardinal  principle,  it  is  charity,  which  is  declared  by  St.  Paul 
to  be  the  '  greatest  of  these  three.'  I  cannot  but  conclude,  there- 
fore, that  an  institution  which  inculcates  a  reverence  for  the  Bible, 
as  '  God's  most  inestimable  gift  to  man,'  and  which  is  built  upon 
charity  as  its  chief  corner-stone,  is  entitled  to  the  esteem  of  every 
man  who  loves  his  race. 

"  There  is  yet  another  reason  that  makes  me  a  friend  to  Free 
Masonry,  An  institution  which  has  stood,  as  I  am  credibly  in- 
formed, since  the  building  of  King  Solomon's  Temple,  surviving 
the  wreck  of  dynasties,  and  empires,  and  nations,  must  be  estab- 
lished upon  a  good  and  worthy  foundation — must  be  a  promoter 
of  good  and  worthy  objects. 

"For  these  and  other  reasons,  which  to  me  seem  incontroverti- 
ble, I  have  no  hesitation,  here,  in  this  public  manner,  and  before 
this  assembly,  in  giving  your  fraternity  the  humble  endorsement 
of  my  honest  esteem  and  confidence. 

"Again,  I  recommend  every  young  man  who  hears  me  to  apply 
for  initiation  into  the  mysteries  of  the  Order,  who  have  celebrated 
this  joyous  anniversary  in  so  decorous  and  becoming  a  manner, 
if  it  be  good^  to  support  and  advance  its  interests ;  and  if  it  be 
bad^  to  right  or  restrain  the  evil. 


1  In  an  address  at  the  funeral  of  Merritt  Thompson,  a  member  of  King  Solo- 
mon's Lodge. 


1022 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUIiY, 


"I  thank  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Masonic  society,  for  your  flat- 
tering invitation  to  speak  upon  this  pleasant  occasion,  and  for  your 
kind  attention  to  the  unpremeditated  thoughts  which  I  have  ofler- 
edfor  your  consideration." 

Thus  ended  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
King  Solomon's  Lodge.  More  than  fA;e  Imndred  Masons  were 
present,  from  diflferent  parts  of  the  State,  and,  according  to  esti- 
mates made  by  those  accustomed  to  large  gatherings,  more  than 
five  thousand  persons  were  in  the  streets  to  witness  the  imposing 
procession. 

May  the  brethren  who  in  1965  celebrate  the  tico  hundredth 
anniversary  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  have  as  pleasant  an  occa- 
sion as  their  forefathers,  of  this  year  of  Grace,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  of  Masonry,  five  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-five. 

So  Mote  it  Be  ! 


p  now  come  to  the  next,  and,  to  this  date,  the 
la^^t  celebration  in  Woodbury,  that  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church,  held  May  5th,  1870. 
Although  the  change  between  the  old  and  new 
styles  has  made  eleven  days  difierence  in 
dating,  and  so  the  celebration  should  have 
been  on  the  16th  of  May,  to  be  accurate  in 
.-  the  present  mode,  instead  of  the  5th,  yet  it 
was  thought  advisable  for  various  reasons 
to  hold  the  celebration  on  the  5th  of  May ; 
thus  corresponding  with  the  record,  though 
the  precession  of  the  equinoxes,  and  "man's 
devices,"  had"  made  [a  change  in  the  way  of  dating.  A  succint 
report  was  made  by  the  writer  of  the  proceedings  in  said  celebra- 
tion, and  he  has  ^carefully  examined  it  to  see  if  he  could  in  any 
way  condense  it  for  the  purposes  of  this  history,  and  yet  do 
justice  to  the  occasion.  But  he  has  been  nnable  to  see  where  it 
could  be  judiciously^curtailed,  and  so  it  is  here  introduced  almost 
entire : 


HISTORY     OF     ANClJiNT     WOODBUKY.  1023 

For  several  years  past  it  bad  been  a  matter  of  consultation  and 
agreement  between  the  writer  and  Dea.  Philo  M.  Trowbridge, 
that  when  the  Bi  Centennial  year  of  the  existence  of  our  Church 
approached,  they  would  suggest  to  the  brethren  the  desirability  of 
a  proper  observance  of  its  natal  day.  It  was  thought  to  be  appro- 
priate to  celebrate  so  joyous  an  anniversary.  It  was  belived  to 
be  well  to  set  up  a  monument  to  mark  the  passage  of  the  ages. 
It  was  thought  fitting  that  the  Church,  which  had  for  two  hundred 
years  acknowledged  the  same  confession  of  faith,  and  "  owned  the 
same  covenant,"  written  and  adopted  by  the  fathers  by  the  shores 
of  Long  Island  Sound,  taken  "  from  out  the  Word,"  should,  with 
devout  joy  and  thanksgiving,  render  praise  to  Almighty  God  for 
all  His  wonderful  mercies  toward  it.  We  could  do  no  less  than 
to  render  thanks  to  the  Lord.  It  seemed  to  redound  to  His  glory 
and  our  great  good. 

In  accordance  with  these  views,  the  subject  was  brought  before 
the  Church,  and  the  following  action  was  taken  by  it  and  the 
Committee  of  its  appointment : 

"  Annual  Meeting  op  the  First  Congregational  Church, 

Sept.  16,  1869. 

"  Voted,  That  Deacons  Trowbridge  and  Liusley,  and  Brother 
William  Cothren  be  a  Committee  with  power  to  make  full  arrange- 
ments for  a  public  observance,  on  the  5th  day  of  May  next,  of  the 
Two-Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  organizBtion  of  this  Church." 

The  Committee  held  its  first  formal  meeting  February  22,  1870, 
and,  after  due  consideration, 

"  Voted,  That  the  Mother  Church,  at  Stratford,  and  the  six 
daughters  of  this,  be  invited  to  be  present,  and  particiimte  in  the 
exercises. 

Voted,  That  the  Pastor  be  invited  to  deliver  the  sermon,  and 
that  he  invite  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  Stratford  to  assist  him 
at  the  Communion. 

Voted,  That  Brother  Cothren  be  instructed  to  prepare  senti- 
ments for  responses  froin  each  of  the  churches  invited." 

At  the  same  meeting,  various  sub-committees  were  appointed  to 
carry  on  the  work  of  preparation. 

All  the  committees,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  general  com- 
mittee, performed  their  several  duties  with  alacrity,  fidelity  and 


1024  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  . 

ability,  and  every  thing  was  "  made  ready  "  for  the  successful  in- 
auguration of  the  interesting  ceremonies  of  the  approaching  ju- 
bilee. 

With  the  aid  of  the  ready  hands  and  executive  ability  of  the 
ladies,  the  church  was  most  beautifully  decorated  by  Mr.  Henry 
C.  Curtis,  a  special  artist,  of  Hartford.  A  more  striking  and  ap- 
propriate mode  of  decoration  could  not  have  been  devised,  than  that 
adopted  by  Mr.  Curtis,  whether  considered  historically  or  artisti- 
cally. It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  first  four  pastors  of  the 
church  occupied  the  pulpit,  in  the  aggregate,  the  long  period  of 
1V2  years,  out  of  the  two  hundred  celebrated.  We  think  this  a 
length  of  time  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  churches  in  this 
country.  This  fact  was  beautifully  represented  by  introducing 
the  four  names ;  Walker,  Stoddard,  Benedict  and  Andrew,  into  a 
large  cross  composed  of  six  circles,  the  names  occupying  four  of 
the  six  circles,  "  172  years  "  the  center,  and  a  cross  and  anchor,  the 
lower  circle.  This  was  placed  in  the  recess  behind  the  pulpit. 
Beneath  the  cross  were  two  tablets,  the  one  containing  the  "  cove- 
nant of  1670,"  and  the  other  the  names  of  the  original  signers. 

THE  COVENANT  OF  1670. 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  (by  y "  all- 
disposing  providence  of  God,  who  determines  y*  bounds  of  men's 
habitations)  cast  into  co-habitation  on  wt'>  another,  and  being  sen-" 
sible  of  o'duty  unto  God,  and  one  to  another,  and  of  oliableness 
to  be  forgetfull,  and  neglective  of  y*  one  and  y*  other,  do  hereby 
(for  y*  fui-ther  incitent  of  o'selves  unto  duty  in  either  respect) 
solemnly  give  up  o'selves  &  ours  unto  y*  lord,  engaging  o'selves  by 
his  assisting  grace  to  walk  before  him,  in  y*  religious  observance  of 
his  revealed  will,  as  far  as  it  is  or  shall  be  made  known  unto  us. 
We  do  also  in  y^  pi'esence  of  God  solemnly  ingage  ©'selves  each 
to  other  to  walk  together  in  church-society,  according  to  the  rule 
of  y®  gospell,  jointly  attending  ally*  holy  ordinances  of  God,  as  far 
as  it  shall  please  him  to  make  way  thereunto,  and  give  opportunity 
y''  of:  and  walking  on  w^'^  another  in  brotherly  love,  &  chtian 
watchfullness  for  o'rautual  edification,  and  furtherance  in  y°  way 
to  salvation.  And  jointly  submitting  o'selves  &  ours  to  y®  govern- 
ment of  Cht  in  his  church,  in  y*  hand  of  such  church  governours,  or 
officers  as  shall  be  set  over  us,  according  to  gospell  institution. 
The  good  lord  make  us  faithfull  in  covenant  with  him  &  one  w'*^ 
another,  to  walk  as  becomes  a  people  near  unto  himself,  accept  of 


HISTORY   OF  ANCIENT  WOODBUKY. 


102; 


y«  oifering  up  of  o'selves,  &  ours  unto  him  and  establish  both  us 
and  y"  to  be  a  people  unto  himself  in  his  abundant  mercy  through 
chtjesus,  who  is  o' only  mediato'  in  whom  alone  we  expect  ac- 
ceptance, justification  and  salvation  :  to  hiui  be  glory  &  praise 
through  all  ages.     Amen." 

"  The  names  of  y*  persons  y^  subscribed  this  covenant,  &  again 
publickly  owned  it,  May  5th,  viz :  y*  day  of  my  ordination  were 
as  foUoweth : 


Zechariah  Walker, 
Samuel  Sherman,  Sen--, 
Joseph  Judson,  Sen', 
John  Hurd,  Sen', 
Nicholas  Knell, 
Robert  Clark, 
John  Minor, 
Samuel  Sherman,  Jun'., 
John  Wheeler, 
Samuel  Stiles, 


Hope  Washborn, 
Hugh  Griffin, 
Ephraim  Stiles, 
John  Thompson,  Jum, 
Theophilus  Sherman, 
Matthew  Sherman, 
John  Judson, 
Samuel  Mils, 
Benjamin  Stiles, 
Edward  Shermond. 


Persons  since  added : 


John  Skeeles, 
Isi'ael  Curtiss, 
Thomas  Fairechilde, 


Richard  Butler, 
Robert  Lane, 
Moses  Johnson, 


Richard  Harvy. 


Between  the  tablets  was  the  name  of  the  present  pastor.  Rev. 
Gurdon  W.  Noyes,  in  golden  letters.  At  the  apex  of  the  recess 
above  the  pulpit  was  an  elegant  golden  cross  and  crown.  At  the 
top  of  the  pillars  on  either  side  ot  the  pulpit,  was  a  large  golden 
*'  C,"  on  which  appeared  the  years  1670 — 1870,  under  which,  res- 
pectively, was  a  list  of  the  deacons  of  the  first  and  second  centu- 
ries, on  tablets  upon  the  pillars : 


1026 


HISTORY   OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY, 


Deacons  of  the  \8t  Century. 

Hon,  John  Minor, 
Samuel  Miles, 
Matthew  Sherman, 
Hon.  John  Sherman, 
Matthew  Mitchell, 
Z.  Walker,  Jr., 
Samuel  Sherman, 
Samuel  Minor, 
Jehu  Minor, 
Hon.  Daniel  Sherman, 
Gideon  Stoddard, 


Deacons  of  the  2d  Centiir y, 

Clement  Minor, 
Josiah  Minor, 
Matthew  Minor, 
Daniel  Huntington, 
Nathan  Atwood, 
Ens.  Seth  Minor,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Judson,  Jr.^ 
Judson  Blackman, 
Eli  Summers, 
Truman  Minor, 
P.  M.  Trowbridge, 
J.  H.  Linsley. 


On  the  panels  of  the  gallery  face  were  the  names  of  the  mother 
church  at  Stratford,  and  the  six  churches  which  have  gone  out  from 
the  first  church,  with  the  date  of  their  organization,  viz  :  Stratford, 
1639 ;  Southbury,  1731 ;  Bethlehem,  1739  ;  Judea,  1741 ;  Roxbury, 
1743  ;  South  Britain,  1766  ;  and  North  Woodbury,  1816.  On  the 
two  panels  nearest  the  pulpit  were  the  names  of  the  pastors  succeed- 
ing the  first  four,  viz :— Wright,  Strong,  Curtis,  Williams,  Robin- 
son, Little  and  Winslow.  A  beautiful  white  dove  was  suspended 
from  the  pulpit  desk  beneath  the  bible,  which,  with  outstretched 
wings  seemed  to  be  alighting  upon  the  communion  table  below.  The 
pulpit  was  splendidly  decorated.  Festoons  extended  from  the  corners 

of  the  church  to  the  center  orna* 
ment  in  the  ceiling,  whence  de- 
scended a  large  anchor,  beauti- 
fully wreathed  in  evergreens  and 
\^.'^':j*'3^^^iL-'-^^^(  \  r  fiowers,  while  wreaths  ran  along 
the  galleries,  over  and  below  the 
recess,  and  to  the  letter  "  C  "  at 
the  caps  of  the  pillars,  above 
ivhicli  appeared  two  century 
plants.  The  whole  was  com- 
pleted with  the  mottoes  "Welcome,"  and  "We  Greet  You." 
Throughout  the  house,  in  the  lamp  brackets,  were  vases  and  bask- 
ets of  flowers  and  drooping  plants,  producing  the  finest  and  most 
artistic  eflTect. 
The  clearest  and  balmiest  day  of  the  year  heralded  the  coming 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1027 

exercises.  We  could  but  feel  and  see  the  favormg  smile  of  that 
good  Providence,  who  has  so  wisely  and  tenderly  Avatched  over 
this  church  during  the  two  centuries  of  its  existence.  At  an  early 
hour,  the  people  of  this  and  the  neighboring  towns  began  to  assem- 
ble, the  streets  were  lined  with  vehicles  of  every  description  which 
had  come  from  the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  "  ancient  town,"  and 
the  church  was  almost  immediately  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity^ 
Settees  and  chairs  were  carried  into  the  aisles  above  and  below. 
The  vestibule  and  every  place  where  standing  room  could  be  found 
were  immediately  filled,  while  there  was  a  large  crowd  without, 
which  could  gain  no  admission.  There  must  have  been  more  than 
1,500  people  in  attendance.  As  a  test  of  this  estimate,  it  may  be 
remarked,  that  1,000  collation  tickets  had  been  issued,  and  yet  it 
became  necessary  for  the  committee  to  admit  large  numbers,  who 
had  not  been  provided  with  tickets. 

Pursuant  to  the  admirably  arranged  programme  of  Dea.  P.  M. 
Trowbridge,  chairman  of  the  general  committee,  the  exercises  com- 
menced precisely  at  10  A.  M.,  by  the  great  congregation  rising  and 
singing  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  tlow."  The  reading 
of  an  appropriate  selection  of  scripture,  and  prayer  by  the  pastor 
next  followed,  after  which  the  congregation  sang  the  old,  familiar 
hymn, — "  Ye  tribes  of  Adam  join,"  &c.  This  was  followed  by  a 
carefully  prepared  historical  sermon  by  the  pastor,  of  great  beauty 
and  excellence,  briefly  narrating  the  history  of  the  church  and  its 
pastors  for  two  hundred  years. 

OPENING  PRAYER. 

O  Lord,  Thou  alone  art  great — glorious — good  !  Hence  we 
would  adore  and  serve  Thee.  Our  fathers  worshipped  in  this  moun- 
tain ;  but  the  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  And  the  Prophets — do  they 
live  forever  ?  Alas !  Alas !  We  do  all  lade  as  a  leaf.  Thou  earnest 
us  away  as  with  a  flood.  We  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 
But  Thou  art  the  same  and  of  Thy  years  there  is  no  end.  Thou 
hast  been  the  dwelling  place  of  Thy  people  in  all  generations. 
Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth  or  ever  thou  hadst  formed 
the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  Thou 
art  God ;  and  Thou  hast  ever  had  thoughts  of  mercy  and  love 
toward  the  children  of  men.  We  praise  Thee  for  their  early  mani- 
festation in  the  prediction  of  Thy  word  and  in  the  advent  of  Jesus 
Christ  Thy  Son  and  our  Saviour.  We  adore  Thee  for  the  Church 
set  up  in  His  name  and  which  is  graven  upon  the  palms  of  Thy 


1028  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

hands,  guarded  by  Thy  power,  guided  by  Thy  wisdom  and  against 
which  Thou  hast  said  the  gates  of  hell  shall  never  prevail.  We 
especially  praise  Thee  at  this  time  for  Thy  guidance  and  care  of  our 
ancestors  in  planting  a  branch  thereof  in  this  place.  Thou  didst 
cause  them  to  go  forth  like  a  flock.  Thou  didst  cast  out  the  heathen 
before  them  and  divided  them  an  inheritance  by  line.  The  wilder- 
ness and  solitary  place  soon  became  glad  for  them,  and  the  desert 
rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  They  trused  in  Thee  and 
Thou  didst  deliver  them  from  fears  and  foes ;  didst  prosper  the 
work  of  their  hands.  Yea,  Thou  didst  cause  the  little  one  to 
become  a  thousand  and  the  small  one  a  strong  nation.  In  conse- 
quence of  their  faith,  forecast,  labor,  the  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in 
pleasant  places,  and  we  have  a  goodly  heritage.  We  have  pleas- 
ant and  fruitful  fields,  quiet  and  happy  homes,  rich  and  rare,  civil, 
educational  and  religious  privileges.  Gathered  here  in  Thy  Sanc- 
tuary after  the  lapse'of  centuries  to  review  the  history  of  Thy  deal- 
ings, we  find  that  goodness  and  mercy  followed  our  fathers  and 
have  followed  us.  We  would  therefore  recall  their  virtues  and 
catch  anew  impulse  from  all  that  was  noble  and  Christ-like  in  their 
example  and  strive  to  perfect  and  perpetuate  their  work.  We 
know  O  Lord  that  it  is  Thy  will,  that  one  generation  should  praise 
Thy  works  to  another  and  abundantly  utter  the  memory  of  Thy 
great  goodness  that  men  may  set  their  hope  in  Thee.  We  praise 
Thee  for  our  free  government  and  beneficent  institutions,  with  the 
righteous  peace  vouchsafed  unto  us.  We  entreat  Thy  blessing 
upon  our  President  and  all  in  authority  in  State  and  Nation,  that 
we  may  lead  quiet  and  peaceable  lives  in  all  godliness  and  honesty. 
We  pray  Thee  to  bless  our  Colleges,  Schools,  Churches,  that  the 
Gospel  may  permeate  the  land  and  drive  out  from  it,  all  ignorance, 
error,  vice,  irreligion,  and  make  us  a  people  to  Thy  praise.  And 
we  beseech  Thee  to  send  the  disenthralling  life-giving  Gospel 
over  the  Globe,  that  Jesus  may  speedily  have  the  heathen  for  his 
inheritance  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  posessions- 
And  now,  O  Lord,  we  humbly  invoke  Thy  presence  and  blessing 
during  this  sacred  Jubilee,  Smile  upon  the  associated  Churches 
here  represented,  and  those  who  are  to  take  part  in  these  exercises, 
that  they  may  utter  fitting  and  forceful  words,  for  our  profit  and 
Thy  Glory.  O  Lord,  shine  Thou  upon  us  from  Thy  throne  of  light 
and  love.  Yea,  grant  us  the  favor  which  Thou  bearest  unto  Thy 
people,  through  Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son  and  our  Redeemer.     Amen. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY  1029 


BI-OENTENNIAL  DISCOURSE. 


BY    THE    REV.    GURDON    W.    NO  YES. 


"l  HAVE  C0N3IDERED  THE  DAYS  OF  OLD  :  THE  YEARS  OF  ANCIENT  TIMES." — Psalm  7Y  :  5. 

To  many  in  this  age  there  is  little  enchantment  in  the  distant 
past.  The  present  is  so  full  of  duty  and  enjoyment,  and  the  future 
is  so  bright  with  hope  and  promise,  that  they  readily  forget  "  The 
days  of  old,  the  years  of  ancient  times."  Hereby  they  lose  much 
of  help  and  cheer  in  their  life-work.  It  is,  as  we  trace  our  connec- 
tion with  departed  worthies,  and  realize  our  indebtedness  to  them 
for  present  privileges  and  blessings,  that  we  are  incited  to  emu- 
late their  virtues,  and  fitly  labor  for  posterity  and  Heaven.  To- 
day this  church  completes  a  history  of  two  hundred  years.  With- 
in this  period  great  events  have  transpired  on  this  globe  in  rapid 
succession  ;  events  which  have  changed  the  entire  face  of  human 
society.  Empires  have  been  built  up  and  cast  down  ;  nations  have 
been  born  and  buried  ;  modes  of  government,  and  systems  of  opin- 
ion, have  flourished  and  decayed,  and  yet  amid  all  these  changes, 
this  church  has  continued  steadfast  in  its  faith  and  worship.  Its 
founders  ere  long  passed  away,  but  they  left  behind  a  godly  seed, 
and  so  from  generation  to  generation  this  candlestick  of  the  Lord 
has  been  kept  in  its  place,  and  from  it  has  ever  shone  forth  the 
pure  light  of  the  Gospel.  It  is  a  fitting  time  to  trace  its  course, 
recall  the  bright  names  identified  with  it,  and  note  Heaven's  favor 
toward  it.  The  church  and  congregation  of  to-day,  on  whom  has 
devolved  the  duty  of  arranging  this  celebration,  do  here  and  now, 
through,  me,  most  heartily  welcome  to  these  sacred  festivities  all 
who  are  drawn  liither  by  filial  or  fraternal  afl^ection.  Let  us  to- 
gether scan  the  wisdom  and  love  of  God  in  planting  this  goodly 
vine  near  the  Indian  wigwam,  and  keeping  it  in  such  vigorous 
growth  down  the  ages,  and  join  our  earnest  petitions  that  it  may 
continue  to  flourish  in  the  future,  ever  covering  the  hills  with  its 
shadow,  and  extending  its  boughs  like  goodly  cedars. 

The  church  has  been  signally  fortunate  in  receiving  one  from 
another  State,  William  Cothren,  Esq.,  who,  in  filial  love,  and  with 
great  skill  and  fidelity,  has  written  her  history,  and  that  of  the 


1030  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

town  as  well.  In  this,  her  records,  and  kindred  sources,  I  have 
found  such  rare  and  rich  materials  for  a  historic  sketch,  as  to  be 
puzzled  in  deciding  what  to  leave  out,  so  as  to  bring  it  within 
proper  limits,  and  have  it  symmetrical  and  just.  Aiming  only  at 
impartiality,  pertinence,  accuracy,  I  frankly  submit  my  work  to 
your  kind  and  Christian  consideration. 

In  1650  the  churches  of  New  Engfland  besran  to  be  asi- 
tated  by  what  Avas  termed  the  half-way  covenant  system.  By 
this  system  persons  of  good  moral  character,  recognizing  bap- 
tism, assenting  to  the  creed,  and  signifying  their  intention  of 
becoming  true  Christians,  were  admitted  to  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  church  members,  except  partaking  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  Controversy  rose  to  such  a  pitch  upon  the  matter, 
that  a  council  of  leading  ministers  convened  in  Boston,  in 
1647,  to  deliberate  upon  it,  and  they  decided  in  its  favor.  The 
church  in  Stratford  did  not  believe  in  the  pi'actice,  and  would 
not  adopt  it,  even  after  the  decision.  A  respectable  minority, 
however,  clung  to  it,  and  were  uneasy  at  its  disregard,  and  the 
more  so  as  they  felt  that  it  was  largely  owing  to  the  influence  of 
Mr.  Chauncy,  who  had  been  recently  settled  against  their  wishes. 
By  earnest  argument,  and  fraternal  remonstrance,  they  sought  to 
secure  accordance  of  views,  or  if  not  that,  an  arrangement  by 
which  each  party  could  have  its  own  minister,  and  worship  at  dif- 
ferent hours  of  the  Sabbath  in  the  same  sanctuary.  According  to 
the  custom  of  the  day,  the  aid  of  the  general  court  was  called  in. 
The  discussion  was  keen  and  spirited  on  both  sides,  though  digni- 
fied and  courteous.  As  the  result,  early  in  1668,  the  minority  had 
the  civil  sanction  to  obtain  their  own  minister,  and  had  three 
hours  of  the  Sabbath  to  worship  in  the  Sanctuary.  They  soon 
engaged  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker,  a  licentiate  from  Jamaica,  L.  I., 
to  act  as  their  pastor.  But  their  position  was  still  unpleasant  and 
unsatisfactory,  as  the  other  party  would  allow  them  no  use  of  the 
church,  and  spoke  of  their  unordained  minister  to  his  and  their 
disparagement.  So,  despairing  of  any  agreement,  they  deter- 
mined to  set  up  for  themselves.  They  appointed  a  day  for  the 
purpose,  and  spending  most  of  it  in  prayer  for  the  Lord's  guidance 
and  blessing,  they  entered  into  solemn  coveunat  Avith  God,  and 
one  another.  Then  calling  neighboring  churches  together,  and 
renewing  that  covenant,  which  is  a  model  for  brevity,  scriptural- 
ness  and  beauty,  they  were  constituted  the  second  church  in  Strat- 
ford, on  May  5th,  1670,  and  Mr.  Walker  was  ordained  their  pastor. 
Twenty  males  com])vispd  the  church  at  its  outset.     Some  of  thera 


IIISTOIJY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1031 

forcasting  sepuration  as  the  probable  relief  from  their  difficulties, 
had  made  provision  for  a  new  sphere  for  growth  and  enjoyment, 
by  applying    to  purchase   lands  of  the  Indians,  as  early  as  1667. 
Accordingly,  at  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  Winthrop,  who    deemed 
the  course  best  for  the  churches  and  the  colony,  the  court,  in  May, 
1672,  granted  them  the  privilege  of  erecting  a  plantation  at  Pora- 
peraug.     Early  the  next  spring  twenty-five  families  migrated  to 
this  place,  then  a  wilderness.     Mr.  Walker  divided   his  ministra- 
tions between  this  flock  and  that  at  Stratford  until  June,  1678, 
when   he  moved  here.     Seventeen  more  had  been  added  to  the 
church,  and  so  it  started  as  the  first  church  of  Woodbury,  with 
thirty-seven  members,  six  of  whom  were  females,  and  full  one-third 
of  the  half-way  covenant  type.     Yet,  few  as  they  were  in  numbers, 
busied  as  they  were  in  procuring  food  and  houses  for  their  fami- 
lies, beset  as  they  were  with  difficulties  of  every  kind,  beyond  our 
conception,  they  cheerfully  undertook  the  sustaiument  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  their  midst.     They  sequestered  lands  for  the  use  of  their 
pastor,  and  freely  taxed  themselves  for  his  support.     At  first  reli- 
gious services  were  held  in  each  other's  houses  in  winter,  and  in 
summer  on  the  east  side  of  the  Orenaug  Rocks,  with  sentinels 
stationed  on   their  summits,  to  guard  against  sudden  attack  from 
hostile  Indians.     On  this  account  the  name  of  Bethel  Rock  has 
been  given  to  the  spot.     In  later  times,  good  men,  their  descend- 
ants and  others,  have  repaired  thither  for  medit;ltion  and  prayer. 
Hence,  thougli   beautiful  in  itself,  with  its  surroundings  of  tree, 
shrub  and  flower,  and  for   its   clear  out-look  upon  the  charming 
valley,  it  is  more  so  for  its  historic  incidents  and  hallowed  associa- 
tions.    For  several  years,  during  King  Philip's   war,  the  people 
were  so  absorbed  in  erecting  fortified  houses,  furnishing  soldiers 
for  the  colony,  and   providing  guards  for  their  own  safety,  that 
they  could  do  nothing  toward  supplying  themselves  with  a  place 
of  public  worship.     But  early  in  1681,  when  the  stress  of  care  and 
peril  had  passed,  they  took  the  matter  up,  and  after  some  little 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  site,  they  came  to  a  pleasant  agree- 
ment by  leaving  the  decision  to  two  prominent  and  disinterested 
outsiders.     The  house  was  at  once  erected,  and  stood  just  below 
the  present  residence  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Smith.    It  was  large  and 
plain,  with  pulpit  opposite  the  entrance,  and  with  elevated  pews 
and  high-backed  seats.     The  people  were  called  to  worship  therein 
by  the  peculiar  tap  of  a  drum  upon  the  high  rock  nearly  opposite. 
Here  Mr.  Walker  preached  the  word  until  his  death  in  1700,  at  63 


1032  HISTOIiY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

years  of  age.  His  papers  in  the  Stratford  discussion  evince  his 
learning,  ability  and  piety.  His  thirty  years'  hold  upon  the  atten- 
tion and  regard  of  the  people,  as  well  as  the  harmony  and  growth 
of  the  church,  evince  his  power  as  a  preacher,  and  his  wisdom  as  a 
pastor.  During  his  ministry  he  received  one  hundred  and  eight  to 
the  church,  and  baptized  three  hundred  and  seventy-six.  The 
church  sincerely  mourned  him  as  their  heroic  leader  and  faithful 
shepherd. 

In  the  same  year  they  invited  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard,  then  just 
licensed,  to  preach  to  them.     They  soon  became  so  interested  in 
him,  as  to  desire  him  to  settle.     As  an  inducement  to  this  end,  the 
people  in  lawful  town  meeting  voted  as  a  salary  seventy  pounds 
per  annum  to  be  paid  in  wheat,  peas,  Indian  corn,  pork,  as  also 
firewood,  at  the  following  prices  "  not  to  be  varied  from,  extraor- 
dinary providences  interposing  being  excepted,"  to  wit :  Wheat, 
4s.  6d.  per  bushel;  pork  at  3  cents  per  pound  ;  Indian  corn,  2s.  6d. 
per  bushel ;  peas,  3  shillings  per  bushel.     They  also  voted  to  build 
him  a  house  of  specified  dimensions,  he  only  providing  nails  and 
glass,  and  also  a  well,  and  to  furnish  him  with  115  acres  of  land, 
properly  divided  into  lots  for  tillage,  pasture,  meadow,  wood,  and 
conveniently  situated.     He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained  in 
May,  1702,  and  moved  into  the  house  built  for  him,  and  which 
still  stands  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village,  in  a  good  state  of  pre- 
servation, after  the  storms  of  170  years.     It  was  built  in  the  old 
lean-to  style  of  the  time,  with  a  small  room  projecting  at  the  front 
for  a  portico,  which  Mr.  Stoddard  used  as  his  study  for  58  years* 
May  its  historic  character  long  keep  it  from  vandal  hands,  as  its 
palisadoes  once  kept  it  from  the  assaults  of  the  Indians,  to  remind 
coming  generations  of  the  Christian  forecast  and  self-denial  of  their 
fathers !     Mr.  Stoddard  possessed  great  versatility  of  mind  ;  had 
enjoyed  the  best  classical  and  theological  culture  of  the  day,  and 
had  been  favored  with  the  counsels  and  example  of  his  eminent 
father  at  Northampton.     And  though  retiring  to  this  then  obscure 
parish,  he  found  room  and  verge  enough  for  the  exercise  of  his 
rare  powers.     He  soon  took  rank  among  the  leading  ministers  of 
the  colony.     He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  draft  the  origi- 
nal rules  of  the  Litchfield  Consociation,  and  was  chosen  to  preach 
the  election  sermon  at  Hartford,  in  171G.     He  was  also  as  much  at 
home  in  medicine  and  law  as  in  theology.     According  to  a  custom 
then  quite  common,  he  prepared  himself  in  these  departments  that 
he  might  be  useful  to  his  flock  when  physicians  and  lawyers  were 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1033 

not  at  hand.  He  was  probate  clerk  of  ancient  Woodbury  for  40 
years,  and  all  the  records  are  in  his  handwriting.  He  drew  most 
of  the  wills  of  his  parishioners ;  he  was  also  one  of  the  largest 
farmers  in  the  town.  And  yet  it  would  seem  that  he  did  not  suifer 
these  secular  labors  to  interfere  with  his  higher  work  as  the  Lord's 
ambassador. 

Under  his  ministry  the  church  was  harmonious  and  prosperous, 
while  others  in  the  colony  experienced  dissensions  and  drawbacks. 
Though  losing  many  to  form  churches  at  Southbury,  Bethlehem, 
Judea,  Roxbury,  yet  through  frequent  revivals  it  tilled  up  again. 
In  the  great  awakening  of  1740,  it  received  97.  Indeed  admis- 
sions were  made  during  all  the  years  of  his  ministry  save  two, 
amounting  to  616 — 142  of  these  being  by  the  half-way  covenant, 
most  of  whom,  however,  subsequently  entered  into  full  com- 
munion. He  baptized  1540,  and  ordained  five  deacons.  In  the 
latter  part  of  his  ministry  he  was  privileged  to  preach  in  a  new 
and  finer  edifice,  built  in  1747.  With  remarkable  retention  of 
mental  and  physical  powers,  he  labored  on  until  his  88d  year, 
when,  after  a  two  days'  illness,  he  died,  esteemed  and  lamented  by 
the  children  and  grand  children  of  those  whom  he  had  followed  to 
the  tomb,  and  in  the  midst  of  whom  they  reverentially  laid  his 
body  to  await  the  general  resurrection.  Just  before  his  death  the 
people  had  called  the  Rev.  Noah  Benedict  to  settle  as  his  col- 
league. He  had  accepted,  and  the  day  was  fixed  for  his  ordination. 
He  was  accordingly  ordained  Oct.  22,  1760.  Mr.  B.  originated  in 
Danbury  ;  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall  in  1757.  Though  a  Barnabas 
in  temperament  and  manner,  bearing  consolation  and  cheer  unto 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  yet  in  preaching  and  debate  he 
could  rise  to  somewhat  of  an  Apollos  in  might  and  eloquence. 
The  main  grounds  of  his  success,  however,  lay  in  his  remarkable 
discretion,  his  eminent  goodness,  and  his  rare  fidelity.  At  the 
very  outset  of  his  ministry  he  devised  a  plan  to  get  rid  of  the  half- 
way covenant,  without  any  jar,  and  with  good  effect,  though  to  it 
the  church  had  tenaciously  clung  for  90  years,  and  that,  too,  when 
neighboring  churches  had  dropped  it  long  before.  He  also  secured 
some  slight  changes  in  the  covenant,  thereby  giving  it  such  excel- 
lence that  for  110  years  no  one  has  attempted  its  improvement. 
Rev.  Worthington  Wright  was  settled  as  his  colleague  in  1811, 
but  in  consequence  of  some  disease  of  the  eyes,  preventing  study, 
he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request  early  in  1813.  Mr.  Benedict's 
pastorate,  like  that  of  his  predecessors,  was  long,  prosperous,  and 


1 034  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

peaceful,  until  near  its  close,  when  an  unpleasant  controversy  arose 
about  locating  the  third  and  present  edifice.  He  received  272  to 
the  church,  baptized  758,  and  ordained  eight  deacons.  He  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  aflTection  of  his  people  until  his  death 
in  1813,  at  76  years  of  age,  and  the  53d  of  his  ministry.  Here  and 
there  an  aged  one  in  the  parish  and  vicinity  has  a  pleasant  remem- 
brance of  his  person  and  work,  and  through  them  his  influence 
gleams  gently  out  on  the  present  generation,  as  the  sun's  rays 
gleam  upon  the  sky  after  his  setting. 

And  here,  in  passing,  I  would  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
united  pastorates  of  the  three  first  ministers  of  this  church  cov- 
ered the  remarkable  period  of  1 43  years,  probably  the  only  instance 
in  thev  country,  and  one  alike  creditable  to  both  parties.  Fortu- 
nate as  this  ancient  church  may  be  in  the  future  there  is  now  little 
prospect  that  it  will  ever  have  a  pastor  who,  in  this  respect,  will 
attain  unto  either  of  the  first  three.  After  a  year's  vacancy.  Rev. 
Henry  P.  Strong,  of  Salisbury,  was  settled  over  the  church  in  May, 
1814,  and  Avas  dismissed  in  January,  1816.  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew, 
of  Milford,  became  his  successor  in  October,  1817.  From  Mr.  Bene- 
dict's death  to  his  settlement,  the  church  had  received  38  additions. 
The  party  too,  disaffected  by  the  locatiorf  of  the  new  church  edi- 
fice, had  withdrawn  and  formed  themselves  into  a  strict  Congre- 
gational church.  He  entered  upon  his  work  with  forecast  and  tact, 
and  prosecuted  it  with  earnestness  and  efficiency.  Over  his  rich 
endowments  and  fine  culture  there  was  cast  a  kind,  devout,  loving 
spirit,  which  gave  him  great  power  as  a  preacher  and  })astor.  So 
exemplary  was  he  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation,  that  a  quaint 
and  captious  neighbor  once  said  that,  "  He  had  watched  him  for 
25  years  to  find  something  inconsistent  with  his  profession,  but 
rnust  give  it  uj)."  This  speaks  volumes  as  to  his  discreetness  and 
piety.  Hence,  no  wonder  that  the  church  was  united  and  success- 
ful under  his  care.  He  was  blessed  with  three  revivals,  received 
263,  baptized  243,  and  ordained  three  deacons.  Finding  his  health 
failing,  he  resigned,  and  was  dismissed  in  1846,  about  29  years 
from  his  settlement.  He  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  died, 
May  26th,  1858,  at  the  age  of  71.  Rev.  Lucius  Curtis,  of  Torring- 
ford,  was  immediately  installed  as  Mr.  Andrew's  successor  in  July, 
1846,  and  was  dismissed  in  1854,  at  his  own  request.  He  led 
the  church  forward,  adding  70  to  its  membership,  baptizing  36, 
and  leaving  it  harmonious  and  hopeful.  In  April  of  the  ensuing 
year,  Rev.  Robert  G.  Williams  was  installed,  and  remained  until 


n  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     A  N  ('  I  E  X  T     WOOD  ]!  V  K  Y  .  1  035 

July,  1859,  In  1857,  the  second  year  of  his  ministry,  some  $4,000 
were  expended  in  modernizing  and  improving  this  church  edihce. 
He  also  received  32  persons  into  this  visible  fold  of  Christ.  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Robinson  began  to  supply  the  pulpit  early  in  18G1, 
and  was  ordained  pastor  in  June,  1862.  He  received  17  to  the 
church,  and  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  in  the  spring  of 
1864.  Rev.  Charles  Little  began  to  supply  the  pulpit  in  1865, 
and  after  two  years  retired,  having  added  30  to  the  church.  Rev. 
Horace  Winslow,  as  his  successor,  supplied  the  pulpit  one  year, 
and  added  to  the  church  24.  In  vacancies,  from  time  to  time,  10 
persons  were  added.  Rev.  Gurdon  W.  Noyes,  of  Stonington,  the 
ninth  and  present  pastor,  began  his  work  on  November  14th, 
1869,  and  was  installed  on  the  8th  of  December  following.  He 
has  received  6  to  the  church.  From  its  origin,  this  church  has 
received  into  its  fold  1526;  placed  the  seal  of  the  covenant 
upon  2999,  and  ordained  23  deacons,  only  three  of  whom  sur- 
vive. Its  present  membership  is  192.  Six  churches  have  been 
formed  entirely  out  of  it,  and  two  others  have  received  a  goodly 
number  of  members  from  it,  to  say  nothing  of  its  contributions 
to  other  denominations  within  its  ancient  limits,  and  to  the 
churches  of  its  own  faith  in  the  cities  of  the  East  and  West. 
From  it  have  sprung  13  ministers,  seven  by  the  name  of  Judson, 
one  the  father  of  Adoniram,  the  pioneer  missionary,  and  another, 
Philo,  distinguished  as  a  revivalist.  It  has  also  been  favored  with 
a  line  of  deacons  of  such  rare  worth  and  long  continuance  in 
office,  as  to  deserve  a  passing  notice. 

Hon.  John  Minor,  the  pioneer  who  at  the  first  view  of  this 
place  from  Goodhill,  with  bended  knee,  craved  heaven's  bless- 
ing upon  the  little  company,  and  asked  for  a  godly  posterity,  was 
in  office  49  years,  and  seven  of  his  descendants  filled  it  after  him, 
the  last  dying  in  1865.  Of  these,  Matthew  and  Truman  (the  last 
one)  were  distinguished  for  Bible  knowledge,  piety  and  usefulness. 
The  first  was  in  office  42  years,  and  several  of  the  others  of  like 
merit  were  in  office  from  25  to  45  years;  and  one,  Eli  Summers, 
still  remains  with  us  who  has  been  in  office  40  years.  To  the  wise 
effort,  bright  example,  fervent  prayers,  of  these  men,  the  church  is 
greatly  indebted  for  its  unity,  stability  and  success.  Society  has 
received  more  marvelous  modifications  in  these  two  centuries  than 
in  any  other  two  since  the  Christian  era.  In  this  period,  printing, 
steam,  machinery,  electricity,  have  been  exerting  their  magic  and 
civilizing   power.     In  this  period,  too,  gradually,  indeed,  church 

13 


1036  HISTORY     OF     AKCIENT     WOODBURY. 

edifices  have  improved  in  style  and  comfort.  Square  pews,  eagle- 
nest  pulpits,  with  sounding-boards,  have  disappeared.  The  wor- 
shippers rent  their  seats,  and  are  not  seated  as  formerly,  accord- 
ing to  age  and  rank.  The  cold,  humid  air,  which  our  fathers  and 
mothers  endured  for  hours  is  rarified  by  the  heat  of  stove  or  fur- 
nace. About  the  sanctuary  no  Sabbath-day  houses  appear ;  and 
instead  of  coming  to  church  on  foot,  or  upon  saddles  or  pillions, 
as  of  old,  the  people  now  come  in  spring  wagons  or  covered  car- 
riages. And  then  at  its  origin,  this  church  was  one  of  18  in  the 
Connecticut  colonies.  Now  there  are  290  in  the  State,  and  3,043  in 
the  United  States,  with  other  evangelical  denominations  as  strong 
or  stronger.  Then  a  few  hundred  colonists  were  struggling  for 
a  foothold  in  this  wilderness,  against  the  rigors  of  the  climate,  the 
assaults  of  savages  and  the  interferences  of  the  mother  country. 
Now,  there  are  37  States,  scattered  over  a  vast  and  fertile  area, 
with  some  forty-five  millions  of  inhabitants,  under  one  free  and 
beneficent  government,  and  with  almost  every  conceivable  facility 
for  material,  intellectual  and  spiritual  advantage.  With  few  lielps 
and  many  hindrances,  our  ancestors  kept  the  flame  of  worship 
burning  on  the  altars  of  this  Zion.  Though  the  church  has 
been  weakened  by  wars,  wasted  by  pestilence,  thinned  by  emi- 
gration, endangered  by  prosperity,  yet  it  still  lives  and  in  much 
vio-or.  It  is  a  glorious  thing  that  it  has  thus  held  right  on  its 
way  through  ten  generations.  It  has  rendered  acceptable  service 
to  its  Head  and  Lord,  and  been  a  rich  boon  to  this  community. 

And  now,  how  interesting  this  transitional  point  when  it  is  to 
pass  over  its  great  legacy  of  good  to  the  keeping  of  another  series 
of  generations.  Our  fathers  cast  tip  step2nng- stones  for  otir  ad- 
vancement ;  not  arbors  ivherein  to  tahe  our  ease.  We  may  well 
glory  in  their  xcork  ;  but  if  we  rest  upon  it,  the  Lord  will  raise  up 
children  to  them  from  the  stones  of  the  street.  We  should  rather 
feel  that  the  church  is  to  go  forward  in  numbers,  beauty,  achieve- 
ment, influence. 

As  we  leave  this  cycle  of  years,  lined  with  Christian  heroes 
and  heroines  behind  us,  we  must  needs  cast  the  horoscope  of  the 
future.  We  who  gladly  join  in  this  jubilee,  will,  ere  long,  pass 
away ;  but  others  will  take  our  places,  and  the  tide  of  affairs  will 
sweep  on.  When  the  next  century  comes  round,  and  posterity 
gathers  for  commemoration,  what  shall  be  the  aspect  of  the  place, 
and  the  character  of  the  people  ?  We  can  decide  with  certainty, 
as  to  some  things  that  will  greet  our  descendants  then,  as  they 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  I)  B  U  K  Y  .  1037 

do  US  now.  They  will  be  hailed  by  the  same  spring,  with  its 
birds  and  flowers*.  They  will  pass  up  the  same  broad  and  shaded 
street,  and  look  out  upon  the  same  gem  of  a  valley,  Math  its  pic- 
turesque setting  of  liills.  The  rude  monument  of  Pomperaug 
will  remain  and  will  be  visited  by  the  curious,  as  to-day.  But  will 
the  people  be  wiser,  better,  happier  ?  Will  most  of  them  be  in 
Christ's  visible  fold,  as  burning  and  shining  lights  ?  Christian 
friends,  the  answer  to  these  queries  depends  largely  upon  us. 
Our  faith,  zeal,  fidelity,  with  heaven's  favoi',  may  fill  the  lips 
of  posterity  with  glad  hosannas  at  the  tri-centennial.  Gazing 
backward,  I  seem  to  see  the  great  cloud  of  witnesses  for  Jesus 
here  clasping  hands  along  the  flying  years,  and  as  they  pass  on, 
the  blessed  results  of  their  sacrifices,  toils  and  tears,  I  seem  to 
hear  them  say :  "  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give."  "  Take 
the  triumphs  we  have  gained  to  cheer  you ;  gaze  upon  the  tro- 
phies we  have  gathered  and  hung  around  you,  then  press  forward 
from  conquest  to  conquest,  until  called  to  lay  your  armor  down, 
and  receive  the  Master's  well-done."     Amen. 

The  concluding  prayer  was  uttered  by  Rev.  John  Churchill, 
and  after  this  a  recess  of  five  minutes  occurred  to  give  opportu- 
nity for  such  as  chose  to  retire. 

During  tlie  services  of  the  forenoon,  the  deacons  of  the  mother 
church,  our  own,  and  those  of  the  North  church,  sat  about  the 
communion  table  after  the  manner  of  "  ye  olden  time."  After  the 
recess  came  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper  to  some  800 
communicants,  filling  the  seats  above  and  below,  Rev.  William 
K.  Hall,  of  Stratford,  and  our  own  pastor,  officiating.  It  was  a 
solemn  and  interesting  occasion — never  before  enjoyed  here — never 
again  to  be  enjoyed  by  us  below, — when  a  mother  church,  with 
its  own  mother  and  six  children  sat  down  together  at  the  "  Earth- 
ly marriage  feast  of  the  Lamb."  The  remembrances  of  that  hour 
will  go  with  us  through  the  eternal  ages. 

The  exercises  at  the  communion  were  opened  by  singing  the 
following  verses,  beautifully  rendered  by  William  Cothreu,  James 
II.  Linsley,  Mrs.  Enos  Benham,  and  Mrs.  Horace  U.  Curtiss,  as  a 
quartette : 

'Tis  midni<;ht.  and  on  Olive's  brow, 
The  star  is  dimmed  that  lately  shone ; 
'Tis  midnight;  in  the  garden  now, 
The  suffering  Saviour  prays  alone. 


1038  IIISTOBY      OF     A  NCI  EXT     WOODBURY, 

"  'Tis  finished." — so  the  Saviour  cried, 
And  meekly  bowed  his  head,  and  died  ; 

'"Tis  finished," — yes  the  race  is  run, 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won  ! 


ADDRESS  AT  COMMUNION. 

Fathers,  Brethren,  Friends  : — We  approach  this  sacramental 
table  to-day  undev  circumstances  of  peculiar  interest.  The  "com- 
munion of  saints  "  is  changed  from  a  dry  dogma  of  our  creed  into  a 
blessed  reality  of  our  experience.  The  mother  church  sits  down 
in  this  heavenly  place  in  Christ  Jesus,  with  her  daughter,  grand- 
daughters, cousins,  and  many  of  the  remoter  kindred  and  others  of 
different  denominations.  No  idea  of  the  Church  in  the  Bible  is 
more  common  or  beautiful  than  that  of  a  family  or  household. 
God  is  the  Father,  Jesus  is  the  elder  brother,  and  all  true  beUevers, 
brothers  and  sisters  in  Him.  The  Savior  once  said  that  whosoever 
should  do  his  will,  the  same  was  his  brother,  sister  and  mother. 
And  Paul  gathers  into  one  family  the  redeemed  on  earth  and  in 
heaven.  Ah !  the  hundreds  who  have  preceded  us  in  caring  for 
this  ZioD,  must  be  near  to-day  in  sympathy  and  gratulation,  though 
we  feel  not  the  pressure  of  their  hands,  and  hear  no  word  of  cheer 
from  their  lips.  And  through  the  knowledge  we  have  of  their 
career  and  of  their  blest  estate  in  glory,  we  can  commune  with 
them,  and  gather  inspiration  to  press  on  in  our  Christian  course. 
Friends,  our  time  for  holy  fellowship  and  achievement  here  is  fast 
passing  by.  The  Lord  help  us  to  go  down  from  this  mount  of 
glorious  privilege  with  a  fuller  consecration  to  his  service.  Then, 
when  called  to  rest  from  our  earthly  labors  and  cares,  we  shall  be 
numbered  among  those  who  die  in  the  Lord,  and  lohose  loorJcs 
folloio  them! 

The  service  was  continued  by  Rev.  William  K.  Hall,  in  the  fol- 
lowing remarks : 

Brethren  in  Christ  : — Our  thought  has  been  directed  to  the 
blessed  truth  of  the  unity  of  all  believers  in  Christ,  of  the  family 
relation  in  which  all  who  are  Christ's  are  found,  a  relation  which 
death  itself  cannot  sever. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT       W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1039 

This  truth  is  made  most  vivid  and  real  to  us  by  this  Supper  of 
our  Lord,  and  by  these  memories  of  our  fathers,  which  as  a  sister- 
hood of  churches  we  have  come  together  to-day  to  revive.  We 
love  to  contemplate  this  truth.  It  produces  a  deep,  quiet,  joyous- 
ness  of  spirit,  thus  to  keenly  realize  that  we  are  one  with  those 
who  have  gone  before  us  to  the  home  above,  one  with  that  godly 
ancestry  who  planted  these  Churches  of  Christ  and  bequeathed  to 
us  these  religious  institutions.  There  is,  it  is  true,  this  invisible, 
indestructible  unity. 

But  what  does  this  imply  ?  That  we  have  the  same  faith,  the 
faith  "  once  delivered  to  the  saints,"  that  we  are  sustained  by 
the  same  hopes  and  the  same  promises  ?  Most  surely ;  but  is  there 
not  more  than  this  ?  There  is  a  unity  of  the  spirit,  a  spirit  of  devo- 
tion to  the  truth,  a  spirit  of  consecration  to  the  Master  and  His 
service.  Through  much  self-denial,  through  much  self-sacrifice,  they 
labored  to  secure  for  themselves  and  for  those  that  should  come 
after  them,  these  blessings  of  the  Christian  family  and  the  Christ- 
ian state.  Fidelity  to  the  truth,  a  firm,  unyielding  -devotion  to 
the  interests  of  religion  among  tliem,  marked  their  character  and 
their  lives.  We  may  not,  my  brethren,  be  called  to  practice 
the  same  kind  of  self-denial,  and  may  not  find  the  same  kind  of 
sacrifices  in  our  path  of  duty,  but  if  we  are  true,  devoted 
Christian  men  and  women,  loyal  to  the  Master  and  His  kingdom, 
we  sliall  find  ihat  we  need  the  same  spirit  that  actuated  them,  and 
we  shall  moreover  find  that  our  ])atli  of  duty  is  the  i»ath  of  self- 
denial  and  self-sacrifice.  Tiiat  teaching  of  the  Savior,  which  was 
in  so  large  a  manner  exemplified  in  their  lives,  is  for  us  also.  "If 
any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself  and  take  up  his 
cross  daily  and  follow  me.  For  whosoever  will  save  his  life,  shall 
lose  it ;  and  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for  My  sake,  shall  find  it." 
This  supper  which  calls  to  remembrance  the  sacrifice  of  our  Lord, 
His  self  giving  for  us,  ever  brings  to  mind  afresh  that  root-principle 
of  all  Christian  living,  self-giving  for  Christ,  self-losing  in  Christ. 
We  are  here  brought  into  communion  with  Him.  Shall  not  this 
communion  bring  us  into  a  closer  sympathy  with  His  spirit  V 
Shall  we  not,  by  this  communion,  possess  more  of  the  mind  of 
our  Lord  ?  As  '^e  take  this  cup  to  our  lips,  and  by  faith  behold 
the  blood  that  was  shed  for  us,  shall  we  not  take  into  our  hearts 
more  of  Christ  that  we  may  take  into  our  lives  nure  of  Christ? 
If  we  here  renew  our  covenant  vows,  let  us  remember  that  these 
vows  are  vows  of  allegiance,  by  which  we  devoted  ourselves  and 


1040  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

our  all  to  the  service  of  Christ.  If  we  here  re-consecrate  our- 
selves to  Jesus,  let  us  recognize  the  truth,  that  it  is  a  consecration 
to  the  cross — that  the  cross  is  to  be  henceforth  more  deeply  im- 
printed in  our  souls,  and  that  we  are  to  bear  it  more  steadfastly 
and  faithfully  in  our  lives. 

May  we  all  to-day  be  so  baptized  by  the  Holy  Spirit  into  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  "  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly 
lusts,"  we  may  "live  soberly,  righteously  and  godly  in  this  present 
world ;  looking  for  that  blessed  hope  and  the  glorious  appearing 
of  the  Great  God  and  our  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  who  gave  Himself 
for  us  that  He  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto 
Himself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works." 

It  was  now  "high  noon,"  and  the  final  hymn  being  sung,  the 
"  great  congregation  "  moved  to  the  Town  Hall  to  partake  of  the 
collation,  which  had  been  prepared  by  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion, aided  by  the  voluntary  and  acceptable  contribution  of  eat- 
ables and  assistance  from  the  ladies  of  the  North  Church,  and  the 
churches  of  Judea  and  Roxbury.  We  shall  not  soon  forget  their 
kindness,  and  shall  be  only  too  happy  to  assist  them  on  any  simi- 
lar occasion.  All  were  amply  supplied,  and  Avhen  all  were  "  filled" 
there  were  "  many  baskets  full  taken  up." 

At  12.45  P.  M.,  the  bell  gave  warning  of  the  services  at  the 
cemetery,  where  the  Fathers'  monument  was  to  be  dedicated. 
This  is  a  structure  hewn  from  native  boulders,  of  massive  propor- 
tions, 33  feet  high,  erected  at  a  cost  of  more  than  11,500,  more 
than  one-third  of  which  was  contributed  by  a  single  individual. 
There  is  no  similar  monument  in  this  country,  so  far  as  known  to 
the  writer.  The  principal  stone  is  a  granite  block  of  great  beauty 
found  on  a  farm  at  a  distance,  and  prepared  for  the  place  of  honor 
on  the  base  of  the  monument.  On  the  front  it  bears  the  inscrip- 
tion in  prominent  letters,  "  Presented  by  William  Cothren  and 
Lyman  E.  Monrijie,  July  4th,  1861."  This  inscription  refers  to  the 
block,  and  not,  as  some  supposed,  to  the  entire  monument. 
Just  above,  on  a  brown  stone  block,  are  the  names  of  the  gentle- 
men at  whose  expense  the  monument  has  been  erected.  The  iii- 
scription  is,  "  Erected  in  honor  of  the  FatherPi  by  Rev.  W.  T 
Bacon,  Hon.  Thomas  Bull,  David  S,  Bull,  Esq.,  George  H.  Clark, 
Esq.,  Hon.  W^illiam  Cothren,  Hon.  Julius  B.  Curtiss,  Hon.  Henry 
C.  Deming,  Hon.  Henry  Button,  Charles  G.  Judson,  Esq.,  Wood- 
bury Lyceum,  Walter  P.  Marshall,  Esq.,  Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Meigs, 


FATHERS'  MONUMENT,  WOODBURY,  CONN. 


HISTOKT      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1041 

Deacon  Tniinaii  Minor,  Rev.  Geo.  Richards,  Rev.  James  Richards, 
D.  D.,  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Seymour,  Edward  W.  Seymour,  Esq.,  Rev. 
Henry  B.  Sherman,  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  Hon.  Nathaniel  B. 
Smith,  Chas.  A.  Somers,  Esq.,  Hon.  Henry  Stoddard,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Stoddard,  Rev.  Robert  G.  Williams,  Gen.  William  T  Sherman." 
On  the  shaft  above  is  the  name,  David  J.  Stiles.  On  the  east 
side  is  the  inscription,  "Rev.  Zechariah  Walker,  first  pastor  of 
ancient  Woodbury,  died  Jan.  20th,  1699,  in  the  63d  year  of  his  age, 
and  in  the  36th  of  his  ministry."  At  the  foot  of  the  monument  is 
the  ancient  headstone,  with  this  record  : 

ZECHARIAH 

WALKER, 

AGED       63, 

DTED    JAN.    20, 

1699. 

On  the  north  side  is  the  epitaph  of  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  the 
second  pastor,  who  died  Sept.  6th,  1760,  in  the  83d  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  61st  of  his  ministry  ;  and  on  the  west  side  is  that  of 
Rev.  Noah  Benedict,  the  third  pastor,  who  died  April  20th,  1813, 
in  the  76th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  53d  of  his  ministry.  At  the 
base,  on  the  north  side,  is  an  old  mill-stone,  one  of  two  small  ones 
taken  to  Woodbury  on  horseback,  two  hundred  years  ago,  from 
Stratford,  with  which  they  ground  corn  and  meal  for  the  whole 
settlement  at  the  rate  of  one  bushel  per  day. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  were  very  interesting  and  impressive  . 
Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  of  Jewett  City,  one  of  the  contributors, 
opened  the  exercises  with  the  following 

DEDICATORY  PRAYER. 

O  Thou,  whose  we  are,  and  whom  we  would  glorify  in  all  our 
works  begun,  continued  and  ended ;  may  Thy  presence  be  with 
us  and  Thy  blessing  upon  us  on  the  occasion  which  has  convened 
us  in  this  place  of  graves.  Thy  servants  have  erected  this  monu- 
ment before  which  we  are  assembled,  to  the  memory  of  the  fore- 
fathers of  the  ancient  church  whose  history  we  have  to-day  recalled. 
Accept  Thou  this  work  of  their  hands  and  offering  of  their  hearts. 
May  this  shaft  long  stand  in  remembrance  of  the  men  whose  names 
are  ens^-aven  upon  it — though  dead,  they  yet  live  by  the  influence 
of  their  ministry  upon  coming  generations.    Time  may  eftace  their 


1042  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

names  from  this  monument  of  stone,  but  nothing  shall  ever  efface 
their  memory  from  the  hearts  of  a  grateful  posterity.  As  we 
stand  surrounded  by  the  dead,  impress  upon  our  minds  the  thought 
that  we  shall  soon  be  of  them,  and  give  us  grace  so  to  live  and  so 
to  die,  that  to  each  of  us  the  end  of  earth  shall  be  the  beginning  of 
Heaven.  Bless  those  who  are  to  take  part  in  the  further  services 
of  this  occasion.  May  what  they  shall  speak  be  for  Thy  glory 
and  for  our  good,  and  in  all  the  solemnities  and  services  of  the 
day,  may  we  be  accepted  through  Jesus  Christ  our  strength  and 
our  Redeemer.     Amen. 


ADDRESS  OF  DEDICATION. 


BY    WILLIAM    COTHREN. 


Ten  years  ago,  as  the  curious  antiquarian  searched  with  rev- 
erent tread  among  the  mossy  mounds  which  surround  us,  on  this 
consecrated  hill,  "  beautiful  for  situation,"  in  this  loveliest  of  val- 
leys, ])arting  here  and  there  the  lank  grass  and  tangled  briars,  he 
would  have  discovered  that  little  head-stone  of  native  rock,  with 
its  rude  inscription,  telling  us  the  simple  tale,  that  here  rested  all 
that  remained  on  earth  of  the  first  father  of  the  town,  "  ye  faith- 
full,  worthy,  beloved  Minister  of  the  Gospell,  and  much  lamented 
pastor  of  the  Ch''  of  Christ."  One  hundred  and  sixty  times  had 
the  "  dark  brown  years  "  passed  over  this  consecrated  spot,  and 
this  was  all  that  remained  to  tell  the  numerous  posterity  of  the 
fathers,  who  had  been  enriched  and  blest  during  all  that  long 
period  by  his  faithful  teachings,  labors  and  sufferings — that  here 
the  ever-to-be-revered  Walker  had  laid  his  armor  down — that  here 
he  awaited  in  tran<|uil  rest  the  final  trump  of  God.  Then,  as  now, 
grouped  thickly  around  him,  in  like  noteless  graves,  his  faithful 
people  were  gathered — a  hardy,  noble  race,  that  has,  in  the  last 
two  centuries,  and  especially  in  the  living,  whirling  present, 
brought  forth  great  and  abundant  fruit.  There  lies  Deacon  John 
Minor,  the  tried,  the  true,  and  the  brave,  ancestor,  in  the  maternal 
line,  of  Gen.  Grant,  President  of  the  United  States.     Connecticut, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1043 

through  her  Deacon  Grant,  of  Windsor,  and  Deacon  Minor,  of 
Woodbury,  claims  a  proud  share  in  the  fame  of  this  distinguished 
man.  Near  Deacon  Minor  reposes  all  that  was  mortal  of  Deacon 
John  Sherman,  ancestor  of  the  General  of  our  armies,  and  Senator 
Sherman,  of  Ohio.  Gen.  Sherman's  name  appears  on  this  monu" 
ment  as  great-grandson  of  the  immortal  Stoddard,  second  jiastor 
of  this  ancient  clnirch.  The  Mitchells,  the  Wheelers,  the  Cur- 
tisses,  the  Hurds,  the  Jndsons — ministerial  race — all  the  early 
revered  names  lie  slumbering  near,  a  goodly  company,  in  their 
lonely,  neglected  graves — alas !  too  long  neglected  by  their 
numerous  descendants.  Before  rae  stands  at  this  very  moment  so 
great  a  company  of  the  lineal  descendants  of  the  first  John  Minor, 
deacon  of  the  church,  captain  of  the  train  band,  intei'preter  to  the 
Indians  and  justice  of  the  quorum,  that  by  contributing  a  mere 
trifle  apiece,  a  greater  and  more  expensive  monument  couhl  be 
erected  than  this,  which  we  now  dedicate  to  the  memory  of  the 
fathers.  I  charge  you  to-day  to  take  immediate  measures  to  erect 
a  monument  fit  to  commemorate  the  virtues  of  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  men  in  the  early  history  of  the  colony.  It  is  the  duty 
of  the  hour  for  you. 

No  nobler  company  of  men  ever  removed  in  a  body  into  the 
solitudes  and  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  than  these  early  fathers, 
who  left  their  dwellings  by  the  sea,  to  dare  the  perils  and  priva- 
tions of  the  dim  woods.  They  sought  to  plant  here  a  pure  and 
sublime  laith.  They  labored  to  extend  the  kingdom  of  God.  Is 
it  wonderful,  then,  that  their  descendants  should  desire  to  erect 
an  enduring  monument  to  the  sacred  memory  of  such  immortal 
ancestors,  that  it  may  stand  forever  as  a  remembrancer  to  their 
children  to  imitate  the  virtues  and  graces  of  their  long  buried 
eires,  who  have  "  entered  into  the  rest  that  remaineth  to  the  peo- 
ple of  God  ?" 

A  little  farther  to  the  north  stands  the  modest  and  dilapidated 
head-stone  of  the  venerated  Anthony  Stoddard,  second  pastor  of 
the  church,  who  rests  in  the  hope  of  a  bright  resurrection  amid 
the  faithful'flock  to  whom  ho  ministered  in  "things  spiritual  "  for 
the  long  period  of  more  than  sixty  years.  A  step  farther,  and  we 
are  at  the  grave  of  the  sainted  Benedict.  These  three,  a  trio  of 
worthies,  full  of  prudence,  piety  and  jturity  unsurpassed,  "  went 
out  and  in  before  the  people  "  for  the  long  period  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-three  years.  Such  were  our  fathers,  and  such  their 
claims  on  the  reverence  aud  the  affections  of  their  posterity,  and 


1044  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

yet  no  monument  had  arisen  to  perpetuate  a  remembrance  of  their 
virtues — ten  years  ago ! 

But  the  filial  heart  of  the  people  could  not  endure  a  farther 
neglect  of  the  reverence  due  the  names  of  their  sacred  dead. 
Measm-es  were  taken  for  erecting  a  fitting  monument  to  their 
memory.  Starting  with  the  theory  that  no  material  could  be 
more  fitting  than  the  rugged  native  boulders  from  their  ow7i  landsy 
among  which  they  had  wandered  in  life,  the  work  went  on  with 
zeal.  Good  progress  had  been  made,  when  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion broke  out,  and  for  more  than  seven  dark,  gloomy  and 
bloody  years,  the  work  was  suspended.  In  1868,  noble  men  came 
forward  with  their  contributions,  at  home  and  abroad,  and  the 
work  was  commenced  again  with  renewed  vigor,  and  pushed  to 
successful  completion.  It  now  stands  before  you,  a  rugged  struc- 
ture, 33  feet  in  height.  It  is  like  the  charactm*  of  our  fathers,  not 
artistically  beautiful,  but  massive  and  immovable.  It  was  erected 
at  an  expense  of  more  than  81,500 — and  more  than  one- third  of 
that  amount  was  contributed  by  one  individual. 

A  single  duty  yet  remains,  and  we  are  here  to  perform  it.  We 
are  here,  a  filial  band,  to  dedicate  it  to  the  memory  of  the  fathers. 
We  come  to  this  pleasing  duty  amid  the  joyous  exercises  of  our 
bi-centennial  jubilee,  and  in  the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  year  of 
Congregationalism  in  this  country.  The  time  is  propitious.  The 
skies  are  bright  above  us.  The  awakening  vigor  of  Spring  is 
apparent  on  every  side.  It  is  the  fourth  jubilee  of  our  church, 
and  the  fifth  of  our  order.  And  now,  in  such  an  auspicious  hour, 
when  our  hearts  are  filled  with  joy  and  congratulations,  we  dedi- 
cate this  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  fathers — to  the  memory 
of  the  noble  men  and  women  who  lie  sleeping  in  the  moss-grown 
graves  beneath  our  feet,  resting  sweetly  and  securely  in  the  hope 
of  a  blessed  immortality  in  the  beautiful  land  beyond  the  far 
etherial  blue,  "  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the 
weary  are  at  rest."  We  dedicate  it  to  the  memory  of  that  pilgrim 
company,  who  left  the  fiither-land  for  the  enjoyment  of  a  purer 
gospel — who  chose  to  endure  all  the  privations  of  a  pioneer  life 
amid  the  perils  of  the  wilderness,  to  establish  freedom  of  thought 
for  themselves  and  their  children.  We  dedicate  it  to  the  heroic 
men,  who  could  sm<j  "  amidst  the  storm," 

"  And  whom  the  stars  heard  and  the  sea! 
While  the  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods  rang 
To  the  anthems  of  the  free !  " 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1045 

We  cheerfully  dedicate  it  to  the  fathers  who  chose  this  beautiful 
resting-place,  so  like  that  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  at  Plymouth 
Rock,  pioneers  and  partakers  in  a  like  taith,  and  a  like  appreciation 
of  the  beautiful  in  nature.  We  dedicate  it  to  those  lion-hearted 
men,  who  have  left  us  a  glorious  inheritance — who,  while 

"  Tlie  heavy  night  hung  dark 
The  woods  and  waters  o'er," 

and  often  over  their  dearest  hopes,  still  sang  the  songs  of  Zion, 

And  prayed  in  their  Bethel,  the  shade  of  the  Rock. 

We  dedicate  it  with  full  souls  on  this 

"  Holy  ground, 
The  spot  where  first  they  trod! 
They  have  left  unstained  what  here  they  found, 
Freedom  to  worship  God." 

We  dedicate  it  to  them  for  their  toils  and  labors  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  "  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,"  for  their  pure 
lives,  for  their  earnest  zeal,  for  their  pious  teachings,  for  their 
shining  examples.  We  dedicate  it  as  a  sacred  memento  of  them — 
as  a  solemn  duty  to  ourselves.  We  dedicate  it,  that  our  children 
and  children's  children  may  learn  to  follow  in  the  way  of  the  holy 
dead.  We  dedicate  it,  that  it  may  be  '*  a  rule  unto  ourselves," 
inviting  us  to  pursue  "  the  things  that  make  for  peace,"  and  pleas- 
antness, so  that  when  we  shall  have  entered  into  our  rest,  and 
another  century  shall  have  rolled  its  ceaseless  round,  our  descend- 
ants may  revere  our  memory  as  Ave  do  that  of  the  fathers  so  long 
ago  translated. 

Spirits  of  our  fathers,  long  since  ascended  unto  glory  at  the 
right  hand  of  God!  Spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect!  Do  you 
hear  us  in  your  blest  abodes  on  high  ?  Do  you  note  our  filial 
aspirations  to-day  ?  Are  you  hovering  over  us  as  our  guardian 
angels  ?  Tell  us  not  that  when  good  men  carried  your  bodies  to 
the  burial,  and  wept  over  these  graves,  you  knew  not,  heeded 
not — the  tears  of  affection  !  Are  you  pleased  with  our  tribute  of 
love?  Are  you  not  smiling  upon  us  this  very  hour,  soothing  our 
spirits,  as  we  offer  to  you  this  memorial  our  hands  have  made,  and 
lift  to  you  our  filial  hearts  ?  Were  you  ever,  while  here  below, 
afflicted  with  trivial  contests  and  bitter  recriminations — or,  rather 
did  not  your  great  hearts  always  glow  with  love  and  kindness  to 


1046  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

all?  Do  you  look  in  pity  upon  us,  when  discord  arises,  and 
brethren  disagree  ?  Do  you  love  us  in  your  far-away  paradise  ? 
Oh!  we  believe,  yes — we  believe  in  the  beautiful  doctrine  of 
guardian  angels!  "In  heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold  the 
face  of  my  Father  ?  " 

"  You're  with  us  yet,  j'e  liolj'  dead ! 
By  a  thousand  signs  we  know ! 
You're  keeping  e'er  a  spirit  watch 
O'er  those  we  love  below  ! 


Next  followed  the  Dedicatory  Poem,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  copy,  with  slight  omissions  : 

THE  EARLY  VILLAGE  FATHERS. 

As  I  sat  in  my  study  one  eve,  grim  and  grum. 
Came  a  rap  at  the  door  : 

"  Is  the  poet  at  home  ?  " 
•'  Well  sir,  what  is  wanted?  " 

"Why,  one  Cothren  is  here, 
And  says  he  wants  brains." 

"  Ah,  how  doth  that  appear? 
That  a  lawyer  lacks  brains,  is  what  often  may  be, 
Though  I  had  not  supposed  that  such  lawyer  was  he." 
"  Nay,  'tis  your  brains  lie  wants." 

"Ah,  that  alters  the  case — " 
Hence  I  stand  here  to-day  in  this  reverend  place, 


Ah,  Home,  search  the  world  round,  go  east  and  go  west, 

Take  all  that  is  purest  and  sweetest  and  best ; 

Take  tlie  world's  wealth,  its  grandeur,  it's  strength,  and  it's  fame, 

And,  if  other  good  is,  fling  in  all  ye  can  name  ; 

For  one  hour  in  that  spot,  one  glad  thrill  of  the  boy, 

We  would  willingly  give  all  the  world  calls  it's  joy. 

"What  shadows  we  are,  and  what  shadows  pursue," 
Just  go  back  forty  years,  let  them  pass  in  review ; 
Scarce  one  family's  head,  that  stood  here  in  its  worth, 
But  the  last  forty  years  have  consigned  to  the  earth  ; 
Our  homes  have  changed  owners,  our  farms  too,  till  now 
Scarce  one  gray  liead  ye  meet  of  that  brief  long  ago. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1047 

Take  one  fact  to  this  point.     Just  go  back  eighty  years, 

What  a  power  was  tliat  name  whicii  the  singer  now  bears? 

What  a  wealth  of  wide  acres'?     What  strange  business  skill? 

Each  thing  that  he  touched,  changed  to  gold  at  his  will ; 

'T  would  take  ten  modern  men  to  make  up  his  one  mind, 

Half  the  wealth  of  the  town  was  in  his  name  combined. 

— Scarce  two  years  since  this  hand  signed  the  deed  that  conveyed 

The  last  foot  of  land  that  great  name  once  obeyed. 

Yes,  what  shadows  we  are,  and  what  shadows  pursue, 

We  stand  here  to-day  with  the  fiithers  in  view — 

The  far-away  fathers,  and  pastors,  who  led 

Their  flocks  round  these  hilts,  on  these  pastures  to  feed  ; 

Guarded  well  each  approach,  kept  the  fold  from  all  harms, 

A.nd,  like  Christ  of  old  time,  "  bore  the  iambs  in  their  arms." 

We  stand  en  their  ashes  !  methinks  as  we  gaze, 

That  they  rise  up  ! — confront  us! — and  ask  of  our  ways  ! 

There  was  Walkek,  the  gentle  and  meek — yet  the  shrewd, 

There  was  Stoddard,  the  austere  and  plain — yet  the  good  ; 

There  was  Bknedict,  solemn  and  slow,  with  an  eye 

That  looked  out  like  a  star  from  its  cavernous  sky  ; 

And  a  crowd  of  bright  worthies,  hover  thick  in  their  rear, 

And  all  gaze,  with  bowed  forme,  on  this  pageantry  here  ! 

Is  it  nothing  to  stand  on  the  graves  of  such  men ! 

Come  no  thoughts  up?  no  pictures  of  scenes  stirring  then? 

Come  no  voices,  loud  ringingr  in  every  ear, 

To  tell  us  of  life,  throbbing  life  that  was  here  ? 

Come  no  shadows,  that  fall  down  on  every  path 

God  appoints  for  each  soul,  in  his  love,  or  his  wrath  ? 

Aye,  and  fancy  finds  pastime  in  scenes  such  as  these, 

And  weaves  into  voice  what  she  hears,  or  she  sees. 


'Tis  a  beautiful  jiart,  as  we  stand  here  to-day, 
And  our  thoughts  travel  off  to  that  dim  far  away. 
To  call  up  that  scene,  and  those  forms,  and  those  eyes. 
That  once  looked  around  here  on  this  new  Paradise  ! 

There  was  reverend  age  with  its  locks  white  and  thin, 

There  was  beautiful  childhood,  unsullied  by  sin, 

There  was  vigorous  manhood  so  stalwart  and  bold, 

There  were  beautiful  maidens  so  sweet  to  behold; 

And  they  had  all  those  cares,  and  those  dreams,  too,  perchance, 

That  light  up  the  world  with  the  hues  of  romance. 


1048  HISTORY     OF      AXCIENT     M^OODBUKT. 

There  were  some  sad  eyes  there,  that  the  hot  tears  had  burned, 
There  were  pale,  geatle  faces,  whose  hearts  were  in-urned 
There  were  souls  with  dead  hopes,  that,  still  withering  cling 
Round  the  heart  they  had  broke,  and  then  left  with  their  sting  ; 
And  other  eyes  there,  with  no  smile  any  more, 
Unless  faith  brought  it  down  from  that  sunnier  shore. 

Yet  a  beautiful  faith,  that  they  brought  here  that  day. 
They  came  not  for  gold,  let  men  say  what  they  may  ; 
They  came  not  for  power  for  no  power  was  there  here, 
Save  the  power  of  meek  patience,  that  dwells  in  a  tear  ; 
But  they  came  with  their  souls,  to  this  far-away  wood, 
To  work  out  an  approach  to  the  all-perfect  Good  ! 
Have  we,  their  descendants,  departed  from  them  ? 
Can  we  now,  as  they  could,  the  world's  currents  stem? 
Can  we,  as  could  they,  break  off  that  bond  and  this, 
And  alone  rest  the  heart  where  its  true  treasure  is  ? 

As  we  stand  on  their  dust,  let  our  hearts  go  once  more, 
To  that  far  away  land,  to  that  far  away  shore; 
Let  us  try  to  draw  down  into  each  throbbing  breast, 
One  tithe  of  that  worth  that  the  fathers  possessed  ; 
And  transmit  to  our  children,  till  earth  cease  to  move. 
Their  courage,  their  patience,  their  sweetness,  their  love ! 


Then  followed  the 

DEDICATION  HYMN. 


BY    WILLIAM    OOTHREN. 


Air — Tenting  on  the  old  Camp  Ground. 

We're  standing  to-day  on  the  holy  sod — 

With  reverence  draw  near — 
Whence  our  fathers'  souls  ascended  to  God — 

Their  sacred  dust  lies  here. 

CnoRUS — Many  are  the  years  since  ye  hasted  away, 
Eager  for  the  golden  strand ; 
Many  are  the  voices  calling  you  to-day 

To  hear  our  filial  Band. 
Hear  as  alway,  hear  us  alway, 
Hear  us  in  your  happy  land. 


UISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1049 

Ye  are  happy  to-day  in  your  home  above, 

Tour  hearts  are  all  aglow; 
Ye  are  smiling  now  with  a  look  of  love, 

On  us  who  toil  below. 

Chorus — 

We  greet  you  to-day,  ye  sturdy  old  stock. 

Who  rest  from  your  labors  here — 
From  your  prayers  and  praise  at  the  Bethel  Rock, 

To  shine  in  a  brighter  sphere. 

CnoRCS — 

This  hymn  was  sung  as  a  quartette  by  Messrs,  William  Cothren, 
James  H.  Linsley,  William  A.  Gordon,  and  William  B.  Walker, 
in  a  most  effective  and  beautiful  manner. 

The  exercises  closed  with  a  Benediction  by  Rev.  Austin  Isham, 
of  Roxbury. 

At  a  quarter  to  2  P.  M.,  the  bell  called  to  the  afternoon  exer- 
cises. These  were  of  a  social  character.  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith, 
grandson  of  the  third  pastor,  the  Rev.  Noah  Benedict,  who  had 
presided  at  the  monument,  also  presided  here,  ably  aided  by  the 
pastor,  and  Deacon  Trowbridge,  Chairman  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee, acting  as  Vice-Presidents. 

After  singing,  the  Opening  Prayer  was  made  by  Rev.  Austin 
Isham : — 

Almighty  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  hallowed  be  Thy  name,  Thy 
Kingdom  come,  Thy  will  be  done,  on  earth  as  it  is  done  in  Heaven. 
We  hear  Thy  voice  speaking  to  us  on  this  deeply  interesting 
occasion,  saying  "  Seek  ye  My  face."  May  all  our  hearts  respond, 
"  Thy  face.  Lord,  will  we  seek." 

We  would  approach  Thy  throne  of  grace  with  profound  rever- 
ence and  deep  humility.  When  we  consider  the  greatness  of  Thy 
majesty,  and  our  own  exceeding  great  vileness  and  unworthiness, 
we  are  led  to  exclaim  "  What  is  man  that  Thou  art  mindful  of  him, 
or  the  son  of  man,  that  Thou  visitest  him  V  " 

We  feel  that  we  have  forfeited  every  claim  to  Thy  favor  and 
justly  merit  Thy  displeasure.  And  yet,  Thou  hast  not  dealt  with 
us  according  to  our  sins,  nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our  iniqui- 
ties ;  but  as  high  as  the  Heavens  are  above  the  earth,  so  great  has 
been  Thy  mercy  toward  us.     We  humbly  thank  Thee  for  all  Thou 


1050  HISTOKY      OF     A  NCI  EXT     WOODBUKY. 

hast  done  for  our  guilty  and  ruined  race ;  especially  that  Thou 
didst  so  love  the  world,  as  to  give  thine  own  and  well-beloved 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him,  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  many  blessings,  tem- 
poral and  spiritual,  which  Thou  hast  conferred  upon  us.  The  lines 
have  indeed  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places,  yea,  we  have  a  goodly 
heritao-e.  We  feel  that  it  is  a  goodly  land  which  the  Lord  our 
God  hath  given  us.  We  bless  Thee  for  a  godly  ancestry,  whose 
steps  Thou  didst  guide  to  these  beautiful  hills  and  valleys,  and  that 
here,  by  Thy  blessing,  they  planted  those  institutions,  civil  and 
religious,  which  we  to-day  enjoy. 

We  render  thanks  to  Thee  for  extending  Thy  fostering  care  to 
the  churches  our  fathers  planted  ;  that  Thou  didst  greatly  increase 
the  number  and  moral  power  and  strength  of  these  churches ;  thus 
showing  to  us  how  precious  in  Thy  sight  is  Zion,  dear  as  the  apple 
of  Thine  eye,  and  graven  on  the  palms  of  Thy  hands.  O  Thou 
great  head  of  the  Church,  we  pray  for  Thy  blessing  still.  God 
of  our  fathers,  we  beseech  Thee  never  to  leave  nor  forsake  these 
churches.  Be  as  a  wall  of  lire  round  about  thera  and  a  glory  in 
the  midst  of  them.  Pour  out  Thy  spirit  upon  them ;  may  they  be 
ndeed  the  light  of  the  world  and  the  salt  of  the  earth.  Give 
them  pastors  after  thine  own  heart. 

Bless  the  churches  throughout  the  land  and  throughout  the 
world. 

Finally,  we  invoke  Thy  blessing  upon  all  the  exercises  now 
before  us.  In  all  that  may  be  said  or  done,  may  Thy  glory  and 
our  spiritual  good  be  promoted.  We  ask  and  ofter  all  in  the  name 
and  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  to  whom,  with  the  Father  and  Holy 
Spirit,  be  rendered  ceaseless  praises.     Ameji. 

By  special  invitation,  Rev.  Horace  Winslow,  of  Willimantic 
Conn.,  the  last  preceding  pastor  of  the  church,  next  gave  the  ad- 
dress of  greeting  to  the  assembled  churches,  and  continued  during 
the  afternoon  to  read  the  sentiments  addressed  to  the  churches, 
which  had  been  prepared  by  Bro.  William  Cothren,  and  to  intro 
duce  the  speakers  in  response  thereto,  in  an  exceedingly  happy 
entertaining  and  eloquent  manner : 


IIISTCUY      OK      A  MCI  EXT      WOODBURY.  1051 


Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  ; 

In  the  name  of  this  Church,  I  am  requested  to  welcome  with 
joyful  greeting,  her  Daughters,  with  their  Grand-mother,  (who  is 
fresh  and  fi^ir,  as  one  who  has  not  passed  the  marketable  age  of 
twenty-five),  to  a  home  gathering  here  to-day. 

To  these  many  children,  with  their  children's  children,  I  may 
say  :  Your  Mother  is  not  young,  and  still  those  who  do  not  know 
her  age  might  think  so,  for  she  is  hale  and  hearty,  elastic  of  step, 
and  buoyant  of  heart,  as  a  girl  of  sixteen.  If  you  would  observe, 
you  can  see  that  her  eye  is  not  dim,  nor  her  natural  force 
abated;  that  in  her  voice,  dress,  and  bearing,  she  has  all  the 
appearance  of  youth — and  yet  she  is  two  hundred  years  old  to- 
day. Indeed,  a  simple  consideration  of  the  fact  of  her  numerous 
family,  would  suggest  the  thought  that  she  does  not  belong  to  the 
present  generation.  I  may  not  be  able  to  state  just  what  it  is 
which  has  kept  her  so  fresh  and  fair,  for  she  has  not  been  sleeping 
for  two  centuries,  nor  half  of  them.  She  has  been  a  persona! 
actor  in  all  the  great  and  interesting  events  which  have  transpired 
in  our  country  during  this  long  period.  She  was  in  the  field  > 
boldly  defending  the  frontier,  in  King  Philip's  war,  giving  her 
sons  full  to  tlie  quota  all  through  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
she  was  among  the  foremost  of  the  forward  in  the  grand  struggle 
which  achieved  the  American  nationality.  The  sons  of  Woodbury 
marched  to  glory  and  to  victory  under  the  leadership  of  Wolfe, 
Putnam  and  Washington.  And  the  fact  that  there  is  an  occasion 
for  it,  and  that  there  is  a  will  to  erect  here  a  monument  to  the 
memory  of  the  heroes  who  fell  in  the  national  defense  and  the 
crushing  out  of  the  great  rebellion,  is  proof  that  your  Mother  has 
not  been  asleep  for  these  years,  but  awake,  and  loyal  to  all  the 
great  interests  of  humanity. 

She  has  also  kept  up  with  the  times.  She  is  as  much  at  home 
in  the  progress  of  the  age,  as  any  of  her  children's  children.  She 
holds  to  those  fundamental  truths  which  made  her  grand  old 
Puritan  ancestry  illustrious,  and  their  fame  immortal,  but  she 
believes  in  progress.  She  knows  that  the  world  moves,  and  she 
moves  with  it,  without  the  help  of  a  railroad. 

It  is  because  of  this  hearty  sympathy  with  the  present,  not 
mourning  over  the  dead  past,  but  rejoicing  in  the  grand  march  of 
to-day,  that  she  takes  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  this  family  gatherino-. 
She  is  rejoiced  to  meet  her  children,  who  have  long  been  of  age, 

14 


1052  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

and  have  made  their  mark  in  the  field  of  thought  and  action,  and 
with  reminiscenses  of  the  past,  talk  over  the  affairs  of  to-day. 

We  stand  in  a  grand  period  of  the  world's  history.  We  behold 
here  a  nation  grown  to  vigorous  manhood, — developed  in  all  noble 
qualities, — at  once  respected  and  feared  by  the  governments  of 
the  world,  and  loved  by  all  peoples  whose  hearts  are  in  accord 
with  the  interests  of  humanity.  We  see  here  the  fruits  of  those 
vital  principles  of  Christianity  and  rights  of  man,  which  our  Puritan 
ancestors  held  and  taught,  and  to  realize  which,  in  a  social  state, 
they  left  their  pleasant  homes  in  the  old  world,  and  began  in  this 
wilderness  of  the  west,  to  build,  from  the  foundations,  a  free 
church  and  a  free  state. 

For  these  noble  deeds  we  honor  those  men.  But  we  stand  in 
no  stagnant  past.  We  look  forward  and  upward,  and  are  particu- 
larly joyful  to-day  in  the  wasting  away  of  hoary  wrongs, — in  the 
advance  upon  public  opinion  of  broad  Christian  doctrines  of  human 
equality  and  human  rights,  and  in  the  hold  which  the  Gospel  has 
upon  all  earnest  minds  of  our  day. 

Thus  cherishing,  with  you,  a  common  sympathy  \rith  these  vital 
interests,  the  church  here  delights  to  honor  her  Bi-Centennial 
Anniversary  by  this  gathering.  It  is  with  hearty  good  will  that 
she  welcomes  you  to  your  birth-place — your  early  pleasant  home 
in  this  green  valley.  And  it  is  a  special  occasion  of  joy  to  us  all 
that  we  can  have  with  us  the  venerated  Grand-mother.  She  is 
very  old,  and  yet  we  should  know  it  only  by  her  title.  Her  resi- 
dence is  on  the  sea  shore,  and  in  former  years,  fishing,  I  conclude, 
was  an  occupation  with  her.  However,  judging  from  her  present 
elegant  homes,  surrounded  with  the  adornments  which  wealth  and 
art  furnish,  that  business  must  be  given  up,  but  by  way  of  amuse- 
ment she  now  and  then  puts  her  hand  in,  and  takes  a  good  JIall, 
as  you  will  see  in  the  reply  to  the  sentiment  which  I  will  read  ; 

Stratford! — Mother  revered!  thou  that  dwellest  by  the  sea! 
Called  in  a  green  old  age  to  celebrate  the  bivth-day  of  this,  thy 
first  born  daughter,  with  filial  reverence  and  great  joy,  we  greet 
thee,  and  welcome  thee  to  the  goodly  heritage  which  the  Lord 
our  God  has  given  us ! 

Response  by  Rev.  Wm  K.  Hall,  of  Stratford. 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  C  I  E  NT    W  O  OI)  B  U  K  Y  1053 


Mk.  Chaikman  and  Friends: 

Such  a  venerable  parent,  with  such  a  numerous  and  honored 
posterity,  would  seem  to  demand  a  more  venerable  person  than 
myself"  to  represent  her  upon  this  occasion.  The  incongruity  was 
certainly  apparent,  even  before  those  humorous  references  with 
which  my  friend  has  been  pleased  to  introduce  me,  were  made. 
Appreciating  the  difficulty  of  performing  such  a  role,  I  have  been 
endeavoring,  as  best  I  could,  to  accumulate  and  appropriate  to 
myself  such  a  stock  of  the  past,  as  at  least  to  feel  old.  I  have 
been  attempting,  under  the  influence  of  these  suggestive  emblems 
and  insignia,  with  which  these  walls  and  panels  are  decorated,  to 
forget  the  present,  and  to  throw  myself  back  into  the  past.  This, 
however,  were  comparatively  easy  to  the  task  of  arousing  those 
feelings  of  sell-pride  and  self  exaltation,  which  they  are  expected 
to  have,  and  which  they  are  wont  to  have,  who  are  privileged  in 
their  green  old  age  to  celebrate  the  birth-day  of  their  first  born 
daughter,  honored  and  blessed,  and  surrounded  by  a  happy  family 
of  her  own.  This  eflbrt  to  feel  like  a  dear  old  grandma,  whose 
heart  swells  with  joyous  pride,  and  overflows  with  gratitude,  and 
whose  tongue  is  gai'rulous,  as  she  recounts  the  virtues  and  honors 
of  the  family,  is  altogether  too  much  for  me.  Just  this,  however, 
the  sentiment  proposed  expects  of  me.  Even  your  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  kindly  considering  the  failings  of  old  dames  thus 
happily,  and  taking  for  granted  that  my  own  pleasure  upon  this 
occasion  would  be  found  largely  in  exercising  the  right  to  be 
loquacious,  accorded  me  the  privilege  of  occupying  all  the  time  I 
might  desire,  not  limiting  me,  as  in  the  case  of  the  children,  to  ten 
minutes. 

But  I  promise  not  to  go  beyond  the-  stated  limit,  if  in  your 
indulgence  you  will  pardon  me  if  I  do  not  succeed  in  toning  up 
ray  youthful  feelings  to  the  high  pitch  of  this  poetic  sentiment. 

The  historical  sermon  and  address,  to  which  we  have  with  so 
much  pleasure  listened,  have  given  us  what  are  supposed  to  be 
the  facts  concerning  the  birth  of  this  daughter.  Some  of  you  are 
aware  that  a  slight  variance  of  views  exists,  relative  to  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  formation  of  this  Church,  and  the  colonization  ot 
this  town  of  Woodbury.  Not  ])articularly  interested  mysell  in 
antiquarian  pursuits,  I  have  never  been  disposed  to  make  a  critical 
investigation  oi'  the  subject.     But  if  the  family  record  is  correct — 


1054  HISTORY     OF     A  NCI  K  NT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y  . 

that,  I  mean,  which  we  keep  at  home — there  is  a  somewhat  different 
explanation  to  be  given,  from  that  which  we  have  heard  to-day. 
It  appears  that  the  daughter,  dissatisfied  with  the  way  affairs  were 
conducted  in  the  liousehold,  determined  to  have  them  according 
to  her  mind.  The  mother  did  not  propose  to  yield  to  the  revolu- 
tionary spirit  of  her  rebellious  child.  And  as  the  child  inherited 
the  disposition  of  the  mother,  each  persistent  and  unyielding  in 
her  own  views  of  what  was  right  and  best,  the  prospects  of  an 
amicable  life  together  beneath  the  same  old  roof  seemed  exceed- 
ingly doubtful.  At  this  juncture  a  young  man  appeared,  who 
succeeded  in  winning  the  heart,  and  as  a  natural  consequence 
sought  to  possess  the  hand  of  this  daughter.  Matters  became 
complicated.  Councils  of  friends  were  summoned  to  give  advice. 
Even  the  interference  of  the  civil  authorities  was  invoked.  These 
were  warm  times.  But  what  was  to  be  done  ?  The  troubles 
came  to  an  end  in  this  way :  the  young  man,  whom  the  mother 
could  not  and  would  not  abide,  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  hand 
of  the  daughter,  and  then,  as  we  might  suppose  from  his  very 
name,  if  for  no  other  reason,  vmlhed  off  with  her.  This  play  upon 
the  name  Wallcer  recalls  a  story  that  is  still  current  in  the  old 
home,  and  I  may  be  permitted  to  drop,  for  a  moment,  the  thread 
of  my  story,  to  repeat  it,  after  the  habit  of  loquacious  old  ladies. 

Those  old  controversies  were  carried  on,  not  without  consid- 
erable bitterness.  The  General  Court  had  interfered  to  adjust  the 
matters  in  dispute  between  the  two  Church  parties.  It  decided 
that  the  Walker  party  should  have  the  use  of  the  Meeting-House 
a  part  of  the  Lord's  Day.  Upon  one  occasion,  Mr.  Walker  had  in 
a  sermon  made  some  declaration  which  Dr.  Chauncy  had  con- 
strued as  unjust,  and  as  reflecting  upon  himself  In  the  afternoon, 
or  upon  the  next  Sabbath,  Dr.  Chauncy  took  for  his  text  this 
passage  :  "Be  sober,  be  vigilant,  because  your  adversary  the  devil, 
as  a  roaring  lion,  walketh  about,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour." 
His  first  point  was,  "  You  see,  my  Brethren,  that  the  devil  is  a 
great  walker.'''' 

How  much  of  this  is  fact,  and  how  much  merely  legend,  or  the 
gossip  of  the  period  handed  down,  much  exaggerated,  to  the 
present,  I  cannot  say,  but  it  may  serve  to  remind  us,  what  his- 
torical facts  amply  teach,  that  the  ecclesiastical  disputes  of  those 
days  engendered  warm  party  feelings,  and  rendered  absolutely 
necessary  an  entire  separation. 


II  I  K  T  ()  K  Y     OF     A  N  (•  1  E  M  T     AV  O  O  I)  K  M  Ji  Y  .  ]  055 

The  daugliter,  with  lic-r  chosen  spiritual  leader  and  guide,  left 
the  old  homestead,  and  in  choosing  lier  new  home  wisely  turned 
northAvai'd,  preferring  the  clear,  bracing  air  of  the  north  to  the 
damp  and  fog  and  malaria  of  the  shore  lands.  The  record  of 
these  two  hundred  years,  and  these  festivities  to-day,  testify  to 
the  wisdom  of  that  separation  and  of  that  choice. 

That  setting  forth  from  the  old  home  was  under  circumstances, 
and  amid  scenes,  which,  if  we  could  reproduce  them  in  our  imagi- 
nation to-day,  would  aid  us  in  rising  to  the  full  significance  of  this 
occasion.  The  Plantation  was  only  tliirty  years  old.  These  years 
had  been  yeai's  of  toil,  of  hard  work  in  subduing  the  wilderness, 
and  in  making  for  themselves  comfortable  liomes.  They  had  been 
spent  in  almost  constant  fear  of  the  depredations  and  attacks  of 
the  Indians.  One  generation  was  about  2)assing  away,  and  a  new 
generation  had  already  begun  to  take  up  and  carry  on  the  ever 
unfinished  work.  They  were  just  beginning  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
their  hard  pioneer  toil,  were  just  beginning  to  realize  the  benefits 
of  a  social  life,  well  ordered,  properly  systematized  as  to  govern- 
ment, adequately  equipped  and  adjusted  by  the  experiences  of 
those  thirty  years.  Those  years  had  been  years  chiefly  of  prepa- 
ration. The  settlement  was  now  assuming  the  appearance  and  the 
character  of  a  thrifty  agricultural  town.  It  must  have  required 
a  resoluteness  of  purpose,  backed  by  a  firm,  conscientious  regard 
for  duty,  for  that  little  baud  to  go  forth  at  such  a  time,  and  strike 
out  an  entii'ely  new  path  for  themselves,  to  begin  over  again  that 
same  laborious  work  of  making  new  homes  in  these  wild  w^ood- 
lands  of  the  north.  The  prime  motives  that  led  them  to  take  tliat 
step  were  vvdiolly  of  a  religious  nature.  Their  rights  as  church 
members  they  would  maintain.  Spiritual  interests  must  be  held 
paramount.  They  felt  that  they  could  not  remain  in  the  old 
church  home,  though  it  was  large  enough  to  contain  them,  if  the 
course  they  deemed  right  and  scriptural  was  not  pursued ;  so  they 
left  it.  They  had  pluck,  nerve  and  energy — stood  their  ground 
firmly  until  they  were  convinced  that  it  was  for  the  good  of  both 
parties  that  they  should  secede.  I  apprehend  that  at  the  last,  the 
spirit  that  prevailed  was  not  far  different  from  that  exhibited  in 
the  Patriarch  brother,  after  variances  had  arisen  in  the  family : 
"  Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray,  between  me  and  thee,  and  between 
my  herdsmen  and  thy  herdsmen  ;  for  we  be  brethren.  Is  not  the 
whole  land   before  thee:  separate  thyself  I  pray  thee  from  me. 


1056  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

If  thou  wilt  take  the  left  hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  right,  and  if 
thou  depart  to  the  right  hand  then  I  will  go  to  the  left." 

Fortunately  there  was  land  enough,  and  that  too  not  far  distant 
from  the  old  home.  Could  those  bold  spirits  who  planned  and 
achieved  that  work  of  settlement,  whose  names  shine  out  upon 
these  tablets  before  us  to-day,  see  what  we  of  this  generation  see, 
could  look  upon  these  well  tilled,  well  fenced  farms,  this  attractive 
thoroughfare,  bordered  by  this  cordon  of  cottage  and  homestead, 
indicative  all  of  such  comfort,  and  plenty,  and  taste,  could  behold 
what  would  be  to  them  of  by  far  greater  value,  and  in  their 
estimate  the  largest  proofs  of  their  success,  and  the  highest  earthly 
reward  of  their  sacrifices  and  toil,  these  marks  of  church  life  and 
church  progress  which  have  been  commensurate  with  the  growth 
of  the  outreaching  population,  they  might  well  believe  that  the 
Lord  went  up  with  them  and  before  them,  and  marked  out  for 
them  the  goodly  heritage  which  was  to  be  theirs,  and  their 
children's. 

All  honor  and  praise  from  us  be  to  that  devoted  band.  The  un- 
flinching fidelity  to  honest  convictions,  the  uncompromising  spirit 
of  attachment  to  what  was  to  them  the  truth  of  God,  which  they 
exhibited  at  the  sacrifice  of  so  much  they  held  dear,  were  the 
rightful  issue  of  the  Puritan  blood  that  flowed  in  their  veins.  Let 
us  emulate  their  spirit,  and  prove  ourselves  worthy  of  such  a 
godly  ancestry. 

The  old  mother  church,  whom  you  have  so  cordially  welcomed 
to  your  feast  of  remembrances  and  rejoicings  to-day,  most  heartily 
enters  into  your  spirit  of  devotion  to  the  fathers,  and  would,  even 
as  yourselves,  seek  to  be  animated  anew  for  the  work  of  the 
Divine  Master,  for  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  the 
earth.  May  the  blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  rest 
upon  all  these  Churches  represented  here,  endowing  them  with  a 
larger  measure  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  whereby  they  may  be  more 
thoroughly  consecrated  to  God  and  His  service. 

SouTHBURT ! — First  pledge  of  our  aflfections,  and  offspring  of 
our  heart  ((f  hearts,  dweller  in  the  fertile  plains  beside  the  beauti- 
ful river,  the  Jordan  of  our  ancient  inheritance,  with  maternal  joy 
we  greet  thee  I 

Response  by  Rev.  A,  B.  Smith. 


HIST  O  R  Y      OK      A  N  O  I  E  N  T      W  O  O  D  H  U  It  Y.  1  057 

Mb.  Chairman  : — In  reapondiDg  to  the  atFectionate  maternal 
greeting  of  this  church,  we,  the  eldest  offspring,  rejoice  in  being 
thus  welcomed  to  the  home  of  our  childhood  on  this  interesting 
and  joyous  occasion,  and  with  true  filial  aSection  in  connection 
with  our  younger  sisters,  we  would  to-day  seek  to  gladden  the 
heart  of  her  from  whom  we  had  our  origin.  Venerable  in  her  age, 
on  this  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  her  existence,  we  would 
render  to  her  all  due  respect  and  honor. 

It  is  a  joyful  occasion  where  all  the  scattered  children,  after 
years  of  separation,  gather  together  at  the  old  family  home.  Such 
is  the  occasion  we  enjoy  to-day,  and  few  in  these  degenerate  times 
can  boast  a  like  numerous  family.  It  reminds  us  of  the  olden 
time,  when  a  numerous  offspring  was  counted  a  blessing,  and  it 
was  really  felt,  that  "  happy  is  the  man  who  hath  his  quiver  full  of 
them."  I  doubt  not  the  joy  to-day  is  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  "  olive  plants  "  gathered  around  the  parental  table. 

But  when  the  scattered  members  of  the  family,  after  long  ab- 
sence, gatlier  at  the  old  home,  it  is  natural  that  they  should  review 
the  past,  and  talk  of  their  varied  experiences.  The  mother  is  sure 
to  rejoice  in  the  prosperity  of  all  her  children,  and  to  grieve  over 
and  sympathize  with  them  in  all  their  adversities. 

As  the  oldest  of  this  goodly  family,  having  now  attained  to  the 
respectable  age  of  138  years,  we  have,  as  has  been  here  hinted, 
received  the  fjiirest  natural  inheritance  of  the  whole  ancestral 
domain.  Our  lot  has  been  cast  on  "  the  fertile  plains,  beside  the 
beautiful  river,  the  Jordan  of  our "  venerable  mother's  "  ancient 
inheritance " — a  land  in  which  Lot  himself  might  have  looked 
with  eager,  wishful  eyes,  and  chosen  in  preference  to  the  hill 
country.  But  the  fertile  river  bottoms  always  possess  their  tempt- 
ations and  their  dangers.  Though  they  give  promise  of  an  imme- 
diate prosperit}',  and  for  this  reason  are  often  chosen  in  preference 
to  the  hill  country,  yet  they  are  liable  to  foster  luxury,  ease,  and 
consequent  idleness,  with  all  their  attendant  evils,  and  so  tend  ulti- 
mately to  degeneracy.  Such  locations,  therefore,  are  not  usually 
the  most  favorable  to  the  progress  of  true  religion,  and  the 
spiritual  prosperity  of  the  church.  As  the  vine  flourishes  the 
most  luxuriantly  in  the  rocky  glens  and  on  the  sunny  slopes  of 
the  hill  country,  so  the  churcli,  the  vine  of  God's  own  planting, 
has  usually  found  its  greatest  prosperity  in  the  rural  districts,  and 
among  the  hills,  where  there  were  few  temptations  to  luxury,  ease 
and  indolence.     Consequently,  our  younger  sisters  among  the  hills 


1 058  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

have  far  outstripped  us  in  numbers,  and  we  have  become  the 
smallest  and  Aveakest  of  them  all,  already  showing  signs  of  decrepi- 
tude and  decay.  But  as  God  has  hitherto  had  "  a  seed  to  serve 
Him  "  in  this  church  of  the  valley,  and  many  have  been  trained 
up  under  its  nurture  for  a  heavenly  inheritance,  we  trust  that  it 
will  continue  to  be  so  in  all  time  to  come.  The  ministry  com- 
menced by  Graham,  the  learned  Scotch  divine  of  noble  birth,  and 
continued  by  Wildman,  the  compeer  of  Bellamy,  and  by  Daniel 
A.  Clark,  the  great  sermonizer,  though  better  preacher  than  pas- 
tor, has  been  sustained  with  occasional  interruptions  to  the  present 
time,  though  latterly  on  a  less  settled  and  permanent  foundation. 
We  hope  that  on  a  field  where  so  much  good  seed  has  been  sown, 
and  watered  by  the  tears  and  prayers  of  rich,  eminent  men,  a 
brighter  day  will  ere  long  dawn,  when  a  new  impulse  shall  be 
given  to  everything  good  in  this  beautiful  valley — where  these 
tendencies  to  decay  shall  be  arrested,  and  enterprise,  and  virtue, 
and  true  piety  shall  be  on  the  increase,  and  the  church  shall  arise 
with  renewed  strength  and  vigor,  and  "put  on  her  beautiful  gar- 
ments," and  "  look  forth  as  the  morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as 
the  sun,  and  terrible"  to  her  enemies  "as  an  army  with  banners." 

Bethlehem  ! — Thou  "  house  of  bread,"  situate  like  the  Bethle- 
hem in  the  Holy  Land,  about  six  miles  from  thy  Jerusalem — nur- 
tured, enriched  and  adorned  by  Bellamy  and  Backus — we  greet 
thee,  second  child  of  our  love ! 

Response  by  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Banks. 

Mr.  Chairman  : — It  is  exceedingly  unfortunate  for  me  that  I 
am  not  a  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  apostolic  succession,  for  it 
would  be  comfortable,  to  say  the  least,  to  have  a  consciousness  of 
some  mysterious  power  or  grace  descending  to  me  from  my  pre- 
decessors, which  would  enable  me  to  do  justice  to  the  sentiment 
and  the  greeting  which  have  just  been  offered.  But  lacking  all 
such  power  or  grace,  I  must  express,  as  best  I  am  able  to  you,  sir, 
and  through  you,  to  our  venerable  and  venerated  mother,  the  con- 
gratulations of  the  second  daughter,  the  church  in  Bethlehem. 
Though  more  than  a  century  and  a  quarter  have  passed  since  she 
left  the  parental  roof,  yet  1  trust  that  the  home  instinct  is  not 
dead,  but  that  she  cherishes  and  would  have  expressed  to-day,  a 
warm  affection  for  the  mother  clmrch. 

The  church  in  Bethlehem  is  one  hundred  and   thirty  years  old 


II  1  S  T  O  U  V      O  F     xV  N  0  I  E  N  1'     \V  O  <)  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1059 

to-day.  Its  beginnings  were  weak  in  material  things,  but  strong 
in  faith.  Fourteen  families  living  on  the  hill-tops  in  "  the  East 
part  of  the  North  Purchase  of  Woodbury,"  finding  their  six  miles' 
walk  to  their  ancient  Jerusalem  through  winter's  storm  and  sum- 
mer's heat,  inconvenient,  determined  to  have  a  Mt.  Zion  of  their 
own,  and  with  a  faith  and  self-sacrifice  that  we  cannot  too  much 
admire,  this  handful  of  poor  but  heroic  settlers,  organized  them- 
selves into  a  church  of  Clirist,  and  made  provision  for  the  perma- 
nent support  of  the  gospel  ministry  among  them.  When  a  daugh- 
ter makes  an  advantageous  settlement  in  life,  the  mother's  heart 
is  made  glad.  So,  when  this  daughter  on  the  hills  gave  her  heart 
to  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Joseph  Bellamy,  the  mother 
church  in  the  valley  no  doubt  rejoiced.  Under  Dr.  Bellamy's  min- 
istry of  half  a  century,  "  the  handful  of  corn  on  the  top  of  the 
mountains  began  to  shake  like  Lebanon,"  Its  name  proved  to  be 
no  misnomer,  for  if  ever  a  church  received  abundance  of  spiritual 
food,  the  church  in  Bethlehem  did,  from  its  first  pastor. 

Of  one,  concerning  whom  so  much  has  been  written  and  so  well, 
it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  speak  with  justice  in  the  few  mo- 
ments allotted  me  at  this  time.  I  may  however  briefly  allude  to 
the  aflection  he  bore  to  the  church  over  v/hich  he  was  placed.  It 
may  serve  to  set  in  strong  contrast  the  lack  of  interest  with 
which  the  i)astoral  relation  is  now  viewed  by  many,  and  the  ease 
with  which  it  is  broken.  When  Dr.  Bellamy  was  at  tlie  zenith  of 
his  power  as  a  preacher,  being  regarded  as  second  only  to  Jona- 
than Edwards,  and  by  some  of  his  cotemporaries  as  superior  to 
him  in  many  respects ;  when  his  fame  bad  spread  all  over  the 
country,  and  even  to  England,  lie  received  a  flattering  invitation 
to  become  the  pastor  of  the  1st  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York 
City.  To  the  Consociation  called  to  advise  upon  the  subject,  he 
addressed  the  following  characteristic  letter: 

"  Bethleiieji,  Jan.  25th,  1754. 

"  Reverend  Gentlemen  : — My  people  give  me  salary  enough ; 
are  very  kind,  too ;  I  love  them,  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  I 
should  love  to  live  and  die  with  them.  There  are  many  difiicul- 
ties  in  the  way  of  my  going  to  New  York,  They  are  a  diflicult 
people;  don't  like  my  terms  of  communion,  and  some  of  their 
great  men  are  against  my  coming ;  I  am  not  polite  enough  for 
them  !  I  may  possibly  do  to  be  minister  out  in  the  woods,  but  am 
not  fit  for  a  city.    I  may  die  with  the  small-pox,  and  leave  a  widow 


1060  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    \V  O  O  D  U  U  R  Y  . 

and  fathei'less  children  in  a  helpless  condition.  My  people  will  be 
in  danger  of  ruin.  It  breaks  my  heart  to  think  that  the  interests 
of  religion  must  sink  among  my  people,  and  the  youth  run  riot, 
and  the  little  children  be  left  without  an  instructor.  I  humbly  de- 
sire, therefore,  nothing  may  be  done  without  the  utmost  delibera- 
tion ;  and  that  whatever  advice  you  shall  see  fit  to  give  me,  you  will 
let  me  and  my  people  know  what  grounds  you  go  upon.  Behold 
my  life  and  all  the  comforts  of  my  life,  and  my  usefulness  in  the 
world,  and  the  temporal  and  eternal  interests  of  my  people  lie  at 
stake ;  and  you,  reverend  gentlemen,  must  answer  it  to  God,  if  you 
should  give  me  any  wrong  advice  for  want  of  a  thorough  and 
most  solemn  and  impartial  weighing  ol  the  affair.  May  the  in- 
finitely wise  God  direct  you.  I  pray  you  to  consider  me  as  one  of 
your  unworthy  brethren,  almost  overwhelmed  with  concern,  and 
just  ready  to  sink  under  the  weight  of  this  afl'air,  and  quite  broken- 
hearted for  my  kind  and  dear  people.  Joseph  Bellamy." 

There  exists  in  his  handwriting  a  memorandum  of  an  imaginary 
dialogue  on  the  subject  of  his  "declaring"  as  it  was  technically 
called,  i.  e.  saying  that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go  to  New  York. 
Coming  at  length  to  the  supposition  that  he  has  "  declared,"  he 
writes ; 

"The  news  flies  through  the  country,  and  through  all  New 
England,  and  spreads  far  and  wide ;  and  every  one  has  his  say — 
nor  are  they  silent  in  hell !  " 

"  Carnal  People — Aha!  Aha!  Here  comes  the  man  that  pre- 
tended to  so  much  religion!  They  are  all  alike — a  pack  of 
rogues !  " 

"  Godly  People — Alas !  Alas !  What  has  he  done  ?  A  dread- 
ful affair  !  We  must  give  him  up,  without  pretending  to  vindi- 
cate his  conduct !  Alas  for  him  that  was  once  our  guide  and 
friend  !  " 

'•  Ne^o  York — Aha !  Aha  !  He  cares  not  for  his  people,  nor  is 
moved  by  their  tears,  nor  touched  by  their  cries  and  pleadings ! 
He  has  torn  away !  Right  or  wrong,  he's  resolved  to  come  though 
his  church  is  ruined  !     Aha !  Aha  !  Dollars  !   dollars !  dollars  !" 

'■'The  Devil — Hurrah!  I'm  right  glad  !  Now  the  old  tellow 
will  never  do  much  more  hurt  to  my  kingdom ! " 

"  All  Hell— Uxirnih  !  hurrah !  " 


H  I  S  ■]'  O  U  Y      »  K      A  N  (M  K  N  T      W  O  (>  1)  I!  V  11  Y  .  1061 

It  13  needless  to  state  that  Dr.  Bellamy  remained  "  in  the  woods  " 
with  the  church  of  his  first  love,  and  "his  sepulchre  is  with  us 
to  this  day."  Of  his  scarcely  less  illustrious  successor,  Dr.  Backus, 
time  forbids  me  to  speak.  The  ministry  of  these  two  men  of  God 
reached  over  a  period  of  VO  years,  more  than  half  the  history  of 
the  church.  Uuder  Dr.  Bellamy,  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty 
united  with  the  church,  and  uuder  Dr.  Backus,  one  hundred  and 
forty-eight.  Then  followed  the  shorter  ministries  of  Mr.  Langdon 
of  nine  years,  who  received  one  hundred  and  three  into  the 
church  ;  Mr.  Stanton  of  four  years,  who  received  twenty-two,  and 
Mr.  Couch  of  five  years,  who  received  fifty-two. 

These  were  sound,  godly  men,  whose  labors  resulted  in  much 
good.  The  church  received  as  its  next  pastor,  from  a  sister  church 
(Roxbury,)  Mr.  Harrison,  Avhose  ministiy'Avas  long,  peaceful  and 
prosperous.  He  received  into  membership  one  hundred  and  nine 
persons.  Of  the  two  later  pastors — known  to  you  all — still  labor- 
ing in  other  fields,  I  may  not  speak.  Mr.  Loomis  received  seven- 
ty-three into  the  church;  Mr.  Wright,  fourteen.  Under  the  pres- 
ent pastorate,  fifty-seven  have  united  with  the  church. 

Favored  with  such  a  ministry  in  the  past,  this  daughter  has  beeu 
sound  in  the  faith,  a  spiritual-minded  church,  and  often  refreshed 
with  heavenly  blessings.  In  such  a  family  gathering  as  this,  it 
may  not  be  immodest  for  her  briefly  to  state  some  facts  in  her 
history  of  which  she  feels  justly  proud.  She  was  among  the  first 
churches  in  the  land  to  see  the  folly  and  abandon  the  practice  of  the 
"  half-way  covenant."  She  is  a  temperance  society  by  a  vote  of  the 
church.  She  has  never  indulged  in  what  has  come  to  be  a  mod- 
ern luxury  to  most  churches — a  stated  supply.  She  believes  in  the 
holy  ordinance  of  ecclesiastical  marriage.  In  all  her  history  there 
have  been  but  four  years  in  which  she  has  been  without  a  pastor. 
Finally,  she  claims  to  have  the  oldest  Sabbath  School  (in  the 
modern  form  of  that  institution)  in  the  country,  if  not  in  the 
world.  Forty  years  before  Robert  Raikes  ever  thought  of  such 
a  thing,  the  first  pastor  of  this  church,  with  his  deacons,  was  wont 
to  gather  on  Sabbath  noon,  the  youth  of  the  congregation  into 
classes  for  instruction  from  the  Bible  and  the  Catechism.  That 
Sabbath  School  has  maintained  an  unbroken  organization  down  to 
this  day.  The  daughter  on  the  hills  has  never  been  and  probably 
never  will  be  a  large  church.  She  is  located  in  a  sparsely  settled 
agricultural  community,  whose  high  hills  and  deep  vales  no  railroad 
will  dare  look  in  the  face.     Emigration  constantly  drains  off  her 


1062  HISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBUKY. 

young  people.  Two  churches  of  other  denominations  have  grown 
up  by  her  side,  and  to  a  great  extent  out  of  her  material.  But 
she  trusts  that  she  has  a  mi>!sion  in  the  future  as  she  has  had  in 
the  past.  That  mission  will  be  to  endeavor  to  sanctify  the  stream 
of  young  life  that  flows  out  from  her  as  naturally  as  the  waters 
run  from  her  hills,  that  it  may  prove  a  blessing  to  the  churc^h  of 
Christ  and  to  the  world.  If  she  shall  send  forth  in  the  future  any 
"  streams  that  shall  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God,"  she  will  not 
live  in  vain,  even  though  she  continue  to  be  "  among  the  least  of 
Princes  of  Judea."  May  the  daughter  on  the  hills  never  be 
mothertheless,  and  may  the  mother  in  the  valley  never  mourn  the 
loss  of  her  daughter,  iintil  we  are  all  taken  to  our  Father's  home 
in  the  church  triumphant. 

Judea! — Thou  "praise  of  the  Lord,"  seated  on  thy  hill  like  the 
ancient  hill  of  Zion  ;  beautiful  for  situation,  fit  place  for  a  new 
temple  ;  "  Unanymously  and  Lovingly  Agreed  upon,"  third  pledge 
of  our  affections,  we  greet  thee ! 

Response  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Colton. 

Mr.  President  : — I  should  almost  have  imagined,  but  for  the 
address  of  the  last  speaker,  (Rev.  G.  W.  Banks),  that  I  was  in  a 
Woman's  Rights  Convention,  so  much  has  been  said  about  Grand- 
mother,  and  Mother^  and  Daughters,  in  the  remarks  already  made. 
But  as  I  looked  around  me,  and  caught  sight  of  various  beards 
and  mustaches,  and  other  evidences  of  the  presence  of  the  mas- 
culine persuasion  in  the  audience  generally,  and  remembered  that 
we  had  just  been  attending  the  dedication  of  the  Fathers'  Monu- 
ment, and  saw  from  the  programme  that  the  speaking  on  this 
occasion  was  to  be  by  men^  I  felt  reassured  of  the  character  of  the 
event  which  has  convened  us  here. 

1  ought,  in  passing,  to  notice  the  observations  of  ray  good 
brother  from  Southbury,  (Rev.  Mr.  Smith),  who  has  informed  us 
in  glowing  terms  how  delightfully  his  Church  is  situated  on  "  the 
Jordan,"  and  has  dilated  on  the  pleasantness  of  the  region  there- 
about, in  language  highly  wrought  and  very  jubilant.  But  ac- 
cording to  my  studies  in  Sacred  Geography,  the  Jordan  runs 
through  Jndta^  and  I  feel  quite  disposed  to  claim  a  part  of  that 
same  river  and  the  lovely  valley  adjacent,  for  that  third  daughter, 
which  I  represent,  in  my  response  to-day.  I  have  also  read  in  an 
old  prophet,  words  like  these:  "Thou  Bethlehem  in  the  land  of 


IlISTOKV      OF     ANCtKN'l'     W  O  O  D  K  U  U  Y  .  1063 

Judah  {J'udea  f)  art  not  the  least  among  the  thousands  of  Israel," 
— so  I  think  we  on  the  hills  may  fairly  share  in  the  honors  as  well 
as  territory  of  some  of  our  neighbors. 

Speaking  of  Bethlehem,  sir,  reminds  nie  of  the  story  Dr. 
Taylor  used  to  tell  of  Drs.  Bellamy  and  Backus,  the  famous  pas- 
tors of  that  Church,  formerly.  Some  one  asked  an  old  negro,  who 
had  sat  for  many  years  under  their  preaching,  which  of  the  two 
he  liked  the  best?  " Massa  Bellamy,  sir."  "  Why  so.  Sambo ?  " 
"  'Cause,  Massa  Backus  make  God  big — but  Massa  Bellamy  make 
God  bio-ger ! " 

May  it  be  the  aim  and  lot  of  him,  the  now  pastor  of  this 
Church,  so  to  magnify  God  to  the  people  by  his  preaching,  that 
some  witness  will  in  future  time  testify  of  him^  that  he  also  "  made 
God  bigger ! " 

Now,  as  to  the  occasion  that  has  called  us  together,  I  have  to 
observe,  that  whenever  the  children  are  invited  home  to  Thanks- 
giving, the  first  thing  they  wish  to  find  js,  that  the  old  lady^  their 
rtiother,  is  v^ell.  If  they  discover  her  eye  undimmed,  her  cheek 
still  unfaded,  and  the  old  vigor  in  her  step,  then  are  they  glad. 
The  times  of  yore  seem  to  come  back.  And  this  is  what  we 
discover  about  our  mother  here  to-day.  Certainly,  no  signs  of 
decrepitude  or  decay  are  visible  in  her  appearance.  I  remember 
once  taking  tea  with  an  old  lady  of  nearly  one  hundred  years  of 
age ;  and,  on  asking  the  honor  of  escorting  her  to  the  table,  and 
remarking  admiringly  how  nimble  was  her  step,  and  vigorous  her 
appetite,  she  observed,  as  she  was  helped  to  biscuit  and  cake,  and 
other  things  :  "  Old  folks  like  good  things  as  well  as  young  folks !  " 
She  had,  as  I  said,  a  good  appetite,  but  she  died  about  a  week  or 
two  afterwards ! 

And  so  our  old  lady  here  in  Woodbury,  two  hundred  years  old, 
has  a  quick  step,  and  looks  well,  and  for  aught  I  have  observed  to 
the  contrary,  has  shown  as  hearty  an  appetite  in  the  town  hall  at 
the  table  to-day,  as  any  of  her  daughters.  Certainly  she  has 
shown  the  old  hospitality. 

Another  thing  children  want  to  know  when  they  come  back  to 
Thanksgiving,  is,  whether  their  mother  is  keeping  house  in  the 
same  old  place.  If  they  found  her  in  a  boarding-house  or  hotel, 
how  difierently  they  would  feel !  The  old  feeling  of  the  fireside 
and  the  table  would  be  gone,  and  they  would  not,  as  of  old,  seem 
to  be  at  home. 

Now  we  are  happy  to  find  that  our  venerable  mother  here  is  still 


10f)4  II  1  ST  OK  Y     OF      ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  E  U  K  Y  . 

housekeeping.  This  goodly  house,  especially  fair  internally,  gives 
satisfactory  evidence  of  her  good  condition,  and  of  her  future 
prospects  as  well,  and  we  are  quite  comforted  on  that  score. 

And  then  again,  since  this  is  a  Thanksgiving  Jubilee,  the 
children  are  always  eager  to  know  if  their  old  mother\'^  love  for 
theia  still  remains. 

Should  there  be  any  falling  ofl'  of  afl'ection,  how  grieved  they 
would  be!  The  home  would  seem  home  no  more,  if  the  mother, 
as  well  as  father,  should  be  found  to  be  changed  in  the  quality  of 
their  feeling  for  their  children. 

We  are  happy  to  find  no  such  change  of  aftection  in  the  hearty 
welcome  we  have  all  received  here  to-day.  The  mother  church 
keeps  the  old  love  alive,  and  for  that  we  thank  God  and  are 
grateful. 

One  thing  more  the  children  want  to  know  when  they  come 
back,  as  we  now  do,  to  the  ancient  homestead,  and  that  is,  if  the 
old  mother  keeps  the  flame  of  piety  alive  and  pure,  as  in  the  days 
of  their  youth.  Is  the  Bible  still  in  the  same  familiar  place,  and 
well  worn,  and  loved,  and  reverenced,  as  of  old? 

We  are  glad  to  find  evidence  that  such  is  the  fact  with  our  dear 
and  venerated  mother  here,  and  rejoice  that  God,  in  His  great 
goodness,  has  continued  so  spiritually  to  bless  her  in  all  these 
years,  down  to  this  hour. 

In  behalf  of  the  church  in  Judea,  therefore,  I  congratulate  our 
mother  church  on  her  past  and  present  prosperity.  This  third 
daughter  on  the  hills,  of  which  1  am  pastor,  has  outgrown  her 
sister  churches,  and  is  the  only  one  of  them,  also,  that  has  ever 
outgrown  in  numbers  the  mother  herself,  having  now  over  240 
members,  more  than  60  having  been  admitted  by  profession  within 
the  four  years  of  my  ministry,  while  the  Sabl)ath  School  embraces 
375  scholars  and  teachers. 

May  these  sister  churches  strive  in  all  the  coming  times  to  be 
faithful  to  God,  that,  at  last,  their  work  on  earth  being  done,  all 
the  members  of  the  same  may  liear  the  voice  of  the  final  Judge 
saying :  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants ;  ye  have  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  you  ruler  over  many 
things ;  enter  ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord." 

RoxBUKY ! — Dweller  in  the  "  hill  country,"  and  along  the  river 
of  the  hills,  brave   witness  for  the   truth,  and  companion  of  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1065 

faithful,  fourth  blessing  from  a  Bountiful  Hand,  we  welcome  thee 
to  the  old  fireside  ! 

Response  by  Rev.  A.  Goodenough. 

Mk.  Chairman  : — Since  this  occasion  naturally  invites  our 
attention  to  the  past,  I  feel  that  it  would  be  more  appropriate  could 
Roxbury  be  represented  by  one  who  has  shared  more  fully  than 
myself  in  her  past  history — yet  I  flatter  myself  that  in  one  par- 
ticular I  may  have  my  fitness  as  a  representative.  More  than  any 
other  community  in  which  it  has  been  my  fortune  to  live,  ours  is 
deficient  in  the  gift  which  finds  public  expression  in  words — not 
of  course  from  lack  of  thought  or  ability,  (which  we  would  not 
for  a  moment  concede),  but,  as  I  take  it,  from  excessive  diffidence. 
If  this  brevity  should  be  the  soul  of  my  wit,  I  shall  have  no  doubt 
of  the  fitness  of  it,  and  hope  it  may  be  accounted  wisdom. 

As  has  been  suggested,  we  also  belong  to  the  "  hill  country," 
and  I  think  it  might  truly  be  said  of  u{>  as  of  the  chosen  nation  in 
the  older  time.  "  The  Lord  our  God  hath  brought  us  into  a  good 
land  ;  a  land  of  brooks  of  water,  of  fountains  and  depths  that 
spring  out  of  valleys  and  hills  ;  a  land  wherein  we  shall  eat  bread 
without  scarceness ;  we  shall  not  lack  any  good  thing  in  it,  a  land 
whose  stones  are  iron."  A  land  of  hills  and  valleys,  and  that 
drinketh  water  of  the  rain  of  heaven  ;  a  land  which  the  Lord  our 
God  careth  for  ;  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  our  God  are  upon  it  from 
the  beginning  of  the  year  even  unto  the  end  of  the  year." 

Perhaps  also,  so  far  as  it  is  the  home  of  our  choice,  we  may  take 
some  credit  to  ourselves — for,  in  the  prophecy  of  Agur,  the  conies 
— a  feeble  folk — are  pronounced  "  exceeding  wise  "  because  they 
make  their  dwelling  among  the  rocks. 

There  is  the  less  need  that  I  should  speak  in  detail  concerning 
the  history  of  our  chui'ch,  because  we  claim  a  share  in  the  glory  of 
that  common  history  which  has  been  already  brought  before  us. 

Though  we  claim  to  be  the  "  heirs  of  all  the«.ges,"  we  especially 
cherish  the  heritage  which  has  come  down  to  us  through  the  faith 
and  faithfulness  of  those  earnest  men  and  women  who  first  planted 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  among  these  hills.  We  reverence  the 
memory  of  those  who  before  our  time  bravely  witnessed  for  the 
truth,  and  through  severe  labors  and  discouragements  kept  their 
faith  to  the  end,  and  it  is  our  cherished  ambition  to  hand  down  to 
our  children  untarnished  the  blessed  inheritance  we  ourselves  have 


1066  IIISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT     W  O  O  1)  Ji  U  IJ  Y  . 

received  from  our  fathers.  The  liearts  of  many  children  are  turn- 
ing toward  the  Father  to-day,  inquiring  for  the  old  paths,  and 
desiring  to  walk  in  them.  (Indeed.  I  sometimes  think  that  not 
only  does  our  reverence  extend  to  tlie  o]d  jyaths,  but  that  we  are 
occasionally  proud  to  sticlv  in  the  same  old  ntts,  which  were  worn 
by  the  ancient  cart  wheels). 

We  delight  to  gather  to-day  around  the  old  fireside,  rejoicing  in 
the  past,  yet  thankfully  recognizing  the  larger  growth  of  the 
present,  and  looking  forward  with  joyful  confidence  to  the  days 
yet  to  come,  in  which  the  perfect  harvest  of  good  shall  be  garnered 
from  the  sown  seed  of  the  past. 

Though  allusions  to  a  lady's  age  are  not  always  welcome,  they 
seem  to  be  the  fashion  to-day,  and  since  our  Mother  Church  seems 
proud  of  her  natural  position,  and  herself  invites  us  to  celebrate 
her  birthday,  we  join  in  congratulating  her  on  bearing  her  years 
so  well,  and  sincerely  hope  that  she  may  live  long  in  the  land — 
vigorous  in  perpetual  youth,  strengthening  her  children  by  her 
sympathy,  and  guiding  them  by  her  example  to  the  perfection  of 
righteousness  and  faith. 

South  Britain! — Dweller  in  the  Southwest,  along  the  banks 
of  the  "  Great  River,"  "beyond  the  mountains,"  fifth  pledge  of 
faith,  hope  and  charity,  right  heartily  do  we  welcome  thee  to  the 
old  family  gathering ! 

Response  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Newcomb. 

A^enerable  mother  in  Israel,  gladly  at  thy  bidding  we  have  come 
around  "  the  mountains  "  and  up  the  little  river  towards  its  source, 
here  to  receive  thy  greeting  and  to  offer  thee  our  warm  congratu- 
lations at  this  happy  family  gathering.  Had  the  pioneers  who 
came  before  thee,  mother,  come  by  the  path  we  came,  they  would 
not  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  clambering  over  those  west- 
ern rocks  and  hills  to  obtain  their  first  view  of  this  beautiful 
valley.  But  it  is  tv^ell  for  us  that  they  missed  their  direction,  and 
passed  by  the  mouth  of  the  little  Pomperaug,  seeking  in  vain 
farther  Up  the  "  Great  River "  a  more  promising  branch  that 
should  lead  them  to  their  future  home ;  else  this  happy  gathering 
would  not  now  be  enjoying  the  blessings  of  Heaven  resulting 
from  the  prayer  of  the  sainted  Deacon  John  Minor,  on  Good  Hill, 
where,  after  their  weary  climbing,  they  first  cast  eyes  on  their 
land  of  promise. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1067 

We  feel  somewhat  abaslieJ  in  view  of  the  peculiar  relations  in 
which  we  stand  to  this  family  here  gathered.  We  are  thine  only 
grand-daughter,  ancient  mother,  the  sole  otfspring  of  thine  eldest 
daughter.  We  are  aware,  too,  that  there  is  here  a  more  venerable 
presence,  thine  honored  mother,  making  thy  daughters  grand- 
daughters also  ;  but  at  the  same  time  making  us  the  only  little 
great-grand-daughter  present.  So,  though  our  youth  makes  us 
bashful,  we  presume  a  little  on  thy  tender  regard  and  kind  con- 
sideration. 

We  lead  a  pleasant  life  over  there  by  the  "  Great  River."  But 
Ave  would  not  have  thee  think  that  we  are  come  from  the  ends  of 
the  earth,  for  we  have  heard  that  there  ai'e  still  higher  mountains 
aird  greater  rivers  beyond  ;  and  some  of  our  young  people  have 
even  seen  them. 

We  are  enjoying  a  pleasant  and  prosperous  life  over  there.    We 
ourselves  feel  somewhat  old,  mother,  having  entered  one  year  into 
the  second  century  which  thou    art  just  leaving.     But  years  do 
not  weaken  us.     We  have  renewed   our  age,  having  put   on  the. 
habiliments  of  youth,  and  we   are  looking  for  a  prosperous  future. 

^\''e  think  we  have  kept  the  pledge.  We  "  hold  fast  the  pro- 
fession of  our  faith."  We  earnestly  "contend  for  the  faith  which 
was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints."  We  have  that  hope,  which  is 
"  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul ;  "  we  put  on  that  "  charity  which  is  the 
bond  of  perfectness."  We  are  looking  forward  to  a  larger,  hap- 
pier, more  glorious  family  gathering  than  this  ;  where  "  they  shall 
come  from  the  east  and  frc)m  the  west,  and  from  the  north  and 
from  the  south,  and  shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God."  We 
hope  to  meet  thee  and  thy  daughters  there  ;  and  to  furnish  a  list 
of  honored  names  written  in  the  "  Book  of  Life  ;"  and  to  add 
to  the  royal  diadem  of  our  King  a  cluster  of  stars  that  have  shone 
with  greater  or  less  lustre  here,  and  will  shine  still  brighter  there  ; 
among  them,  first  and  foremost,  Tyler,  champion  of  the  faith ; 
Smith,  early  called  to  his  reward,  and  Iiutterfield,  embalmed  in 
in  the  memory  of  many  still  living.  May  we  all  meet  there, 
where  the  distinctions  of  age  shall  be  done  away ;  where  Christ 
shall  be  our  elder  brother,  and  we,  all  brethren. 

Woodbury  North! — Latest  and  nearest,  the  child  of  our  old 
age,  co-dweller  in  this  beautiful  land  of  promise,  and  co-laborer  in 
every  good  word  and  work  in  the  Lord,  with  motherly  pride  and 
affection  we  welcome  you  to  this  our  glad  jubilee ! 

Response  by  Rev.  .Tohn  Churchill. 
15 


1068  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Mr.  President  ; — In  responding  in  behalf  of  the  North  Church, 
to  the  cordial  invitation  and  welcome  which  you  have  extended 
to  us,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  we  are  exceedingly  happy  to  be 
present,  and  to  be  made  welcome  to  participate  with  you  in  the 
Christian  associations  of  this  most  interesting  occasion.  The 
emotions  of  the  hour  rise  altogether  too  high  for  utterance,  and  I 
am  not  able  to  speak  with  that  calmness  and  considerateness  that 
would  seem  to  be  most  becoming. 

It  is  proper,  perhaps,  that  the  confession  should  here  be  publicly 
made,  that  as  jealousies  and  disagreements  sometime  arise  among 
the  members  of  the  same  family,  who  dwell  upon  the  same  old 
homestead,  so  there  have  been  some  discord  and  want  of  good 
fellowship  between  us  ;  yet  I  am  happy  to  say,  that  at  no  time  has 
there  been  any  total  disruption  of  Christian  confidence  and  fellow- 
ship, and  that  whatever  may  have  existed^  of  an  unpleasant 
nature,  at  any  time,  has  passed  away,  and  is  among  the  buried 
debris  of  the  Past,  and  that  to-day  our  fellowship  an.l  concord  are 
without  any  barriers  or  embarrassments.  Let  us  praise  God  to- 
gether to-day,  that  churches  that  might  seem  to  have  local  rival 
interests,  are  able,  through  His  grace,  to  maintain  the  peace  and 
"  fellowship  of  the  saints." 

I  had  sup])Osed,  sir,  that  it  would  be  ex])ected  on  this  occasion 
as  the  daughters  return  to  their  ancestral  home,  that  they  would 
relate  their  experiences,  and  tell  their  mother  and  'their  sisters 
what  had  been  the  dealings  of  a  kind  Providence  with  them  since 
their  separation. 

We  are  here,  Mr.  President,  to  commemorate  the  Christian 
results  of  the  planting  of  this  church  in  the  wilderness  two  hun- 
dred years  ago,  and  we  have  come  by  your  invitation,  not  only  to 
join  in  your  rejoicings,  and  to  make  our  courtesy,  but  to  tell  you 
how  we  have  prospered  in  our  respective  households.  I  hope  I 
maybe  indulged,  therefore,  in  a  brief  statement  concerning  the 
history  of  your  youngest  daughter. 

The  North  Church  in  Woodbury  was  organized  by  a  colony 
from  this  church,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1816,  on  the  2oth  of 
December.  The  colony  consisted  of  eleven  males  and  twenty 
females,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  These,  I  see,  are 
present  here  to-day. 

The  church  remained  without  a  pastor  until  the  following  July, 
when,  on  the  2  7th  of  that  month,  Rev,  Grove  L.  Brownell  was 
ordained  and  installed  the  ])astor.     Judging  from   the  results  of 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOD  P.  TRY.  1069 

his  labors,  it  must  be  allowed  that  he  was  a  very  capable  and 
faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel  During  the  first  year  of  his  min- 
istry, fifteen  were  added  to  the  church  by  profession ;  the  next 
year,  ten  ;  during  the  next  three  years,  thii-ty-six  ;  during  the  next 
three  years,  thirty-nine  were  added;  the  next  three  years,  sixty- 
three  ;  and  so  on  at  this  ratio  for  the  whole  period  of  his  ministry, 
which  continued  for  about  twenty  three  years.  The  whole  number 
received  by  profession  during  his  ministry  is  two  hundi'ed  and 
thirty-eight —  a  little  moi'e  than  an  average  of  ten  persons  for  each 
year.  Forty  were  of  the  church  when  he  entered  on  his  ministry, 
and  fifty-eight  were  added  by  letters  from  other  churches,  so  that 
there  were  three  hundied  and  seventy-five  persons  connected  with 
the  church  during  tlie  first  pastorate. 

It  is  due  to  the  meu  who  constituted  tlie  church  fifty-four  years 
ago,  nearly  all  of  whom  liave  })assed  away,  to  say  that  they  were 
earnest,  resolute,  capable,  Christian  men,  wlio  shrank  not  from 
responsibility,  who  feared  not  hardship,  and  who  made  great  oer- 
sonal  sacrifices  to  build  a  church,  and  sustain  the  public  insti. 
tntions  of  religion.  They  present  a  noble  example  of  Christian 
enterprise,  which  it  would  be  equally  noble  and  Christian,  in  their 
■children  and  successors,  to  emulate.  Possibly  they  constitute  a 
portion  of  that  "cloud  of  witnesses,"  holding  in  view  the  doings 
of  those  who  succeed  then]. 

Under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  BrownelPs  successor,  which  began 
in  April,  1840,  in  less  than  a  year  after  his  dismission,  and  which 
■continued  for  a  period  of  twenty-seven  and  a  half  years,  there 
were  gathered  into  the  church  by  profession,  one  hundred  and 
ninety-seven.  Almost  the  entire  congregation,  at  the  close  of 
that  ministry,  on  the  last  Sabbath  in  September,  1867,  were  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  Since  then,  for  a  pei'iocl  of  two  and  a  half 
y^ars,  the  churcli  has  been  without  a  pastor. 

Such,  briefly,  Mr.  President,  has  been  the  success  of  your  young- 
est daughter,  the  North  Church  in  Woodbury.  "  Hitherto  tlie 
Lord  hath  helped  us."  Our  course  has  been  oue  of  uniform  jiros- 
perily,  and  we  are  grateful  that  we  can  bring  to-day,  such  a 
record  of  His  goodness  and  mercy,  to  the  honor  not  onh'  of  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church,  but  of  our  venerable  mother,  as  well. 

I  beg  leave  now,  Mr.  President,  to  give  way,  and  introduce  to 
the  audience  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shipman,  of  Jewett  City,  who,  for 
ii  consiilerable  number  of  years,  was  pastor  of  the  Church  in 
South])urv. 


lOTO  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipm.an  responded  as  follows  : 

The  privilege  is  accorded  me  of  recalling  the  name,  and  lingering 
a  moment  on  the  memory  of  one  of  your  deceased  pastors,  Rev. 
Mr.  Andrews.  I  made  his  acquaintance  soon  after  I  came  into 
the  vicinity.  He  impressed  me,  upon  my  first  introduction,  as  a 
man  of  singular  purity,  an  impression  which  all  my  future  inter- 
course served  only  to  confirm.  He  was  a  man  of  the  nicest  sensi- 
bilities ;  the  cords  of  his  lieart  vibrated  to  the  slightest  touch  ; 
his  tender  sensibilities  often  filled  his  eyes  with  tears.  He  had  a 
look  which  none  who  knew  him  can  forget,  and  which  it  would  be 
vain  for  any  one  to  imitate.  There  was  that  in  his  tone,  when  his 
soul  was  stirred  to  its  depths,  which  strangely  penetrated  your 
heart.  I  remember  at  tlie  meeting  of  the  Consociation  in  Har- 
winton,  in  the  summer  of  1831 — that  year  so  remarkable  for  the 
outporings  of  the  Spirit — he  was  called  to  officiate  at  the  admin- 
istration of  the  Lord's  Supper.  As  he  rose,  and  cast  a  look  over 
the  assembly,  every  heart  seemed  to  be  moved,  and  before  he 
closed  the  first  sentence,  the  house  became  a  perfect  Bochim.  It 
was  not  so  much  what  he  said,  as  his  manner  of  saying  it.  "  We 
are  about  to  approach  the  foot  of  the  Eternal  throne,  and  how  can 
we  come  ?"  I  was  present  at  the  ordination  of  his  son-in-law,  Rev.. 
William  Aitchison,  who  gave  himself  to  Christ  and  to  China. 
"My  son,"  was  uttered  with  a  tone  and  a  look  which  thrilled  at 
least  one  heart.  His  prudence  was  memorable.  At  one  time  the 
regiment  of  which  I  was  then  chaplain  met  at  Woodbury.  Mr. 
Andrew  was  invited  to  dine  with  us.  He  sat  at  my  side,  and 
opposite  to  us  sat  a  member  of  the  society  committee  of  a  neigh- 
boring parish.    "  ^Ir.  Andrew,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  do  you  know 

why  Mr. was  dismissed  from- ?"      He    waited    a 

moment ;  I  rather  guess  he  shut  his  eyes.  "  I  do  not  think  I  am 
sufticiently  acquainted  with  the  facts  to  state  them  correctly." 
Had  he  replied,  "there  was  some  disafiection  toward  him  among 
his  people,"  the  report  would  have  gone  over  the  hills,  gaining  as 
it  traveled :  "  Rev.  31r.   Andrew,  of  Woodl)ury,  says   there  was 

great  disaffection  at ."     He  was  a  man  of  much  culture  ; 

he  held  a  polished  pen.  He  often  wrote  for  the  Quarterly  Christian 
Spectator,  and  his  articles  are  among  the  choicest  contributions  to 
that  periodical.  I  would  particularly  direct  attention  to  the 
article  in  the  December  No.  for  1833,  entitled,  "What  is  the  real 
"difference  between  the  New  Haven  Divines  and  those  who  oppose 


II  I  S  T  O  II  Y     OF     A  N  C  I  E  X  T     M'  O  O  D  15  U  11  Y  .  1 07 1 

them  ?"  The  paper  was  read  at  the  minister's  meeting  in  South- 
bury,  and  published  at  the  request  of  the  brethren.  The  contro- 
versy was  at  that  time  very  earnest,  not  to  say  sometimes  bitter. 
Whatever  was  then  thought,  or  whatever  may  be  still  thought  of 
the  "  New  Haven  Divines,"  all  will  agree  that  Mr.  Andrew  stated 
their  position  with  great  calmness  and  clearness.  His  article  in 
the  Ko.  for  September,  1830,  entitled,  "Review  of  Advice  to  a 
Young  Christian,"  and  the  article  .in  the  Maix-h  No.  for  1832,  en- 
titled, "Assurance  of  their  piety  ])eculiarly  the  duty  of  Christians 
at  the  present  day,"  are  papers  of  great  excellence.  Mr.  Andrew 
was  one  whom  all  Avho  knew  love  to  think  of  Avhen  alone.  It 
makes  us  better  at  least  for  the  moment  only  to  think  of  him,  and 
M'e  love  to  talk  of  him  when  we  meet,  and  one  of  our  most  cher- 
ished anticipations  is,  renewing  our  acquaintance  with  him  in  our 
Father's  kingdom. 

Rev.  Austin  Isliam  was  next  called  up  by  the  chairman,  and 
gave  some  very  interesting  reminiscenses,  a  copy  of  wliich  the 
editor  has  been  unable  to  obtain. 

The  following  letters  were  tl^eu  read  by  the  pastor: 

Letter  of  Rev.  ChxVrles  E.  Robixsox,  of  Troij^  N.  Y. 

Dear  Bkothee  Lixsley: — I  would  greatly  like  to  be  with  you 
at  the  celebration  of  the  bi-centeiinial  anniversary  of  your  dear 
old  church.  I  have  an  interest  in,  and  love  for  that  field  which 
can  never  die.  The  fresh  dewy  morning  of  my  ministry  dawned 
there.  There  are  souls  there  either  brought  to  Jesus  under  ray 
Ministry,  or  thi'ough  the  goodness  of  God  quickened  by  it,  whose 
Christian  lives,  chai"acteristics  and  graces,  stand  out  with  crys- 
taline  distinctness.  There  are  certain  hours  and  days,  which,  amid 
the  long  procession  of  indistinguishable  days,  are  radiant  with 
sacred  memories.  Tliere  are  some  of  those  precious  Tuesday 
evening  Cottage  prayer  meetings,  where  the  position  of  indi- 
viduals at  the  meeting,  the  exjiression  of  their  faces,  the  words 
spoken,  and  the  songs  we  sang,  are  as  clearly  before  me  as  if  no 
time  had  elapsed. 

Faces  which  we  shall  see  no  more.  Blessed  ones  anticipating  us 
in  the  joys  of  Heaven. 

There  are  fields  over  which  I  strayed,  bridges,  leaning  from 
which,  I  quieted  my  disturbed  soul  in  the  sweet  murmuring  of  the 


1072  UISTORY      OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 

Stream.  There  are  certain  points  on  the  summit  of  those  Orenang- 
rocks,  from  which  I  took  in  the  unsurpassed  loveliness  of  the 
Woodbury  valley,  all  of  which  are  now,  by  the  power  of  memory^ 
a  part  of  my  life,  and  which  I  would  not  willingly  forget. 

There  was  an  impression  made  upon  me  in  my  pastorate  there, 
growing  out  of  the  old  associations  which  enfolded  me,  which,  I 
cannot  help  feeling,  must  be  valuable  to  any  laborer  in  that  field* 
Those  three  graves  of  Walker,  Stoddard  and  Benedict,  with  their 
flocks  all  folded  about  them,  (for  I  think  that  I  laid  away  to  her 
last  resting  place,  the  last  member  of  the  church  under  Pastor 
Benedict),  all  seemed  to  tell  me  to  be  faithful.  I  could  not  help 
the  feeling  that  those  old  fathers  were  looking  down  with  interest 
upon  tlie  thread  of  their  work  which  they  had  let  drop,  at  death, 
and  which,  in  God's  providence,  after  passing  through  various 
faithful  hands,  I  had  taken  up. 

May  God  continue  to  bless  that  old  First  Church  through  all 
the  years  until  the  bridegroom  comes ! 

Present  to  the  friends  gathered  there  my  fraternal  greetings, 
and  my  sincere  regrets,  that  in  this  case,  I  cannot  be  in  two  places 
at  once. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  Brother,  to  be  your  attached  friend  now,  as 
I  was  formerly  your  Pastor. 

CHARLES  E.  PvOBINSON. 

Teoy,  N.  Y.,  Ajyril  20th,  18V0. 

P.  S. — Please  send  me,  if  convenient,  some  account  of  your 
gatherincr. 


Letter  o/'Rev.  Charles  Little,  of  NehrasJca. 

LiNCOLis^,  Nebraska,  April  13th,  1870. 
P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  Committee. 

Dear  Brother  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  note  of  the  4th  inst ,  inviting  me  to  participate  in  the  pro- 
posed observance  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  your  church* 

It  would  give  me  very  great  pleasure  to  be  present  on  that 
occasion,  there  to  renew  the  friendships  of  the  past.  Of  the  places 
on  earth,  not  few  nor  very  many,  to  which   memory  delights  to 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1073 

return  and  to  recall  the  sacred  associations  there  formed,  one  of 
the  freshest  and  most  cherished  is  Woodbury. 

The  parsonage,  the  office-study,  the  churcli,  the  lecture-room, 
the  domestic  circles,  the  familiar  faces,  the  cemeteries,  the  hills 
and  valleys — these  all  come  before  me  with  dear  remembrances. 

Though  my  stay  with  you  was  short,  yet  I  expect  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  it  throughout  eternity. 

That  old  church — it  ought  to  be  greatly  profitable  for  you  to 
rehearse  its  history  for  two  hundred  years. 

The  good  which  it  has  accomplished — there  are  many  in  heaven 
who  know  more  fully  what  that  is  than  the  Orators  who  will 
address  you. 

That  invisible  company — those  gone  before ;  I  see  no  reason 
why  God  may  not  commission  them  to  be  present ;  how  much 
more  deeply  interesting  will  they  "appear  to  those  permitted  to 
behold  them,  than  the  crowds  which  in  bodily  presence  will  honor 
the  occasion. 

Most  gladly  would  I  be  with  you  then  and  there,  but  to  go  and 
return  would  require  a  journey  of  three  thousand  miles,  which  is 
more  than  I  can  perform  at  present. 

Please  present  my  love  and  best  wishes  to  all  my  friends,  and 
accept  the  assurance  of  my  earnest  desire  for  the  future  prosperity 
of  the  church. 

I  remain  yours,  in  the  bonds  of  the  Gospel, 

CHARLES  LITTLE. 


Letter  of  Rev.  Piiilo  Ji  uson,  of  Rocl^y  Hill. 

[Mr.  Judson  was  born  in  this  church,  and  baptized  the  "  eighth 
day."  He  graduated  in  1809;  became  a  successful  minister,  and 
it  is  said  more  than  1600  persons  have  been  gathered  into  the 
churches  in  which  he  has  labored,  through  his  instrumentality. 
Pie  is  now  90  years  old.] 

Rocky  Hill,  May  2d. 
Br,  Trowbridge  : 

Dear  Sir  : — O,  I  thank  you  for  your  very  interesting  and  talented 
letter.     I  am  feeble,  not  able  to  go  out;  l)een  confined  all  winter; 


1074  HISTOKY      OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

do  not  go  out  now.  I  should  be  glad  to  be  there  ;  it  would  do 
my  soul  good.  I  hope  I  may  have  health  to  call  on  you  at  Wood- 
bury. Your  letter  did  my  soul  good.  Head  is  much  affected ; 
severe  cough. 

Your  letter  took  deep  hold  of  my  feelings.     The  Lord  bless  you. 
Pray  for  me.  Yours  truly, 

PHILO  JUDSON. 


[^Extract  from  a  recent  letter  vyntten   by  Miss  Charlotte   R. 
Andrew,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew  of 

JVew  Haven.'] 

You  ask  for  the  date  of  my  blessed  father's  death,  and  his  age. 
He  was  seventy-oue,  and  died  May  26,  1858.  If  it  ever  be  per- 
mitted the  spirits  of  the  departed  to  revisit  their  dear  old  homes 
on  earth,  will  it  not  be  permitted  7ii)n  to  unite  on  that  anniversary 
day  with  his  beloved  church  in  their  service  of  praise  and  thanks- 
giving to  God  ?     I  am  almost  sure  he  will  be  invisibly  present. 


At  the  close  of  reading  the  letters,  a  pleasing  incident  occurred. 
During  the  collation  at  the  Town  Hall,  a  large  and  beautiful  loaf 
of  cake,  made  by  Mrs.  Judson,  wife  of  Deacon  Truman  Judson? 
bearing  a  miniature  flag,  labeled  "  Stratford,"  surrounded  by 
seven  smaller  loaves,  bearing  the  names  of  the  other  churches 
represented  on  the  occasion,  occupied  the  place  af  honor  at  the 
principal  table.  This  loaf  was,  at  this  point,  presented  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Churchill,  with  appropriate  remarks,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Hall,  the 
representative  of  the  mother  church,  as  a  token  of  filial  regard 
from  her  daughter.  Mr.  Hall  received  the  gift  with  some  playful 
and  fitting  remarks,  and  promised  to  be  "  faithful  to  his  charge." 

The  closing  prayer  of  the  day  was  then  made  by  the  pastor  : 

And   now,  Gracious    God,  our    Heavenly  Father,  from  whom 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  P.  U  E  Y  .  lOVS 

Cometh  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  we  bless  Thee  for  casting  our 
lot  in  this  land  of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  and  for  crowning 
our  lives  with  such  signal  tokens  of  Thy  goodness.  We  j^raise 
Thee  for  wise,  virtuous,  heroic  Christian  ancestors,  and  beseech 
Thee  that  we  may  copy  their  example,  and  carry  forward  their 
,  work.  May  we  remember  the  word  of  our  Puritan  leader  across 
the  sea,  that  more  light  is  yet  to  break  forth  from  Thy  book. 
May  we  realize  that  for  us,  greater  achievements  over  self  and  the 
world  are  ]>ossible — that  higher  goals  of  duty  may  be  reached,  and 
richer  trophies  won  for  Christ.  Therefore,  forgetting  the  things 
behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those  before,  may  we  press  toward 
the  mark  of  our  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  IMay  we 
seek  to  be  enrobed  in  all  the  virtues  and  graces  of  the  Spirit,  so  as 
to  shed  the  purest  light  and  exert  the  most  benign  influence  upon 
the  world.  May  we  all  love  and  serve  Thee,  remembering  that  Ave 
must  soon  stand  before  Thee,  since  we  are  strangers  and  sojourners 
here,  as  were  all  our  fathers.  We  thank  Thee,  O  Lord,  for  this 
bright  and  genial  day,  and  for  the  interest  and  harmony  attending 
these  exercises.  May  they  conduce  to  the  highest  good  of  all,  and 
the  glory  of  Tliy  name.  And  when  one  after  another  we  are 
called  away  from  earth,  may  we  come  at  last  to  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first-born,  which  are  written  in  Heaven. 
And  to  Thy  great  name.  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  shall  be  all 
the  praise  and  glory  forever.     Amen, 


At  the  close  of  the  prayer,  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  and 
the  delighted  audience  separated  for  their  homes  among  the  hills 
and  valleys,  never  again  to  meet  in  this  old  church  on  a  like  mem- 
orable occasion. 


We  remark,  in  conclusion,  that  the  results  of  a  celebration 
such  as  we  have  recorded,  cannot  but  be  vastly  beneficial  to  the 
Church  whose  history  it  celebrates,  and  the  community  in  which 
it  is  located.  It  recalls  to  the  attention  of  all  how  faithful 
in  His   promises  to  His  chosen  people  is  the  Great  Head  of  the 


1016 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 


Church.  Few  churches  in  the  land  can  claim  so  remarable  a 
fulfillment  of  these  "  promises "  as  this  revered  old  church.  A 
revicAV  of  all  these  wonderful  works  for  the  long  period  of  two 
hundred  years,  brings  forcibly  to  the  mind,  that  we  are  a  "cove- 
nant people,"  and  in  the  kind  care  of  a  "  covenant-keeping  God." 


CHAPTER    VI. 

WOODBURY    IX    THE    GREAT    REBELLION    OF    1861. 

Causes  of  the  War;  Events  of  1860;  Events  of  1861;  Events  of  1862; 
Events  of  1863;  Events  of  1864;  Events  of  1865;  The  Return  of 
Peace;  Reception  of  the    returning  braves;    Their  eagek  return  to  the 

PURSUIT    OF    the     peaceful    OCCUPATIONS     OF     PRIVATE    LIFE;      DeCORATION    DAT; 

Beautiful  Ceremonies  ;  Reflections. 


"  Ah  never  shall  the  land  forget 
How  gushed  the  life-blood  of  her  brave — 
Gushed  warm  with  hope  and  courage  yet 

Upon  the  soil  they  fought  to  save; 

On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 
Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards  with  solemn  round 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

'MILINGLY  arose  the  sun  of  1860  over 
the  ever  increasing  borders  of  this  fair 
land.  For  two  hundred  and  forty  years 
from  its  first  sad  beginning  amid  the  De- 
cember blasts  of  a  drear  and  deadly  win- 
ter, at  Plymouth  Rock,  on  the  sterile 
New  England  coasts,  emerging  soon  to 
light  and  prosperity,  it  had  seemed  to  be  the  favored  of  heaven — 
the  hope  of  the  world  !  From  a  feeble  band  of  adventurers,  nur- 
tured amid  great  vicissitudes,  it  had  become  a  strong  nation  of 
about  thirty  millions  of  souls.  From  a  few  hardy  colonists,  strag- 
gling and  scattered  along  a  boundless  ocean,  it  had  become  the 
equal  of  the  i)roadest  nations  in  the  world,  occuj)ying  a  continent 
of  limitless  resources.  Trade  flourished,  the  busy  hum  of  ma- 
chinery was  every  where  heard,  agriculture  gave  rich  rewards  to 
the  toil  of  the  husbandman,  the  arts  and  sciences  had  reached  a 
high  perfection,  and  yielded  rich  fruits  to  the  explorations  of  the 
learned,  wliile  the  proud  sail  of  commerce  whitened  every   sea, 


1078  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

and  o-laddened  every  port  in  the  most  distant  climes.  We  were 
at  peace  with  all  the  world,  and  were  honored  and  respected  in 
all  lands.  At  that  date,  this  nation  presented  a  spectacle,  never 
before  attained,  in  the  lapse  of  all  the  ages,  in  the  knowledge  and 
intelligence  of  its  people,  the  respect  of  the  world  for  its  power 
and  achievments,  and  in  all  the  elements  that  go  to  make  np  a 
prosperous  and  glorious  national  life. 

But  to  this  fair  picture  of  peace  and  prosperity,  there  was  a  re- 
verse side.  A  foul  blot  stained  our  fair  escutcheon — a  festering 
and  deadly  sore  existed  on  the  otherwise  healthy  surface  of  the 
body  politic.  A  curse,  a  blight,-  unmitigated  and  cancerous,  forced 
upon  the  feeble  colonists  by  the  guilty  greed  of  the  mother  coun- 
try, while  the  new  land  was  in  its  infancy,  with  ever  increasing 
fatality  and  doom,  was  eating  out  the  national  life ;  and  so  dark- 
ening the  face  of  high  heaven,  that  scarcely  the  pi'ayer  of  faith 
could  pierce  the  ever  deepening  gloom,  or  the  pure  incense  of  con- 
trite devotion  reach  the  veiled  throne  of  the  Great  Disposer  of  all 
the  aflairs  of  men.  The  curse  of  Slavery  had  settled  down  upon 
the  land,  and  obscured  every  rational  hope  of  removal,  while  its 
insidious  fangs  reached  out  in  the  darkness,  withering  every  noble 
hope,  and  every  aspiration  after  the  true,  and  the  beautiful,  in  all 
our  moral  heavens.  Society  succumbed  to  its  deadly  blast,  politi- 
cal parties  bent  the  subservient,  suppliant  knee,  and  there  was  no 
healthy  vitality  in  the  churches,  erected  to  the  service  of  the 
Most  High  God,  to  prevent  their  rending  asunder,  before  the  all- 
consuming  wrath  of  the  slave-breeder,  the  slave-trader,  and  that 
most  cruel  fiend,  who  dared  to  consign  his  own  llesh  and  blood  to 
wicked,  damnable  bondage,  more  ghastly  and  deplorable  than 
death  itself.  So  thoroughly  had  this  Avithering  curse  })oisoned  the 
life-blood  of  the  nation,  that  the  whole  body  politic  stood,  trem- 
bling in  aw-e  before  a  few  thousand  slave-holders,  so  far  sunk  in 
bestiality,  that  they  could  place  the  beautiful  daughter  of  their 
wicked  and  unbridled  passions,  in  disgraceful  nudity,  upon  the 
auction  block,  to  be  sold  into  a  slavery  of  soul  and  body,  a  thou- 
sand fold  more  hopeless  and  loathsome  tlian  the  condition  of 
the  field  hand,  and  this,  too,  almost  in  sight  of  her  sisters,  born 
in  lawful  wedlock.  The  good,  the  true,  the  beautiful,  the  wise,  as 
well  as  the  wicked  and  vile,  yielded  a  forced  submission  to  the  be- 
hests of  this  remorseless  demon.  They  yielded  to  a  system  con- 
demned by  the  early  fathers  of  the  republic — an  institution,  the 
contemplation  of  which  had  wrung  from  the  slave-holding  Jeffer- 


HISTORY     OF     A  X  < '  I  E  N  T     ^\'  O  O  D  B  U  li  V  1079 

son  the  he:ivt-felt  exclamation!  "I  tremble  for  my  country,  when 
I  remember  that  God  is  Justf''  Well  might  he,  or  any  other 
thoughtful  oVtser\;er,  tremble  ;  for  the  whole  country  since  his  <lay 
has  trembled,  and  been  shaken,  from  center  to  circumference. 

What  was  this  fell  institution  of  slavery  ?  It  was  the  "  old, 
old  story"  of  oppression  and  wrong, — of  a  privileged  class,  and  a 
servile  class.  It  was  the  ol«l  struggle  between  aristocrat  privilege 
on  the  one  side,  and  democratic  freedom  on  the  other.  Our  fa- 
thers had  crossed  an  ocean  three  thousand  miles  wide,  abandoning 
homes  and  possessions,  exiling  themselves  to  the  wilderness  of  a 
new  world,  struggling  with  famine,  savage  foes,  and  hardships 
of  every  kind,  to  found  a  republic  in  which  all  men  under  the 
aegis  of  the  law,  should  be  free  and  equal.  They  resolved  there 
should  be  no  privileged  class.  Education  was  to  be  dift'used 
among  all  alike.  The  poor  find  the  rich  were  to  be  alike  eligible 
to  all  offices  of  trust,  honor  and  emolument. 

"  Our  Constitution,  in  its  spirit  and  legitimate  utterance,  is 
doubtless  the  noblest  document  which  ever  emanated  from  the 
mind  of  man.  It  contains  not  one  word  hostile  to  liberty.  Even 
now,  with  the  light  of  three-fourths  of  a  century  shed  upon  its 
practical  workings,  it  requires  not  the  change  of  a  paragraph  to 
make  it  true  to  humanity. 

"But  yet  ingloriously,  guiltily,  under  sore  temptation,  we  con- 
sented to  use  one  [ihrase  susce].tible  of  double  meaning,  "held  to 
labor."'  These  honest  words,  at  the  Xorth  mean  a  hired  man,  an 
apprentice.  At  the  South  they  mean  a  slave,  feudal  l)ondage.  So 
small,  apparently  so  insignificant,  were  those  seeds  sown  in  our 
Constitution  which  have  resulted  in  such  a  harvest  of  misery.  A 
privileged  class  at  the  South  assumed  that  by  these  words  the 
Constitution  recognized  domestic  slavery,  and  the  right  of  prop- 
erty in  man.  With  persistence  never  surpassed,  the  Slaveholders 
of  the  South  endeavored  to  strengthen  and  extend  their  aristo- 
cratic institution,  which  was  dooming  ever  increasing  millions  to 
life-long  servitude  and  degradation.  All  wealth  was'  rapidly  be- 
ing accumulated  in  the  hands  of  the  privileged  few,  who  owned 
their  fellow  men  as  property.  The  poor  whites,  destitute  of  em- 
ployment, unable  to  purchase  negroes,  and  regarding  labor,  which 
was  mostly  performed  by  slaves,  in  their  region,  as  degrading, 
were  fast  sinking  into  a  state  of  almost  bestail  misery. 

"  The  sparse  poj)ulation  which  Slavery  allowed,  excluded  church- 
es, schools  and  villages.     Immense  plantations  of  many  thousand 


1080  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEJfT     WOODBURY. 

acres,  tilled  sometimes  by  a  thousand  slaves,  driven  to  their  toil 
by  a  few  overseers,  consigned  the  whole  land  to  apparent  solitude. 
The  log  hut  of  the  overseer  was  surrounded  by  A\e  miserable  cab- 
ins of  the  negroes,  and  in  the  workshops  of  the  North  all  the  rude 
implements  of  their  toil  were  manufactured.  The  region  of  the 
Southern  country  generally  presented  an  aspect  of  desolation 
Avhich  Christendom  could  no  where  else  parallel.  The  Slavehold- 
ers, ever  acting  as  one  man,  claimed  the  right  of  extending  this 
institution  over  all  the  free  territories  of  the  United  States.  Free 
labor  and  Slave  labor  can  not  exist  together.  The  New  England 
farmer  can  not  work  with  his  sons  in  fields  surrounded  by  negro 
bands,  where  labor  is  considered  degrading,  where  his  wife  and 
daughters  find  no  genial  society,  no  education,  none  of  the  insti- 
tutions of  religion,  none  of  the  appliances  and  resources  of  high 
civilization  which  freedom  secures.  The  admission  of  slavery  to 
the  Territories  effectually  excluded  freemen  from  them.  The  in- 
troduction to  those  vast  realms  of  a  privileged  class,  who  were  to 
live  in  luxury  upon  the  unpaid  labor  of  the  masses,  rendered  it 
impossible  that  men  cherishing  the  sentiment  of  republican  equal- 
ity should  settle  there.  Our  whole  theory  of  the  emigration  and 
settlement  in  this  country  was,  that  the  humblest  should  be  as  free 
as  the  highest.  That  the  poor  man  should  be  as  much  entitled  to 
the  just  rewards  of  his  daily  toil,  as  the  senator  to  draw  his  sal- 
ary for  holding  a  seat  in  Congress,  or  the  President  to  draw  his 
pay  for  presiding  over  the  destinies  of  the  nation. 

"How  just  this  democratic  principle,  over  arching,  as  with  a 
sunny  sky,  all  humanity  !  This  was  the  contemplated  corner  stone 
of  our  l^epublic.  This  was  the  democracy,  sacred,  heaven-born, 
which  Jesus  taught,  and  over  Avhich  our  national  bnnner,  of  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  was  intended  to  be  unfurled.  But  Satan  sent 
the  serpent  of  aristocratic  usurpation  into  our  Eden,  to  wilt  its 
flowers  and  poison  its  fruit.  The  execrable  spirit,  in  the  most 
malignant  form  it  had  ever  developed,  came  over  here,  demandiiiLT 
that  the  rich  should  live  in  splendor  at  the  expense  of  the  poor. 
The  rich  man's  boots  were  to  be  polished,  as  in  old  baronial  Eu- 
rope, and  the  poor  boy  who  blacked  them  was  to  have  no  ])ay. 
The  rich  man's  coach  was  to  roll  luxuriously  through  the  streets, 
and  his  linen  to  be  washed,  and  his  fields  to  be  tilled,  while  the 
coachman,  the  laborer  and  the  washerwoman,  were  to  be  defi-aud- 
ed  of  their  wages. 

"  The  daughter  of  the  rich  man,  with   cultured  mind  and  pol 


»        HISTORY      OF     AiS-CIENT     WOODBrEY.  1081 

isherl  address,  was  to  move  througli  saloons  of  magnificence,  robed 
in  fabrics  of  almost  celestial  texture,  while  the  daughter  of  the 
poor  man,  dirty  and  ragged,  and  almost  naked,  with  one  single 
garment  scarce  covering  her  person,  was  to  toil  in  the  field  from 
morning  till  night,  and  from  youth  till  old  age  and  death,  that  her 
aristocratic  sister,  very  prolxihlij  i)i  blood  relationship  her  half- 
sister,  the  child  of  the  same  father,  might  thus  cultivate  her  mind 
and  decorate  her  person.^ 

"  This  is  a  very  attractive  state  of  affairs  to  the  aristocrat,  tread- 
ing velvet  carpets,  beneath  gilded  ceilings,  and  drinking  priceless 
wines.  But  it  dooms  such  farmer's  boys  as  Daniel  Webster,  Henry 
Clay,  Andrew  Jackson  and  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  spend  their  lives 
in  digging  in  the  ditch,  when  God  has  endowed  them  with  ener- 
gies to  guide  the  destinies  of  nations.  And  they  will  not  consent 
to  this  philosophy." 

In  discussing  this  question  during  the  first  year  of  the  war,  be- 
fore the  abolition  of  slavery,  an  eloquent  writer  says  :' 

I  was  once  walking  through  the  magnificent  saloons  of  Ver- 
sailles, tlie  most  gorgeous  of  all  earthly  palaces,  with  an  American 
lady  by  my  side.  As  we  passed  through  the  brilliant  suite  of 
apartments,  three  hundred  in  number,  with  fresco,  and  gilding, 
and  gorgeous  paintings; — as  we  stepped  out  upon  the  parterre, 
and  drove  through  the  graveled  walks  of  the  park,  originally 
s])reading  over  thirty  thousand  acres,  "with  groves,  lawns,  foun- 
tains, lakes,  brooks,  artificial  crags,  jets  d'eaux,  and  a  wilderness 
of  statuary,  my  young  lady  friend  said  : 

"  Oh  !  I  wish  we  had  an  aristocracy,  and  a  king,  and  a  court." 
"Silly  girl  I  Had  she  lived  in  the  days  of  Louis  XY.,  when  a 
nation  was  robbed  to  minister  to  the  voluptuousness  of  the  aris- 
tocracy, she  would  have  been  a  poor  peasant  girl,  barefooted 
and  bareheaded,  in  linsey  woolsey  frock,  toiling  with  the  hoe  in 
the  field.  Her  father  was  a  poor  farmer's  boy,  who  left  the  plow 
and  went  to  the  city,  and  there,  through  the  influence  of  the  law 
of  equal  rights  for  all,  acquired  that  wealth  and  position,  which 
enabled  his  daughter,  refined  in  manners  and  cultivated  in  mind, 
to  take  the  tour  of  Europe. 

"This  question  of  a  privileged  class  has  nothing  to  do  with 
color.  The  slavery  of  the  Bible,  whatever  its  character,  was  not 
Negro  slavery.  The  slaves  were,  almost  without  exception,  white 
men.     The  slavery,  which  it  is  said  our  Saviour  did  not  condemn 


'  Abbott's  Historv  of  the  Civil  War  in  America. 


1082  HTSTOKY     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURY. 

in  the  New  Testament,  was  not  Negro  slavery.  The  slaves  of  the 
Roman  empire  were  almost  universally  whites,  prisoners  of  war. 
If  the  New  Testament  sanctions  this  slavery,  then  would  it  be 
right  to  sell  into  bondage  every  Southern  prisoner  taken  in  this 
war.  Many  a  Southern  gentlemen  might  find  himself  scouring 
knives  in  a  Northern  kitchen,  with  some  devout  clergyman  preach- 
ing to  him  affectionately  the  doctrine,  "Slave,  obey  your  master." 
This  was  Roman  slavery.  Julius  Cresar  himself  was  at  one  time 
a  captive  and  a  slave,  and  was  compelled  to  purchase  his  freedom. 

"  The  slavery  of  this  country  is  not  Negro  slavery.  A  large 
number  of  the  slaves,  botli  men  and  women,  can  with  difficulty  be 
distinguished  from  white  persons.  The  process  of  amalgamation 
has,  for  a  long  time,  been  going  on  so  rapidly  in  the  South,  that,, 
over  large  extents  of  country,  tiie  great  majority  of  the  slaves 
have  more  Caucasian  than  Ethiopic  blood  in  their  veins.  Thou- 
sands of  boys  and  girls,  toiling  in  cotton-fields  of  the  South,  are 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  Southern  gentlemen  of  high  position. 
Many  a  young  lady  has  been  the  belle  of  the  evening  at  Newport 
or  Saratoga,  whose  half-sister,  the  daughter  by  the  same  father^ 
has  earned  her  laces  and  brocade,  by  toiling  from  dawn  to  eve  in 
the  Nefro  gang.  Many  of  the  most  beautiful  women  at  the 
South  are  these  unfortunate  daughters  of  aristocratic  sires,  in 
whose  veins  lingers  but  that  slight  trace  of  Ethiopic  blood,  which 
gives  a  golden  richness  to  the  hue.  There  is  nothing  but  slavery 
which  will  so  debauch  the  conscience,  that  a  father  will  sell  his 
own  daughter,  as  a  "  fancy  girl,"  to  the  highest  bidder. 

"  The  great  question  which  has  culminated  in  this  desperate 
war,  has  been  simply  this :  "  Shall  there  be,  in  the  United  States, 
an  aristocratic  class,  maintained  by  the  Constitution,  who  are  to 
enjoy  exclusive  privileges,  living  upon  the  proceeds  of  the  toil  of 
others,  while  there  is  a  defrauded  class  of  laborers,  excluded  from 
education,  and  doomed  to  perpetual  poverty  ?" 

This  is,  in  a  single  sentence,  a  clear  statement  of  the  sole  cause 
of  the  late  unhappy  and  disastrous  civil  war.  The  volume.^  that 
have  been  written  by  clergy  and  laity,  and  the  oceans  of  argu- 
ment that  have  been  expended  upon  this  subject,  have  never  given 
a  clearer  idea  of  all  this  great  woe — this  unlimited  amount  of  hu- 
man suffering  and  wanton  waste  of  the  late  extended  and  bloody 
conflict.  The  people  of  the  south  hugged  the  monster  evil  in  a 
lovino-  embrace.  Conscientious  people  at  the  north  loathed  the 
institution,  but  it  was,  as  they  thought,  protected  by  the  clause 


niSTOEY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1083 

in  the  Constitution  to  which  alhisiou  has  been  made,  and  being 
lovers  of  that  great  charter  of  their  liberties,  they  yielded  to  it  a 
wilding  obedience,  even  with  this  most  distasteful  and  contradic- 
tory interpretation.  There  were  none  in  the  north  to  suggest  in- 
terference with  the  hated  institution  where  it  existed,  save  a  small 
band  ol  abolitionists.  But  there  was  violent  opposition,  and  in- 
superabb  repugnance  to  extending  slavery  into  the  free  territories 
of  the  Union.  Occasional  struggles  on  the  subject  of  extension, 
and  a  trial  of  the  power  of  the  respective  theories,  had  been  car- 
ried on  with  great  bitterness  for  many  years.  The  slave  propa- 
gandists had  long  been  quietly  feeling  tlieir  way,  laying  all  their 
plans  with  one  intent,  and  waiting  only  opportunity  and  sufficient 
strength  to  burst  forth  with  irresistil)le  fury,  and  establish  a 
great  slave  empire  in  the  face,  and  to  the  astonishment  of,  the 
civilized  world. 

"This  is  what  the  slaveholders  have  demanded.  They  said  that 
the  Constitution  favored  freedom, — free  speech,  a  free  press,  free 
labor,  free  soil,  and  free  men,  and  demanded  that  the  Constitution 
should  be  changed,  to  maintain  the  exclusive  claims  of  an  aristo- 
cratic class,  and  to  strengthen  their  hold  upon  their  slaves.  The 
one  incessant  cry  has  been,  '  Abjure  your  democratic  constitution, 
which  favors  equal  rights  for  all  men,  and  give  us,  in  its  place,  an 
aristocratic  constitution,  which  will  secure  the  rights  of  a  priv- 
ileged class.'  They  insisted  that  the  domestic  slave  trade  should 
be  nurtured,  and  the  foreign  slave  trade  opened ;  saying,  in  the 
coarse  and  vulgar  language  of  o^e  of  the  most  earnest  advocates 
of  slavery,  'the  North  can  import  jackasses  from  Malta;  let  the 
Soutli  then  import  Niggers  from  Africa.'  They  demanded  the 
right  to  extend  slavery  over  all  the  Tei'ritories  of  the  United 
States,  the  right  to  hold  their  slaves  in  all  States  of  the  Union 
temporarily  ;  tliat  speaking  or  writing  against  slavery  in  any  State 
in  the  Union  should  be  a  penal  oftense ;  that  the  North  should 
catch  their  fugitive  slaves,  and  send  them  back  to  bondage ;  and 
that  the  Administration  of  the  General  Government  should  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  those  only  whom  the  South  could  trust,  as 
the  pledged  enemies  of  republican  equality,  and  the  friends  of 
slavery.' 

"Tlie  reply  of  the  overwhelming  majority  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States  was  decisive.  '  We  will  not,'  they  said,  '  thus  change 
the  Constitution  of  our  fathers.     We  will  abide  by  it  as  it  is.' 

'"  TIk'II,'  replied   the  slaveholders,  '  we  will  dash  this  Union  to 
16 


1084  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    AV  O  O  I)  B  U  R  Y  . 

pieces.     From  its  fragments  we  will  construct  another,  whose  cor- 
ner-stone shall  be  slavery.' " 

"  It  will  be  difficult  for  future  generations  to  credit  the  barbar- 
ism into  which  slavery  degraded  the  human  heart  in  the  South. 
In  several  of  the  Southern  States,  laws  were  enacted  declaring 
that  all  the  free  colored  people  who  did  not  leave  the  State  within 
a  given  time,  should  be  sold  into  slavery.  And  how  are  these 
poor  creatures,  from  Mississippi  or  Louisiana,  to  escape  their  aw- 
ful doom,  the  most  awful  that  can  befall  a  mortal, — slavery  for 
themselves  and  their  offspring,  forever  ?  Here  is  a  little  family, 
perhaps  a  Christian  family,  with  but  a  slight  admixture  of  African 
blood  in  their  veins.  They  are  poor,  friendless,  uninstructed. 
They  must  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  Slave  States,  Alabama,  Geor- 
gia, the  Carolinas,  Vii-ginia,  where  they  are  every  moment  liable 
to  be  arrested  as  fugitives,  thrown  into  prison,  and  .after  being 
kept  there  for  a  few  months,  and  no  one  appearing  to  claim  them, 
they  are  to  be  sold  as  slaves,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  to  be  cast 
into  the  public  treasury.  Can  tyranny  perpetrate  a  more  atrocious 
crime?  And  what  is  the  excuse  for  this  outrage  so  unpai'alleled 
in  the  legislation  of  Christendom  ?  It  is  simply  that  the  enslaving 
of  the  free  is  necessary  to  enable  the  slaveholders  to  keep  in  sub- 
jection those  already  in  bondage.  In  view  of  this  execrable  sys- 
tem of  despotism,  Thomas  Jefferson  says, — 

'What  an  incomprehensible  machine  is  man  !  who  can  endure 
toil,  famine,  stripes,  imprisonment,  and  de.ath  itself  in  vindication 
of  his  own  liberty;  and  the  next  moment  be  deaf  to  all  those  mo- 
tives whosfe  power  supported  him  through  his  trial,  and  inflict  on 
his  fellow  man  a  bondage,  one  hour  of  which  is  fraught  with  more 
misery  than  ages  of  that  which  he  rose  in  rebellion  to  oppose." 

In  order  to  secure  a  full  equality,  or  balance  of  povrer,  for  the 
handful  of  slaveholders  in  the  United  States,  Senator  Hunter  of 
Virginia  demanded  that  there  should  be  "two  Presidents  chosen, 
one  by  the  slaveholding  South,  and  the  other  by  the  Xorth,  and 
that  no  act  should  be  valid  unless  approved  by  both  Presidents. 
The  number  of  slaveholders  in  the  United  States  did  not  exceed 
three  hundred  thousand.  The  whole  population  of  the  country 
was  about  thirty  millions.  The  whole  population  of  the  South 
was  but 'about  eight  millions.  Vast  multitudes  of  these  were  poor 
whites,  who  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  were  in  beggarly 
poverty.  These  ignorant  creatures  were  almost  entirely  at  the 
beck  of  the  slaveholders.     Thus  this  amendment  to  the  constitu- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1085 

tion  Awas  designed  to  give  tliree  hundred  thousand  slaveholders  a 
veto  upon  all  the  acts  of  the  General  Government.  In  the  farther 
carrying  out  of  tliis  plan,  he  dernamled  that  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  should  consist  of  ten  members,  five  to  be  chosen 
by  the  little  band  of  slaveholders,  and  the  other  half  by  the  mill- 
ions of  ireemcn." 

The  slaveholders  also  demanded  that  their  slaves,  who,  feeling 
the  inate  desire  for  freedom  planted  in  the  human  breast,  escaped 
to  the  free  air  of  the  colder  North,  should  be  seized  by  the  citi- 
zens of  the  Xorth,  who  abhorred  the  institution,  and  returned  to 
eternal  bondage,  a  thousand  times  woi-se  than  death.  Thev  were 
to  pursue  them  with  the  whole  commuijity,  if  necessary,  that  they 
might  thus  be  returned  to  torture.  Many  sad  instances  of  this 
occurred,  harrowing  the  conscientious  mind  of  the  whole  north. 
In  the  entire  South  no  man  with  Northern  thoughts  of  freedom, 
was  safe  for  a  moment,  in  life,  or  pioperty.  There  was  nothing 
so  sacred  that  a  slaveholder  was  bound  to  regard,  if  a  fellow- 
citizen  thouglit,  in  his  inmost  heart  a  word  against  the  mon- 
strous demands  of  slavery.  Stripes,  lynching  and  death  were  the 
oidy  reward  for  a  free  thought,  iu  this  regard. 

"  Future  ages  will  find  it  almost  impossible  to  believe  that  any 
enlightened  man  could  be  found,  in  America,  to  defend  a  system 
inevitably  involving  such  atrocities.  And  yet  it  is  a  marvelous 
fact,  that  slavery  found  no  more  determined  supjforters  than 
among  the  so-called  Christian  ministers  of  the  South  ;  and  the 
women  surpassed  the  men  iu  the  bitter  and  unrelenting  spirit  with 
which  they  clung  to  the  institution.  Those  facts  which  harrowed 
th.e.soul  of  the  North,  seem  to  have  excited  not  an  emotion  in  the 
heart  of  the  slaveholding  South.  These  Christian  ministers  took 
the  ground,  that  Slavery  was  a  divine  institution.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Palmer,  of  New  Orleans,  one  ot  the  most  distinguished  of  the 
Presbyterian  clergymen  of  the  South,  declared  it  to  be  the  espe- 
cial mission  of  the  Southern  churches,  'to  preserve  and  transmit 
our  existing  system  of  domestic  servitude,  with  tlie  right,  unchal- 
lenged by  man,  to  go  and  root  itself  wherever  Providence  and  na- 
ture may  carry  it.' 

"The  professedly  Christian  minister  who  uttei'ed  tln'se  senti- 
ments, was  tamiliar  with  all  the  atrocities  of  slavery.  ■  The  slave 
shambles,  where  men,  women  and  children  were  sold  at  auction, 
were  ever  open,  almost  beneath  the  shadow  of  his  church  spire. 
Maidens,  who  had  ]»rofessed  the  name  of  Christ,  and  whose  mark- 


1086  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

et  value  depended  upon  their  beauty,  were  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder  within  sound  of  his  church  choir.  Families  were  sold  in 
the  slave  market  of  New  Orleans,  parents  and  children,  husbands 
and  wives  separated,  just  as  mercilessly  as  if  they  were  sheep  or 
or  cows.  And  yet  the  Christianity  of  the  South  had  become  so 
degenerate,  through  the  influence  of  slavery,  that  a  Presbyterian 
minister,  and  sustained  apparently  by  his  whole  church,  i-epresents 
the  institution  as  one  of  divine  approval,  and  one  which  it  is  the 
principal  mission  of  the  Southern  church  to  maintain  and  extend." 

The  Hon.  A.  H.  Stevens,  of  Georgia,  vice-President  of  the  Con- 
federacy, said,  in  a  speech  made  at  Savannah,  March,  1861 : — 

"The  prevailing  ideas  entertained  by  Jefferson,  and  most  of  the 
leading  Statesmen,  at  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  old  Con- 
stitution, were,  that  the  enslavement  of  the  African  was  in  viola- 
tion of  the  laws  of  nature :  that  it  was  wrong  in  principle,  socially, 
morally,  and  politically.  Those  ideas  were,  however,  fundamen- 
tally wrong.  Our  new  government  is  founded  on  exactly  the  op- 
posite idea.  Its  foundations  are  laid,  its  corner-stone  rests  upon 
the  great  truth,  that  the  Negro  is  not  equal  to  the  white  man ; 
that  slavery,  subordination  to  the  superior  race,  is  his  natural  con- 
dition. Our  Confederacy  is  founded  upon  principles  in  strict  con- 
formity with  these  laws.  This  stone,  which  was  rejected  by  the 
first  builders,  '  is  become  the  chief-stone  of  the  corner  iu  our  new 
edifice.'  " 

Such  is  a  very  imperfect  statement  of  spme  of  the  prominent 
aspects  and  demands  of  the  wicked  institution  of  slavery.  It 
poisoned  the  life  blood  of  its  supporters,  and  eradicated  from  their 
hearts  every  vestige  of  morality  and  religion.  It  not  only  did 
this  for  its  advocates,  but  it  demanded  that  the  pure  and  untainted, 
the  legions  of  the  free  North,  should  become  the  lovers  and  de- 
fenders of  the  hateful  and  baleful  institution,  and  become  more 
meanly  the  slaves  of  the  aristocrats  of  this  "  curse  of  God,"  tlian 
the  ignorant,  "dirt-eating  poor  whites,"  and  the  chattels  over 
whom  they  held  supreme  sway.  Of  course,  educated,  intelligent, 
conscientious  men  would  not  submit  to  this,  and  hence  arose  the 
inevitable  conflict. 

The  celebrated  writer,  Rev.  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  in  discussing 
this  subject,  has  so  tersely  summed  up  the  remaining  causes  which 
made  the  rebellion  inevitable,  m  his  admirable  "  History  of  the 
Civil  War  in  America,"  that  it  is  here  inserted,  as"  being  bettei- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  108Y 

than  any  account  the  author  can  furnish  within  the  limits  of  this 
work : — 

"By  one  of  the  compromises  of  the  Constitution  which  slavery 
had  exacted,  and  which,  instead  of  being  a  compromise,  was  a 
bald  concession,  the  slaves  of  the  South,  though  deemed  there 
merely  as  property,  were  allowed  to  be  counted  in  the  Congres- 
sional representation,  five  slaves  being  equivalent  to  three  white 
men.  Thus,  John  Jacob  Astor,  with  a  property  of  twenty  mil- 
lions at  the  North,  had  but  one  vote.  But  the  Southern  planter 
had  his  property  represented  in  Congress.  The  slaveholder,  with 
800  slaves,  valued  at  less  than  one  million,  was  equal  in  his  repre- 
sentation in  Congress  to  480  free  Northerners.  He  held  in  his 
own  hand  the  votes  of  these  480  men,  who,  in  his  own  view,  and 
so  far  as  the  rights  of  freemen  are  concerned,  were  no  more  men 
than  the  horses  and  the  oxen  in  Northern  barns. 

"The  North  felt  the  humiliation  of  this  arrangement,  and  yet 
were  not  at  all  disposed  to  disturb  it.  They  would  abide  by  the 
Constitution.  But  they  were  unalterably  resolved  that  such  an 
arrangement  should  not  extend  any  further.  The  practical  opera- 
tion of  this  "compromise"  was  this.  The  six  slaveholding  Gulf 
States,  by  the  census  of  1860,  contained  2,311,260  free  white  citi- 
zens. The  single  Free  State  of  Ohio  contained  2,339,599  citizens. 
And  yet  Ohio  could  send  but  eighteen  representatives  to  Con- 
gress, while  the  slaveholders  could  send  twenty-eight.  In  addi- 
tion to  all  this,  the  slaveholders  of  these  States  were  represented 
by  twelve  Senators,  while  the  free  citizens  <if  Ohio  were  repre- 
sented but  by  two.  And  yet  the  energies  of  freedom  so  infinitely 
surpass  those  of  slavery,  that  the  free  North  was  perfectly  willing 
to  abide  by  these  "compromises"  of  the  Constitution,  being  fully 
conscious  that,  even  with  all  these  advantages  in  favor  of  slavery, 
freedom  would  eventually  win  the  day. 

"  The  slaveholders  were  equally  conscious  of  the  fact.  They  saw 
the  tide  of  free  emigration  rolling  rapidly  over  the  prairies  of  the 
West,  and  new  States  carved  our  with  almost  miraculous  rapidity. 
It  was  evident  that,  under  the  natural  workings  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, the  votes  of  freemen  would  soon  entirely  outnumber  those 
of  a  privileged  and  aristocratic  class,  and  therefore  they  resolved 
to  dissolve  the  Union,  break  up  the  Constitution,  and  reconstruct 
the  Governriient  upon  a  basis  which  should  continue  the  power 
they  had  so  long  exercised,  in  their  own  hands. 


1088  HISTORY      OF     ANOIEXr     WOODBUKY. 

■'By  the  same  census  of  1860,  tlie  total  population  of  the  Free 
States  and  Territories  was  21,816,952.  The  free  white  population 
of  the  eleven  States  which  soon  raised  the  standard  of  rebelliour 
was  5,581,630.  This  was  the  trouble.  Slavery  had  drifteil  into 
the  minority.  It  was  circumscribed  and  prohibited  expansion  by 
the  votes  of  freemen.  Under  these  cii-cumstances  the  South 
would  listen  to  no  "compromise,"  which  was  not  capitulation. 
They  demanded  the  reorganization  of  the  Government,  upon  a 
basis  which  would  give  slavery  the  preponderating  power, 

"  Neither  was  it  possible  to  permit  them  to  depart.  Five  millions 
demanded  that  twenty-one  millions  should  surrender  to  ihcm  the 
Capital  at  Washington,  with  all  its  historic  associations  and  treas- 
ures. They  demanded  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi,  which  the 
nation  had  purchased  at  a  vast  expense,  that  the  boundless  regions 
of  the  ^STorth  West,  where  hundreds  of  millions  must  eventually 
dwell,  might  have  tree  access  to  the  ocean.  They  demanded  all 
the  forts  on  the  Southern  Atlantic  coast,  and  in  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, forts  essential  to  the  protection  of  the  ever  increasing  com- 
merce of  the  North.  They  demanded  permission  to  drive,  with 
the  energies  of  fire  and  sword,  all  loyal  men  out  of  the  border 
States  of  Maryland,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  and  out  of  Western  Vir- 
ginia, that  those  States  might  be  forced  to  unite  themselves  with 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  They  demanded  that  slavery  should 
be  considered  an  equal  partner  with  freedom,  and  that  the  Terri- 
tories of  the  United  States,  and  the  Navy,  and  the  Treasury, 
should  be  divided  equally  between  them.  They  demanded  a 
treaty,  by  which  we  should  return  every  slave  who  should  escape 
to  our  free  land.  They  avowed  their  intention  of  establishing  free 
trade  with  foreign  nations,  by  which  they  could  draw  all  im|)orta- 
tion  to  their  ports,  flood  the  land  with  goods  smuggled  across  a 
frontier  fifteen  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  render  it  almost  im- 
possible to  protect  any  domestic  manufactures,  or  to  collect  by 
customs  our  national  revenue. 

"  Never  before  in  the  history  of  this  world,  were  demands  made 
so  exorbitant  and  so  insolent.  The  slaveholder,  accustomed  to 
plantation  manners,  and  regarding  himself  as  the  representative  of 
chivalry,  ever  assumed  on  the  floor  of  Congress  the  airs  of  a  master, 
greatly  to  the  disgust  of  all  well-bred  men. 

"  It  was  impossible  to  yield  to  either  of  his  demands.  More  than 
twenty  millions  of  people  could  not,  at  the  dictation  pt  five  mil- 
lions, trample  their  free  Constitution  in  the  dust,  and  accept,  in  its 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1089 

Stead,  one  fVanied  by  the  slaveliolder,  based  on  the  conier-stone 
of  human  bondage.  Xeither  could  such  a  nation,  without  self- 
degradation,  without  meriting  the  scorn  of  the  world,  surrender 
its  Capital,  half  of  its  Territories,  half  of  its  Navy,  its  most  im- 
portant harbors  and  fortifications,  the  mouths  of  its  most  majestic 
stream,  which,  with  its  tributaries,  drains  millions  of  square  miles 
of  free  soil,  and  surrender  hundreds  of  thousands  of  loyal  citizens 
in  the  border  States  to  pillage,  violence,  and  exile.  The  demands 
of  the  slaveholders  rendered  peace  impossible,  upon  any  other 
terms  than   the  unconditional   capitulation  of  freedom  to  slavery. 

"Let  us,  for  a  moment,  contemplate  more  fully  this  demand  of 
the  slaveholders,  that  the  United  States  should  recognize  them  as 
a  foreign  power,  and  surrender  to  them  the  mouths  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, that  wonderful  river,  which,  with  its  numberless  tributaries, 
makes  the  great  central  basin  of  our  continent  the  most  attractive 
spot  upon  the  globe.  In  1763,  the  ancient  province,  called  Loui- 
siana, was  sold  by  France  to  Spain.  Even  then  the  sparse  popu- 
lation of  our  great  North  West  were  intensely  excited  in  view  of 
the  possibility  of  a  foreign  power  being  able  to  close  the  mouths 
of  their  noble  river,  and  thus  cut  them  off  from  all  access  to  the 
sea. 

"Napoleon,  with  the  wonderful  foresight  which  marked  his  gen- 
ius, seeking  to  establish  colonies  which  would  enable  France  to 
compete  with  her  rival,  England,  in  commercial  greatness,  pur- 
chased the  regal  cohniy  in  the  year  1800.  Lumediately  the  ener- 
gies of  the  Napoleonic  empii^e  were  developed  upon  these  shores. 
This  greatly  increased  the  alarm  of  the  thousands  of  settlers  who 
were  rearing  their  cabins  upon  the  banks  of  those  tributaries, 
whose  only  outlet  was  l)y  the  channel  at  New  Orleans.  The 
power  of  Napoleon  was  sucii,  that  no  force  America  could  use 
would  avail  to  wrest  these  provinces  from  his  grasp.  Ilis  politi- 
cal wisdom  and  energy  were  such,  that  a  vigorous  empire  would 
surely  soon  rise,  spreading  over  all  those  fertile  plains,  extending 
from  the  right  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  ancient  halls  of  the  Mon- 
tezumas.  And  thus  tlie  boundless  North  West  could  only  gain 
access  to  the  commerce  of  the  world,  by  bowing  its  flag  suppli- 
catingly  to  a  foreign  power. 

"  In  this  crisis,  when  the  fate  of  America  was  trembling  in  the 
balance,  Providence  interposed  in  our  behalf.  England,  jealous  of 
the  greatness  to  which  the  arts  ot  peace  were  elevating  France, 
rudely  broke  the  piece  of  Amiens,  and  renewed  the  war  to  crush 


1090  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

Napoleon.  England,  with  her  Navy,  omnipotent  at  sea,  would 
have  immediately  seized  upon  this  magnificent  territory.  To  pro- 
tect it  from  the  grasp  of  England,  and  to  aid  in  building  up  a 
maratirae  power  in  the  West,  which  might  eventually  prove  a 
check  upon  the  British  fleet,  Napoleon  opened  negotiations  with 
America,  for  the  sale  of  the  whole  province  of  Louisiana,  with 
boundaries  then  quite  indefinitely  settled.  Mr.  Monroe  was  sent 
to  France,  to  conduct  the  negotiation  in  association  with  Chancel- 
lor Livingston,  then  our  resident  minister  at  the  court  of  the  Tu- 
illeries.  The  population  of  the  United  States  was  then  but 
5,000,000.  And  yet  eagerly  we  made  the  purchase  at  $15,000,000, 
representing  a  burden  upon  the  population  equal  to  890,000,000,  at 
the  present  day. 

"Thus  we  obtained,  half  a  century  ago,  this  majestic  territory, 
equal  in  size  to  one  half  of  Europe.  Many  States  and  Territories 
have  already  been  carved  from  the  acquisition.  The  tide  of  emi- 
gration is  constantly  and  rapidly  pouring  into  those  fertile  plains, 
washed  by  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Mis- 
souri, and  already  there  is  a  population  there  of  10,000,000.  Be- 
fore the  close  of  this  century,  this  population  will  be  doubled, 
probably  trebled.  The  whole  region  between  the  AUeghanies  and 
the  Rocky  mountains,  that  almost  boundless  valley,  soon  to  teem 
with  hundreds  of  millions,  finds  its  only  outlet  to  the  sea  through 
the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi,  by  the  gates  of  New  Orleans. 

"  And  yet  the  slaveholders  of  the  comparatively  insignificant 
State  of  Louisiana,  with  a  free  white  population  of  but  3*76,913, 
scarcely  a  third  of  that  of  the  City  of  New  York  alone,  and  70,000 
of  whose  adults  can  neither  read  nor  write,  had  the  audacity  to 
claim  the  right  to  secede  from  the  Union,  establish  themselves  as 
a  foreign  nation,  and  unfurl  over  the  forts  at  the  mouths  of  the 
Mississippi  a  foreign  banner ;  which  the  millions  dwelling  in  the 
great  Mississippi  bas  in  could  only  pass  by  the  consent  of  her  guns. 
The  United  States  could,  by  no  possibility,  stoop  to  such  dishonor. 
The  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  in  the  following  words,  has  very  for- 
cibly presented  this  question  in  its  true  light : — 

"  Louisiana,  a  fragment  of  this  colonial  empire,  detached  from 
its  main  portion,  and  first  organized  as  a  State,  undertakes  to  se- 
cede from  the  Union,  and  thinks  by  so  doing,  she  will  be  allowed, 
by  the  Government  and  people  of  the  United  States,  to  revoke 
this  imperial  transfer,  to  disregard  this  possession  and  occupation 
of  sixty  years,  to  repeal  this  law  of  nature  and  of  God ;  and  she 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1091 

fondly  believes,  that  ten  millions  of  the  Free  people  of  the  Union 
will  allow  her  and  her  seceding  brethren  to  open  and  shut  the 
portals  of  this  mighty  region  at  their  pleasure.  They  may  do  so, 
and  the  swarming  millions,  which  throng  the  course  of  these  noble 
streams  and  their  tributaries,  may  consent  to  exchange  the  char- 
ter, which  they  hold  from  the  God  of  Heaven,  for  a  bit  of  parch- 
ment signed  at  Montgomery  or  Richmond — but  it  will  be  when 
the  Alleghanies  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  form  the  eastern 
and  western  walls  of  the  imperial  valley,  shall  sink  to  the  level  of 
of  the  sea,  and  the  Mississippi  and  the  Missouri  flow  back  to  their 
fountains." 

Senator  Douglas  presented  the  folly  of  this  pretended  right  of 
secession  in  a  very  forcible  light,  and  with  logic  which  no  honest 
mind  can  resist. 

"The  President,"  said  he, ''has  recommended  that  we  should 
purchase  Cuba.  According  to  this  doctrine  of  the  right  of  seces- 
sion, we  might  pay  $300,090,000  f(^r  Cuba,  and  then,  the  next  day, 
Cuba  might  secede,  and  reiinnex  herself  to  Spain !"  Volumes 
could  not  more  conclusively  show  the  absurdity  of  such  a  notion. 

The  Presidential  election  drew  nigh,  when  the  question  was  to 
be  decided,  whether  the  Government  of  the  United  States  was  to 
be  administered  upon  the  principle  of  rendering  all  possible  sup- 
port to  the  maintenance  and  extension  of  slavery,  or  whether  the 
energies  of  the  Government  should  lend  all  its  constitutional  sup- 
port to  foster  freedom.  There  were  four  candidates  in  the  field. 
Mr.  Lincoln,  the  republican  candidate,  was  openly  pledged  to  re- 
sist the  extension  of  slavery.  In  emphatic  utterance,  which  ex- 
ceedingly exasperated  the  slaveholders,  he  said : — 

"  The  central  idea  in  our  political  system  at  the  beginning  was, 
and  until  recently  continued  to  be,  the  equality  of  men.  In  what 
I  have  done,  I  can  not  claim  to  have  acted  from  any  peculiar  con- 
sideration for  the  colored  people,  as  a  separate  and  distinct  class 
in  the  community,  but  from  the  simple  conviction,  that  all  the  in- 
dividuals of  that  class  are  members  of  the  community,  and,  in 
virtue  of  their  manhood,  entitled  to  every  original  right  enjoyed 
by  any  other  member.  We  feel,  therefore,  that  all  legal  distinc- 
tions between  individuals  of  the  same  community,  founded  in  any 
such  circumstances  as  color,  origin,  and  the  like,  are  hostile  to  the 
genius  of  our  institutions,  and  incompatible  with  the  true  history 
of  American  liberty.  Slavery  and  oppression  must  cease,  or 
American  liberty  must  perish.     True  democracy  makes  no  inquiry 


1092  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

about  t.''e  color  of  the  skin,  or  place  of  nativity,  or  any  other  sim- 
ilar circumstance  of  condition.  I  regard,  therefore,  the  exclusion 
of  the  colored  people,  as  a  body,  fro:n  the  eleciive  franchise,  as 
incompatible  with  the  true  deriiocraiic  principle." 

While  stating  these  as  his  political  principles,  he  at  the  same 
time  avowed  that  Congress  had  no  constitutional  right  to  inter- 
fere with  slavery  in  those  States  where  it  existed,  but  that  it  was 
both  the  right  and  the  duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all 
the  United  States  Territories. 

John  C.  Breckenridge  was  the  candidate  of  the  slaveholders, 
pledged  to  administer  the  Government,  in  the  most  effectual  way, 
to  nurture  and  to  give  increasing  political  power  to  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery.  There  were  two  other  candidates,  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  and  John  Bell,  who  were  supported  by  those  who  wish- 
ed to  effect  some  compromise,  and  Avho  were  ready,  for  the  sake 
of  avoiding  civil  war,  to  make  very  great  concessions  to  the  South. 

"The  Presidential  election  took  place  on  the  same  day,  the  6th 
of  November,  1860,  throughout  all  the  United  States.  The  polls 
were  closed  at  sundown.  The  votes  were  counted  by  midnight ; 
and  in  seven  hours,  through  the  marvels  of  the  Telegraph,  the 
eventful  result  was  tiashed  through  the  whole  breadth  of  the  land, 
excepting  California,  embracing  points  more  than  three  thousand 
miles  apart.  The  popular  vote  for  Electors  stood,  1,857,610  for 
Lincoln;  1,365,970  for  Douglas;  847,953  for  Breckenridge,  and 
591,613  for  Bell.  This  vote,  according  to  the  Constitution,  gave 
seventeen  States  out  of  thirty-three  for  Lincoln  ;  eleven  for  Breck- 
inridge: three  for  Bell;  and  one,  Missouri,  with  three-sevenths  of 
New  Jersey,  for  Douglass.  Though  Mr.  Douglas  had  so  many 
votes  scattered  tliroughout  the  United  States,  as  in  but  one  State 
he  had  a  majority,  they  availed  him  nothing. 

"The  Electoral  vote  of  each  State,  carefully  sealed,  is  conveyed 
to  Washington,  and  there,  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives, the  members  of  the  Senate  being  present,  the  votes  are 
counted,  and  the  i-enilt  announced.  At  10  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  the  i5th  of  February,  1861,  Pennsylvania  Avenue  was  throng- 
ed with  crowds  pressing  towards  the  Capitol.  It  was  a  season  of 
great  excitement,  for  the  day  after  the  election  it  was  perfectly 
known  what  the  announcement  would  be  ;  and  the  slaveholders, 
molding  the  passions  of  the  masses  of  the  South  at  their  will,  had 
nttered  many  threats,  that  the  announcement  should  not  be  made, 
and  that  the  Government  should  be  broken   up  in  a  row.     Wash- 


n  1  S  T  O  ];  Y     OF     ANCIENT     ^\■  O  O  1)  BURY  1093 

ino'ton  was  a  slavelioldins^  city,  in  the  midst  of  a  slavolioliliiii;"  re- 
gion, and*  any  number  of  desperadoes  could  be  summoned  there, 
at  a  few  liours'  notice,  from  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

"  James  Buchanan,  an  intimidated  old  man,  was  then  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  having  been  place<l  there  as  the  candidate  of  the 
slaveholders,  and  the  nation  could  place  but  little  reliance,  in  that 
crisis,  upon  his  efficiency  and  reposed  but  little  confidence  in  his 
patriotism.  But,  pi'ovidentially.  General  Winfield  Scott,  the  vet- 
eran and  universally  revered  head  of  the  American  army,  had 
drawn  to  the  Capital  the  batteries  which  won  the  field  at  Buena 
Vista.  Their  frowning  guns,  ready  to  sweep  the  streets,  overawed 
the  conspirators.  At  1-2  o'clock,  Mr.  Pennington,  Speaker  of  the 
House,  called  the  House  to  order,  wlien  the  Chaplain,  Rev.  Thomas 
Stockton,  ofi:ered  an  impressive  prayer,  closing  with  the  following 
words : — 

"Bless  the  outgoing  Administration.  May  it  close  its  labors  in 
peace,  without  further  violence,  and  without  any  stain  of  blood. 
And  we  pray  for  the  incoming  Administration;  that  thy  blessing 
may  rest  on  the  President  elect,  in  his  journey  hitherward  ;  that 
thy  good  Providence  may  be  around  him  day  and  night,  guarding 
and  guiding  him  at  every  step  ;  and  we  pray,  that  he  may  be 
peacefully  and  happily  inaugarated,  and  afterwards,  by  pure,  wise, 
and  prudent  counsels,  that  he  may  administer  the  Government  in 
such  a  manner,  as  that  thy  name  may  be  glorified,  and  the  welfare 
of  the  people,  in  all  thdr  relations,  be  advanced,  and  that  our  ex- 
ample of  civil  and  religious  lil^erty  may  be  followed  io  all  the 
world." 

"  A  message  was  then  sent,  informing  the  Senate  that  the  House 
was  waiting  to  receive  them,  in  order  that,  in  joint  body,  the  Elec- 
toral votes  might  be  opened  and  counted.  As  the  Senate  entered 
the  Hall  of  Representatives,  the  House  rose,  and  remained  stand- 
ing until  the  Senators  took  their  seats  in  a  semi-circular  range 
before  the  Speaker's  desk.  Vice-President  Breckinridge,  who 
was  one  of  the  candidates  for  the  Presidency,  and  who,  by  virtue 
of  the  office  he  held,  presided  over  the  Senate,  took  his  seat  at  the 
right  of  the  Speaker,  As  soon  as  order  was  restored,  Vice-Pres- 
ident Breckinridge  rose,  and  said  : — 

"  We  have  assembled,  pursuant  to  the  Constitution,  in  order 
that  the  electoral  votes  may  be  counted,  and  the  result  declared 
for  President  and  Vice-President,  for  the  term  commencing  on 
the  4th  of  March,  1861  ;  and  it  is  made  my  duty,  under  the  Con- 


1094  HISTORY    OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 

stitution,  to  open  the  certificates  of  election  in  the  presence  of 
the  two  Houses,  and  I  now  proceed  to  the  performance  of  that 
duty."  He  then  took  the  package  of  each  State,  one  after  the 
other,  broke  the  seal,  and  handed  it  to  the  Tellers  to  be  counted. 

"The  scene  then  and  there  presented,  was  one  which  has  never 
been  paralleled  in  the  United  States.  The  galleries  were  crowded 
with  the  most  distinguished  personages  in  the  land,  who  had  been 
drawn,  by  the  momentous  occasion,  to  the  city.  Some  looked 
cheerful  and  hopeful ;  some,  with  compressed  lips,  were  pale  and 
anxious ;  while  many  notorious  conspirators  were  seen  in  groups, 
gloomy  and  threatening.  There  was  deathly  silence  as  the  result 
was  announced,  which  was  as  follows :  One  hundred  and  eighty 
votes  were  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  Seventy-two  for  John  C. 
Breckinridge.  Thirty-nine  for  John  Bell.  Twelve  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas.  This  gave  Abraham  Lincoln  a  majority  of  fifty- 
seven  over  all  the  other  candidates.  Whereupon  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, rising,  said : — 

"  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois,  having  received  a  majority  of 
the  whole  number  of  Electoral  votes,  is  duly  elected  President  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  four  years  commencing  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1861.  And  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  having  received 
a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electoral  votes,  is  duly  elected 
Vice-President  for  the  same  term." 

"  He  then  announced,  that  the  business  being  completed,  for 
which  the  two  Houses  had  assembled,  the  Senate  would  return  to 
their  own  chamber.  The  members  of  the  House  rose,  and  re- 
mained standing  until  the  Senators  had  left  the  Hall.  The  five 
thousand  spectators  crowding  the  galleries  silently  retired,  and 
Abraham  Lincoln  stood  forth  before  the  world,  the  constitution- 
ally elected  President  of  the  United  States. 

By  means  of  the  telegraph,  it  was  known  throughout  the  Union, 
on  the  'Zth  of  November,  1860,  the  day  after  the  election,  that 
Abraham  Lincoln  had  been  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
This  result  had  been  perfectly  foreseen  and  foretold,  ever  since  the 
several  presidential  nominations.  The  slaveholders  had  insisted 
on  such  a  platform  and  presidential  candidate,  that  no  political 
party  could  yield  to  their  demands,  and  live  as  a  party,  for  a  mo- 
ment. They  deliberately  drove  the  democratic  party  to  a  double 
nomination,  Douglass  and  Breckenridge,  for  the  avowed  purpose 
of  electing  the  Northern  candidate,  who  was  especially  nominated 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT   WOODBURY  1095 

on  the  platform  of  freedom,  which  at  that  time  contemplated 
nothing  further  than  to  prevent  the  extension  of  slavery  into  ter- 
ritory then  free.  The  slaveholders,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  had 
laid  all  their  plans,  and  used  their  best  endeavors  to  bring  about 
a  crisis,  such  as  had  now  arrived,  unless  they  could,  inside  of  the 
general  government,  mould  it  to  its  own  views,  and  make  it  the 
perpetual  defender  of  the  institution  of  slavery.  Yet  these  un- 
scrupuloiis  upholders  of  this  most  inhumanly  vile  institution,  made 
the  fact  of  the  election  of  a  Northern  man  as  President,  the  pre- 
text for  secession  and  the  disruption  of  the  government,  and  for 
commencing  the  most  causeless  and  cruel  civil  war,  that  ever 
afflcted  any  civilized  nation. 

Lincoln  was  elected  in  November,  but  he  could  not  enter  upon 
the^  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  office  till  the  4th  of  March  fol- 
lowing. In  the  mean  time,  the  General  Government  was  thor- 
oughly in  the  hands  of  the  slaveholders.  They  had  still  four 
months,  in  which  they  could  make  all  their  preparations,  and 
launcli  their  daring  conspiracy  upon  the  startled  country.  Never 
did  villains  work  with  greater  zeal,  or  more  effectually.  James 
Buchanan,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  had  been  elected 
to  office  on  a  platform  dictated  by  the  slaveholders,  pledging  him 
to  pursue  the  general  policy  required  by  them.  He  was  surround- 
ed by  men  of  far  greater  ability  than  himself,  and  he  dared  not 
assert  his  independence,  and  stand  by  the  Hag  of  his  country.  He 
was  like  a  babe,  in  the  fatal  embrace  of  the  conspirators. 

The  majority  of  his  cabinet  were  unscrupulous  and  arrant  reb- 
els and  knaves.  In  their  hands  he  was  "  like  a  reed  shaken  in  the 
wind."  In  his  feebleness  and  vacilatlou  of  mind,  he  was,  "as 
clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter" — they  moulded  him  at  will. 
Howell  Cobb,  a  slaveholder  of  Georgia,  was  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury.  When  he  entered  upon  his  office,  the  treasury  was  full, 
to  overflowing,  and  the  nation  was  in  the  full  tide  of  prosperity. 
It  was  very  necessary,  to  tiie  full  success  of  the  conspirators,  that 
it  should  be  depleted — that  the  incoming  administration  should 
tind  the  treasury  beggared,  and  thus  it  would  be  without  pecun- 
iary means  to  resist  a  rebellion.  This  was  accomplished  in  an  in- 
credibly short  space  of  time.  When  the  new  administration  came 
into  power,  it  found  an  empty  chest.  More  than  six  millions  of 
dollars  were  stolen,  and  no  doubt  went  into  the  treasury  of  the 
rebels.  Tiie  Treasury  being  thus  rendered  harmless  to  the  rebel- 
lion, Mr.  Cobb  resigned  his  office,  and  hastened  to  take  office  un- 
der the  conspirators. 


1096  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

Jacob  Thompson,  a  slaveholder  from  Mississippi,  was  Secretary 
of  tlie  Interior.  It  was  his  role  in  the  great  conspiracy  to  pre- 
vent the  reenforcement  of  the  fortresses  of  the  nation.  If  the 
forts  should  be  reenforced,  they  could  protect  themselves  from 
surprise  or  capture  by  the  rebels,  and  could  control  the  commerce 
of  the  ports,  and  hermetically  seal  them,  if  necessary.  Eftectu- 
ally  did  he  perform  this  ignoble  and  wicked  work.  After  much 
consultation,  the  Star  of  the  West  was  ])rivately  sent  with  sup- 
plies for  the  garrison  in  Fort  Sumter,  which  Avas  on  the  verge 
of  starvation.  Mr.  Thompson,  aware  of  the  fact  by  virtue  of  his 
office,  immediately  notified  the  armed  cons])irators  in  Charleston, 
and  this  steamer,  which  was  without  arms,  was  driven  back  by 
the  rebel  batteries.  In  a  speech  which  he  subsequently  made  to 
the  rebels  in  Oxford,  Miss.,  he  boasted  of  this  abominable  act  of 
treachery,  in  the  following  words: — 

"  I  sent  a  dispatch  to  Judge  Longstreet,  that  the  Star  of  the 
West  was  coming  with  reenforcements.  The  troops  were  then 
put  on  their  guard,  and  when  the  Star  of  the  West  arrived,  she 
received  a  warm  welcome  from  booming  cannon,  and  soon  beat  a 
retreat." 

"  We  have  here  the  unblushing  avowal  of  a  member  of  the 
Cabinet,  that  he  betrayed,  to  those  who  under  arms  were  seeking 
to  destroy  his  country,  information  derived  from  his  official  posi- 
tion. In  consequence,  that  frail  vessel  was  met  by  hostile  batte- 
ries, the  lives  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  in  the  service  of  the 
Government,  were  imperiled,  and  the  heroic  little  garrison  of 
seventy-five  men  in  Fort  Sumter  were  abandoned  to  their  fate. 
Secretary  Thompson,  having  accomj dished  this  feat,  resigned  his 
office,  and  joined  the  rebels,  where  he  was  received  with  open 
arms. 

"  The  subsequently  notorious  John  V>.  Floyd,  a  slave  master  of 
Virginia,  was  Secretary  of  War.  It  was  the  well-matured  plan 
of  some  of  the  conspirators,  to  assassinate  President  Lincoln  on 
his  journey  to  Washington  to  be  inaugurated.  They  designed,  in 
the  panic  which  would  ensue,  to  pour  in  troops  from  the  adjacent 
Slave  States  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  seize  upon  Washing- 
ton, with  all  its  treasures,  that  it  might  become  the  capital  of  their 
new  Confederacy.  In  the  accomplishment  of  this  plan,  it  was  im- 
portant that  the  array  of  the  United  States,  but  a  few  thousand 
in  number,  should  be  so  dispersed,  that  they  could  not  be  rallied 
for  the  defense  of  the  Government;  and  that  the  arsenals  at  the 


H  I  S  T  O  IJ  Y     OF     ANCIENT     \V  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1 097 

North  should  be  so  despoiled,  that  the  free  citizens  coukl  fiud  no 
weapons  to  grasp,  by  which  they  might  rush  to  tlio  rescue.  John 
B.  Floyd,  Secretary  of  War,  did  this  work  effectually.  The  army 
was  so  scattered  in  remote  fortresses  in  tlie  fiir  West,  as  to  leave 
all  tlic  forts  in  the  slaveholding  States  defenseless.  Thus  fortifi- 
cations containino-  twelve  hundred  cannon,  and  which  cost  over 
six  millions  of  dollars,  were  seized  and  garrisoned  by  the  rebels. 
"  At  the  same  time  Secretary  Floyd,  by  virtue  of  that  power 
which  his  office  gave  him,  and  in  infamous  violation  of  his  oath, 
disarmed  as  far  as  jiossible  the  Free  States,  by  emptying  their  ar- 
senals, and  sending  their  guns  to  the  Slave  States,  where  bands  of 
rebels  were  already  organized  and  drilling,  prepared  to  receive 
them.  One  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  arms,  of  the  most  ap- 
proved pattern,  were  transferred  from  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  from 
Watervliet,  X.  Y.,  lo  arsenals  tln-oughout  the  Slave  States.  In 
addition  to  this,  he  sold  to  different  Slave  States,  United  States 
muskets,  worth  'i<12  each,  for  §2.50.  A  vast  amount  of  cannon, 
mortar,  balls,  powder  and  shells,  wer*^  also  forwarded  to  the  reb- 
els. Having  accomplisiied  all  this,  Floyd  sent  in  liis  resignation  as 
Secretary  of  War,  and,  joining  the  rebels,  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  general  in  their  army.  Thus  General  Scott,  when  the 
hour  of  trial  came,  and  Washington  was  threatened  with  assault 
by  a  sudden  rush  from  the  slaveholding  States,  found  it  difficult 
to  concentrate  even  a  tliousand  troo])S  for  the  defense  of  the  Cap- 
ital. Washington  was  saved  from  capture  only  by  the  almost  mi- 
raculous interposition  of  God. 

"  Isaac  Toucey,  of  Connecticut,  was  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Our  fleet  then  consisted  of  ninety  vessels,  of  all  classes,  carrying 
about  2,41.5  guns  ;  and  was  manned  l)y  a  complement  of  about 
7,600  men,  exclusive  of  officers  and  marines.  It  was  a  matter  of 
the  utmost  moment,  at  this  critical  hour,  that  this  fleet  should  be 
in  our  own  waters  to  aid  the  Government.  It  was  a  matter  of 
the  utmost  moment  to  the  traitors,  that  this  fleet  should  be  dis- 
persed, where  it  could  do  them  no  harm.  It  was  accordingly  dis- 
persed. Five  of  these  vessels  were  sent  to  the  East  Indies,  three 
to  Brazil,  seven  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  three  to  tlie  Mediterranean, 
seven  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  so  on,  leaving,  of  our  whole 
squadron,  but  two  vessels,  carrying  twenty-seven  guns  and  two 
liundred  and  eighty  men,  in  Northern  ])0i-ts.* 

"On  the  21st  ot  February,  18G1,  a  select  committee  of  five,  ap- 

*  Report  of  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  July  4,  1801. 


1098  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

pointed  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  a  report  upon  the 
conduct  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  spoke  as  follows  : — 

"  From  this  statement  it  will  appear,  that  the  entire  naval  force 
available  for  the  defense  of  the  whole  Atlantic  coast,  at  the  time 
of  the  appointment  of  this  committee,  consisted  of  the  steamer 
Brooklyn,  25  guns,  and  the  storeship  Relief,  2  guns ;  while  the 
former  was  of  too  great  draft  to  permit  her  to  enter  Charleston 
harbor  with  safety,  except  at  spring  tide,  and  the  latter  was  under 
orders  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  with  stores  for  the  African  squadron. 
Thus  the  whole  Atlantic  sea-board  has  been,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  without  defense,  during  all  the  period  of  civil  commo- 
tion and  lawless  violence,  to  which  the  President  (Buchanan)  has 
called  our  attention,  as  '■of  such  vast  and  alarming  jjropor  Ho /is, 
as  to  be  beyond  his  jyower  to  check  or  controV 

"  The  Committee  can  not  fail  to  call  attention  to  this  extraor- 
dinary disposition  of  the  entire  naval  force  of  the  country,  and 
especially  in  connection  with  the  present  no  less  extraordinary 
and  critical  juncture  of  political  affairs.  They  can  not  wall  to 
mind  any  period  in  the  past  history  of  the  country,  of  sucli  pro- 
found peace  and  internal  repose,  as  would  justify  so  entire  an 
abandonment  of  the  coast  of  the  country  to  the  chance  of  for- 
tune. Certainly,  since  the  nation  possessed  a  navy,  it  has  not  be- 
fore sent  its  eiuire  available  force  into  distant  seas,  and  exposed 
its  immense  interests  at  home,  of  whicli  it  is  the  special  guardian, 
to  the  dangers  from  which,  even  in  times  of  the  utmost  quiet,  pru- 
dence and  forecast  do  always  shelter  them 

"  To  the  Committee,  this  disposition  of  the  naval  force,  at  this 
most  critical  period,  seems  extraordinary.  The  permitting  of  ves- 
sels to  depart  for  distant  seas,  after  these  unhappy  difficnlties  had 
broken  out  at  home,  the  omission  to  put  in  repair  and  commission, 
ready  for  orders,  a  single  one  of  the  twenty-eight  ships  dismant- 
led and  unfit  for  service,  in  our  ports,  and  that,  too,  while  $646- 
639.70  of  the  appropriation  for  repairs  of  the  navy,  the  present 
year,  remain  unexpended,  were,  in  the  opinions  of  your  Commit- 
tee, grave  errors — without  justification  or  excuse." 

"Thus  the  Government  was  despoiled  by  its  own  imbecile  or 
traitorous  officials.  Enemies  within,  opened  the  door  of  tlic  for- 
tress for  the  entrance  of  the  beleaguering  foe.  The  President, 
overawed  and  nerveless,  was  a  silent  observer  of  the  march  of  the 
conspirators.  At  last,  however,  he  summoned  courage  to  say  to 
Congress,  in  tones  alike  ot  weakness  and  despair,  that  the  rebell- 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  B  N  T     WOODBURY,  1099 

ion  had  attained  such  "vast  and  alarniini^  |)roportions,  as  to  place 
the  subject  entirely  above  and  beyond  Executive  control."  Nay 
more,  instead  of  hurliuLT  the  thunderbolts  lie  niight  have  wielded, 
into  the  ranks  of  the  rebels,  he  acquiesced  in  their  movements, 
and  could  hardly  be  forced  to  adopt  any  measure  which  did  not 
meet  with  their  approval. 

"It  is  difficult  to  find  in  all  the  annals  of  the  past,  an  example 
of  executive  power  bowing  the  neck  so  meekly  beneath  the  heel 
of  traitorous  aiTogance.  Ilis  Cabinet  was  mostly  filled  with  slave- 
holding  conspirators,  who  first  endeavored  to  betray  their  coun- 
try by  the  most  insane  measures,  and  then  disclosed  to  their  con- 
federate traitors  all  that  transpired  in  the  Executive  counsels. 
President  Buchanan  was  anxious  for  peace.  His  political  sympa- 
thies were,  however,  with  tlie  conspirators,  and  bitterly  hostile  to 
those  who  were  the  foes  of  human  bor.dage.  As  the  stoim  of 
passion  increased  in  vifdence,  the  only  measure  he  coidd  suggest 
was  unconditional  surrender  of  the  Government  to  the  wishes  of 
the  slaveholders.  This  was  called  a  compiomlse.  The  North, 
on  its  part,  was  to  surrender  everything.  The  South,  on  its  part, 
would  consent  to  accept  the  surrender. 

"Speaking  of  this  rebellion  and  the  plan  to  conciliate  the  rebels, 
by  surrendering  to  slavery  all  the  United  States  territory  south 
of  •SO'-''  30',  a  concession  which  the  rebels  woidd  not  accept,  Mr. 
Lovejoy,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  uttered  the  memora- 
ble words : 

"There  never  was  a  more  causeless  revolt  since  Lucifer  led  his 
cohorts  of  apostate  angels  against  the  tlirone  of  God  ;  but  I  never 
heard  that  the  Almighty  proposed  to  compromise  the  matter,  by 
allowing  the  rebels  to  kindle  the  fii-es  of  liell  south  of  the  celes- 
tial meridian  of  thirty-six  tliirty." 

jMr.  \v  igfall,  Senator  from  Texas,  exclaimed,  in  one  of  his  char- 
ad  eristic  outbn.rsis,  "II  is  the  nie|-est  l;;ihlei-dasli  —that  is  wjiat  it 
is — it  is  the  most  unmitigated  fudge  for  any  one  to  get  up  here, 
and  tell  men  who  have  sense  and  who  have  brains,  that  there  is 
any  prospect  of  two-thirds  of  this  C/Ongress  passing  any  proposi- 
tions as  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution,  that  any  man  who  is 
wliite,  twenty-one  years  old,  and  whose  hair  is  straight,  living- 
south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  will  be  content  with." 

"One  of  the  most  mar\elous  revelations  of  history  is  the  ])hr- 
nomenon,  that  the  most  majestic  of  national  movements  may  of- 
ten be  controlled  by  very  small    minorities.     Brissot   de  Wnrville 

17 


1100  HISTORY     OF     ANC'IEXT     WOODBURY. 

says,  that  the  French  Revolution  was  carried  by  not  more  than 
twenty  men.  Tiie  whole  number  of  Klaveholders  in  the  South 
did  not  exceed  three  hundred  thousand.  Not  more  than  a  hund- 
red thousand  of  these  possessed  any  large  amount  of  this  species 
of  property.  And  yet  this  petty  oligarchy,  entirely  subordinate 
to  a  few  leading  minds,  organized  the  most  gigantic  rebellion 
which  ever  shook  this  globe.  ''The  future  historian,"  says  the 
Hon.  Charles  Sumner,  'will  record,  that  the  present  rebellion,  not- 
withstanding its  protracted  origin,  the  multitudes  it  has  enlisted, 
and  its  extertsive  sweep,  was  at  last  precipitated  by  fewer  than 
twenty  men ;  jMr.  Everett  says,  by  as  few  as  ten.  It  is  certain 
that  thus  far  it  has  been  the  triumph  of  a  minority — but  of  a  mi- 
nority inspired,  combined,  and  aggrandized  by  slavery." 

"  While  Congress  was  discussing  measures  of  compromise,  the 
South  was  marshaling  her  hosts  for  battle.  When  the  news  of 
Lincoln's  election  reached  Charleston,  S.  C,  tumultuous  throngs 
in  the  streets  received  the  tidings  wnth  long  continued  cheering 
for  a  Southern  Confederacy.  In  Washington,  many  of  the  people 
boldly  assumed  the  secession  cockade,  knowing  that  the  insulted, 
humiliated  Government  of  the  United  States,  in  the  hands  of  Pres- 
icent  Buchanan,  was  impotent  to  harm  theiu.  The  Palmetto  flag 
was  hoisteiJ  and  sainted  ;  "  minute  men "  were  organized.  All 
through  the  cotton  and  slaveholding  States,  the  excitement  was 
intense,  the  secessionists  striving  to  ovei-awe  the  friends  of  the 
Union,  and  preparing  for  the  arbitrament  of  the  sword,  in  the 
success  of  which  arbitrament,  they,  in  their  ignorance  and  self- 
coniidence,  cherished  not  a  doubt.  They  had  been  accustomed  to 
regard  all  men  who  labored  as  degraded,  as  on  a  footing  with  their 
slaves.  The  Northerners  they  stigmatized  as  "  greasy  mechanics," 
and  "mudsills,"  any  five  of  whom  could  be  instantly  put  to  flight 
by  one  chivah-ous  Southron."  ' 

We  have  Said  that  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  not 
the  cause,  but  only  the  pretext  for  the  rebellion.  It  was  a  cry  by 
wliich  the  leading  rebels  and  life-long  conspirators  against  the  in- 
stitutions of  the  country  sought,  "to  fire  the  Southern  heart," 
and  forever  destroy  our  free  constitution.  It  turned  out  to  be  au 
admirable  expedient  for  the  purpose  intended,  among  the  igno- 
rant masses  of  the  South.     A  single  example  will  show  this:  — 

The  Hon.  A.  II.  Stephens,  long  a  member  of  the  United  States 

'  Abbott's  Hist<>ry  of  the  Civil  War  in  America. 


HISTOUY      &F      AXCIEXT      AV  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y .  1101 

House  of  Representatives  from  Georgia,  an<l  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential and  al)Ie  men  in  that  State,  addressed  an  immense  assem- 
blage of  his  constituents,  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives, at  Milledgeville,  Ga.,   November  14,  1860.     He  then  said: 

"The  first  question  that  presents  itself  is,  Shall  the  people  of 
the  South  secede  from  the  Union  in  consequence  of  the  election 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States  'r  My  coun- 
trymen, I  tell  you  frankly,  candidly,  and  earnestly,  that  I  do  not 
think  they  ouglit.  In  my  judgment,  the  election  of  no  man,  con- 
stitutionally chosen  to  that  high  office,  is  sufficient  cause  for  any 
State  to  separate  from  the  Union.  It  ought  to  stand  by  and  aid 
still  in  maintaining  the  Constitution  of  tlie  country.  To  make  a 
point  of  resistance  to  the  Government,  to  withdraw  from  it,  be- 
cause a  man  has  been  constitutionally  elected,  puts  us  in  the  wrong. 
We  are  pledged  to  maintain  the  Constitution.  Many  of  us  have 
sworn  to  support  it.  Can  we,  tlierefore,  for  the  mere  election  of 
a  man  to  the  Presidency,  and  that,  too,  in  accordance  with  the 
prescribed  foi'ms  of  the  Constitution,  make  a  j^oint  of  resistance 
to  the  Government,  "without  becoming  the  breakers  of  that  sacred 
instrument  ourselves  ? 

"  I  look  upon  this  country,  with  our  Institutions,  as  the  Eden 
of  the  world — the  paradise  of  the  Universe.  It  mai/  be,  that  out 
of  it  we  may  become  greater  and  more  prosperous ;  but  I  am  can- 
did and  sincere  in  telling  you  that  I  feai',  if  we  raslily  evince  pas- 
sion, and,  without  sufficient  cause,  shall  take  that  step,  that,  in- 
stead of  becoming  greater  or  more  peaceful,  prosj)erous,  and  hap- 
py, instead  of  V)ecoming  gods,  we  will  become  demons,  and,  at  no 
distant  day,  commence  cutting  one  anotlier's  throats." 

But  the  words  of  the  wisest  statesmen  of  the  South  were  not 
to  be  heeded.  All  union  opposition  to  secession  was  overborne. 
Even  Stephens  himself,  a  few  days  after  making  the  s]»eech,  of 
which  the  above  is  an  extract,  took  back  his  own  brave  and  honest 
words,  and  made  a  ranting  speech  on  the  other  side  of  tlie  ques- 
tion, and  a  little  later,  accepted  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  slave- 
holders' confederacy.  Several  of  the  Southern  States,  almost  im- 
mediately began  to  make  warlike  preparations  and  ap])ropriations, 
and  the  whole  Southern  community  was  in  a  blaze  of  excitement. 

On  the  20th  day  of  December,  18G0,  South  Carolina  seceded, 
or,  in  the  polite  phrase  of  the  time,  withdrew  its  original  con- 
sent to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  resumed  its 
condition  a.i  a  so))erei(j')i  State!     The  news  of  this  action,  which 


1 102  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      W  O  O  U  B  U  E  Y  . 

was  unanimofis,  was  hailed  with  enthusiasm  throughout  the  South- 
ern States.  On  the  9th  of  January,  1861,  the  Mississippi  Conven- 
tion passed  an  ordinance  of  secession.  Florida  followed  suit  on 
the  10th,  and  Alabama  the  ne.Kt  day  Georgia  seceded  on  the 
19th,  and  Louisiana  on  the  26th.  The  Texas  convention  passed  a 
secession  ordinance,  Feb.  1st,  1861,  subject  to  a  vote  of  the  pec" 
pie,  and  on  the  4th,  declared  the  State  out  of  the  union  !  Vir- 
ginia passed  an  ordinance  of  secession  the  l7th  of  April,  Arkan- 
sas, May  6th,  and  North  Carolina,  May  29lh. 

Meanwhile,  the  rebels  were  raj/idly  seizing  the  forts,  arsenals, 
navyyards  and  mints,  within  the  limits  of  the  seceded  States, 
while  Gen  Twiggs,  in  Texas,  traitorously  surrendered  the  greater 
portion  of  the  little  army  of  the  United  States,  it  having  been 
placed  thei'e  for  this  purpose  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 

But  still  the  meek  Buchanan  ditl  nothing  but  appoint  a  day  for 
fasting  and  prayer  throughout  the  nation,  on  the  4th  of  January, 
1861,  which  was  generally  observed  at  the  North,  and  as  generally 
disregarded  at  the  South,  and  to  send  a  messenger  or  two  to  the 
South,  to  beg  of  them,  in  piteous  terms,  to  do  notliing  rash  during 
the  brief  remainder  of  his  official  term.  His  action  disgusted  his 
political  friends  in  the  North,  not  less  than  all  other  parties. 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  this  fast  that  Woodbury  took  its  frst 
part  in  the  stirring  events  of  the  times.  Thoroughly  law  abiding, 
as  its  citizens  alwnys  had  been,  for  two  hundred. years,  always  at- 
tentive to  the  suggestion  of  I'ulers,  they  generally  attended, 
on  this  occasion,  at  their  several  places  of  worship,  to  supplicate 
the  Lord  of  Hosts,  that  the  evils  which  threatened  the  na- 
tion, and  which  the  governmett  seemed  utterly  unable  to  success- 
fully oppose,  might  be  averted.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the 
late  Rev.  Noah  Coe,  who  was  then  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the 
Fii'st  Congregational  church,  ami  who,  not  being  the  settled  pas- 
tor of  the  churc'',  and,  on  account  of  the  temper  of  the  times,  was 
not  afraid  of  being  accused  of  "  preaching  ])olit!cs,"  uttered  his 
memorable  prayer,  a  passage  of  which  follows: — 

"  Oh  !  Lord,  we  have  assembled  in  Thy  presence,  in  response  to 
the  call,  in  his  feebleness,  of  the  Presiden.t  of  the  United  States.  We 
thank  Thee  that  he  has  been  brought  to  see  the  need  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  that  he  has  felt  the  necessity  of  asking  the  pray- 
ers of  Tliy  people.  Oh  !  Lord,  Thou  knowest  that  his  sins  are 
manifold  in  Thy  sight,  and  that  he  greatly  needs  them.  Let  him 
still  further  see  the  error  of  hi?    ways,  and  apply  his  heart  unto 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  1?  U  K  Y  .  1103 

Avisdoin,  tliat  Thou  canst  see  it  possible  to  save  him.  Oh  God, 
Tliou  knowest  lie  has  done  evil  enough.  He  has  niulti|)lied  his 
wickedness.  But  save  him  out  of  Thine  abundant  mercy.  Oh 
Lord,  we  thank  Tiiee  that  his  time  is  short.  Tliat  he  can 
not  do  much  more  evil  in  the  land.  And  we  do  greatly  thank 
Thee,  that  Abraham  Lincoln,  that  great  and  good  nian,  a  man  af- 
ter Thine  own  heart,  is  so  soon  to  succeed  him,  when  we  devoutly 
ho]ie  we  shall  see  a  ruler  in  the  land  full  of  righteousness,  who 
will  can-y  out  Thy  will,  and  show  forth  Tliy  praise." 

In  the  sadness,  uncertainty  and  general  api)rehension  of  the 
time,  this  bold,  blunt  prayer,  had  a  marked  eft'ect  upon  thehearei's. 
Though  unusual  in  its  terms,  and  plainness  of  speech,  it  was 
deemed  to  be  appropriate  to  the  situation  of  the  country  at  that 
perilous  period.  There  is  but  one  prayer  on  record,  which  hats 
ever  come  to  the  writers  notice,  simihxr  to  it.  And  that  was,  the 
prayer  of  Parson  Champion,  of  Litchfield,  a  red-hot  patriot  in  the 
days  of  the  Kevolutionary  War.' 

1861.  As  we  have  seen,  the  Great  Rebellion  of  the  slavehold- 
ers, foreshadowed,  threatened,  and  foreordained,  for  many  years, 
came  into  active  existence  immediately  upon  the  announcement 
that  Abraham  Lincoln  had  been  elected  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  earliest,  most  earnest  and  effective  efforts  at  rebell- 
ion wei'c  made  in  South  Carolina.  The  election  of  Lincoln  was 
but  the  merest  pretext,  but  the  leaders  knew  best  with  what  ma- 
terial to  "fire  the  Southern  heart."  One  after  another,  as  soon  as 
the  several  Southern  States  seceded,  oi-,  as   they  gingerly  termed 

'  Wlien  the  whole  country  was  in  a  state  of  ahirm  at  the  intelligence  that 
Lord  Cornwallis,  with  a  laige  fleet  and  armament,  was  a}iprocliing  the  An)erican 
coast.  Col.  Tailrnage  happened  to  pass  through  Litehtield  with  a  regiment  of  cav- 
alry, While  there,  he  attended  public  worship,  witli  his  troops,  on  Sunday,  at  the 
old  meeting-house,  that  stood  upon  the  village  green.  The  occasion  was  deeply 
interesting  and  exciting.  Tlie  Rev.  Judah  Clmmpion,  then  the  settled  minister  of 
the  place — a  man  of  great  elo(juence,  and  of  a  iiigh  order  of  intellectual  endow- 
ment— in  view  of  the  alaniung  crisis,  thus  invoked  the  sanction  of  Heaven  : — 

"Oh,  Lord  !  we  view  with  terror  the  approach  of  the  enemies  of  Tby  holy  re- 
ligion. Wilt  thou  send  storm  and  tempest,  to  toss  them  upon  the  sea,  and  to 
overwhelm  ilieni  ujjon  the  mighty  deep,  or  to  scatter  them  to  the  uttermost  jjarte 
of  the  earth.  But,  peiadvenlure,  should  any  e8ca|)e  Thy  vengeance,  collect  them 
together  again.  Oh  Lord!  as  in  the  hollow  of  Thy  iiand,  and  lei  thy  lightnings 
play  upon  them"  An  invocation  for  the  safety  and  success  of  Col.  Talhnage's 
command  then  followed. 

J/iillister's  Hint,  of  Conn., —  2  vol.  pp.  :\\H\,  ;i'JL 


1104  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBUKY. 

it,  withdrew  their  former  assent  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  resumed  their  original  powers  as  sove- 
reign, free  and  independent  States,  and  notice  of  tlie  ordinances 
of  secession  was  received,  their  senators  and  representatives  with- 
drew from  Congress,  with  insulting  denunciations  and  threats 
towards  the  remaining  loyal  States  of  the  Union.  Better  speci" 
mens  of  insolence,  braggadocio,  and  intolerable,  foundatioiiless, 
arrogance,  was  never  expressed  in  any  language,  than  by  these 
retiring  braggarts,  and  crime-steeped  despots.  They  had  been 
guilty  of  the  meanness,  as  well  as  disloyalty  of  retaining  their 
seats  as  long  as  possible,  to  act  as  spies  on  the  efforts  of  the  gov- 
ernment for  its  safety,  and  to  thwart  every  well-directed  effort  for 
the  salvation  of  the  country  No  such  unparalleled  conduct  was 
ever  before  witnessed  in  the  transactions  of  all  the  former  traitors 
of  the  world.  Treason,  long  projected,  and  secretly  working  to 
accomplish  its  purpose,  was  rampant  everywhere — in  the  cabinet, 
in  the  Supreme  Court,  in  both  Houses  of  Congress,  in  the  Array, 
in  the  Navy — everywhere.  Never  had  traitors  less  cause  for  their 
crime.  They  had  the  full  control  of  every  department,  and  could 
carry  their  plans  without  "  let  or  hindrance."  No  considerable 
party  in  the  union  claimed  the  right,  or  even  desii-ed  to  interfere 
with  their  cherished  institution  of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it 
then  existed.  Tt  had  however  become  repugnant  to  the  great  na- 
tional heart,  that  that  accursed  institution  should  be  extended  into 
territory  then  free.  The  free  legions  of  the  North  were  fully  de- 
termined to  resist  its  further  extension.  This  was  the  sole  sub- 
ject of  dispute. 

Immediately,  on  the  assembling  of  Congress  at  its  Session  in 
Dec.  1860,  numerous  efforts  and  plans  of  compromise  were  brought 
forward  by  a  largo  number  of  Senators  and  Representatives,  and 
the  subject  of  pacification  was  almost  the  sole  theme  of  earnest 
discussion  during  the  whole  of  the  Session  of  1860-61,  and  quite 
up  to  the  inauguration  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President,  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1861.  Committees  of  thirteen  and  thirty-three 
were  appointed,  for  the  express  ])urpose  of  devising  some  rational 
means  of  reconciliation  ;  but  all  to  no  purpose  It  had  been  pre- 
determined, on  the  part  of  the  slave  interest,  that  there  should  be 
no  reconciliation.  The  slaveholding  leaders  thought  their  plans 
were  so  well  laid,  tJint  they  could  disrupt  the  union,  erect  a  slave 
confederacy,  the  corner- stone  of  which  should  be  human  bond;ige, 
foim   a  new  constitution,  to  which  the  free  North  would  beg  ud" 


HISTOIIY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY  1105 

mission,  except,  perhaps,  New  lingland,  which  was  to  be  "  uiicer- 
einoniously  left  out  in  tlie  cold,"  and  Washington  was  still  to  be 
the  capital,  but  it  was  to  be  the  capital,  not  of  the  nation  of  the 
stars  and  strii)es,  but  of  a  new  confederacy,  governed  by  a  slave- 
holding  aristocracy. 

During  these  months,  there  was  great  excitement  throughout 
the  South,  and  seven  States  had  seceded  from  the  union  before 
the  inauguration  ot  Lincoln.  Forts,  arsenals,  post-offices,  custom- 
houses and  sub-treasuries  were  seized,  the  Indian  Fund,  of  some 
six  millions  of  dollars,  was  stolen,  all  the  public  property  in  the 
seceded  States  was  confiscated,  the  traitor.  Gen.  Twigs,  delivered 
up  in  Texas,  the  major  part  of  our  whole  little  army,  and  the 
Northern  arsenals  were  emptied  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  arms 
by  the  traitor  cabinet  officer  having  them  in  charge,  who  caused 
them  to  be  sent  South.  In  every  way,  the  loyal  men  of  the  nation 
were  crippled,  while  a  well-arranged  plan  for  the  capture  of  Wash- 
ington, before  the  inauguration  of  the  new  President,  seemed  only 
to  have  been  prevented  by  the  special  interposition  of  God.  Well- 
matured  plans  for  the  assassination  of  the  President-elect,  as  he 
should  pass  through  Baltimore  on  his  way  to  the  caj»ital,  came 
near  a  bloody  consumation.  By  a  secret  and  skillful  manoever 
only,  executed  by  night,  was  it  possil)le  to  avoid  the  bloody  death, 
which  came  to  that  patriotic  and  glorious  man  a  little  more  than 
four  years  later.  Meanwhile  the  servile  Buchanan  looked  on  in 
helpless  imbecility.  He  wrote  a  piteous  message  to  Congress,  in 
which  he  argued,  that  while  the  States  had  no  right  to  secede,  the 
government,  under  the  Constitution,  had  no  right  to  prevent  them 
by  force.     And  thus  the  tide  of  treason  rolled  resistlessly  on. 

"  While  the  excitement  was  thus  rapidly  deepening  and  extend- 
ing, the  4th  of  March  drew  nigh,  when  the  President  elect  Avas  to 
be  inaugurated  in  Washington.  Rumors  filled  the  air,  that  he 
was  to  be  assassinated  on  his  passage  through  the  Slave  State  of 
Maryland.  Great  anxiety  was  felt  for  his  safety,  as  the  desperate 
character  of  a  portion  of  the  populace  in  Baltimore,  through  which 
city  he  would  naturally  pass,  was  well  known.  On  the  11th  of 
February,  he  left  his  home  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  intending  to 
make  a  brief  visit  in  the  leading  cities  on  his  route.  In  the  fol- 
lowing touching  address  he  took  leave  of  his  fellow-citizens  at  the 
railroad  depot: 

"My  friends!  No  one,  not  in  my  position,  can  a})preciate  the 
sadness  that  I  feel  at  this  parting.     To  this  peojjle  I  owe  all  that 


1106  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

I  am.  Here  I  have  lived  more  tlian  a  quarter  of  a  centnry.  Here 
my  children  were  born,  and  here  one  of  them  lies  buried.  I  know 
not  how  soon  I  shall  see  you  again.  A  duty  devolves  upon  me 
which  is  perhaps  greater  than  that  which  has  devolved  upon  any 
other  man  since  the  days  of  Washington.  He  never  would  have 
succeeded,  except  for  the  aid  of  Divine  Providence,  upon  which 
he,  at  all  times,  relied,  I  feel  that  I  can  not  succeed  without  the 
same  Divine  aid  wliich  sustained  him.  In  the  same  Almighty  Being 
I  place  my  reliance  for  support,  and  I  hope  you,  my  friends,  will  all 
pray  that  I  may  receive  that  Divine  assistance,  without  which  I 
can  not  succeed,  but  with  which,  success  is  certain.  Again  I  bid 
you  all  an  affectionate  farewell."  ' 

Mr.  Lincoln  received  an  enthusiastic  ovation  from  all,  without 
distinction  of  party,  in  all  the  cities  and  towns  at  which  he  stoj)- 
ped  on  his  way  to  Washington. 

At  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Lincoln's  reception  was  as  enthusiastic  as 
in  New  York.  Pie  there  attended  upon  the  ceremony  of  raising 
the  United  States  flag  over  the  Old  Hall  of  Independence.  After 
appropriate  ceremonies,  the  President  raised,  hand  over  hand,  the 
glorious  banner  to  the  summit  of  the  staff.  On  this  occasion  he 
uttered  the  following  memorable  and  heartfuU  words; 

"I  have  often  inquired  of  myself  what  great  principle  or  idea 
it  was  that  kept  this  Confederacy  so  long  together.  It  was  not 
the  mere  matter  of  the  separation  ol  the  Colonies  from  the  mother 
land  ;  hut  that  sentiment  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  vjhich 
gave  liberty,  not  alone  to  the  people  of  this  country,  but  I  hope  to 
the  world,  for  all  future  time.  It  was  that  which  gave  promise, 
that,  in  due  time,  the  weight  would  be  lifted  from  the  shoulders 
of  all  men.  This  was  a  sentiment  embodied  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  Now,  my  friends,  can  this  country  be  saved 
on  this  basis?  If  it  can,  I  shall  consider  myself  one  of  the  hap- 
piest men  in  tlie  world,  if  I  can  help  save  it.  If  it  can  not  be 
saved  on  that  ))rinciple,  it  will  be  truly  awful.  But  if  this  country 
can  not  be  saxed  without  giving  up  that  principle.  I  was  about  to 
say,  I  would  ratlier  be  assassinated  on  this  spot  than  surrender  it. 
Now,  in  my  view  of  the  present  aspect  of  affairs,  there  need  be 
no  bloodshed  or  war.  There  is  no  necessity  for  it.  I  am  not  in 
fiivor  of  such  a  course,  and  I  may  say  in  advance,  that  there  will 
be  no«  bloodshed,  unless  it  be  forced  upon  the  Government,  and 
then  it  will  be  compelled  to  act  in  self-defense, 

'  Abbott's  Hist,  of  the  Civil  War  in  America." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1107 

"  My  friends,. this  is  wholly  an  unexpected  speech.  I  did  not 
exi)ect  to  be  called  upon  to  say  a  word  when  I  came  here.  I  sup- 
posed that  it  was  merely  to  do  something  toward  raisino-  the  flag- 
I  may,  therefore,  have  said  something  indiscreet.  I  have  said 
nothing  but  what  I  am  ready  to  live  by,  and,  if  it  be  the  pleasure 
of  Almighty  God,  to  die  by." 

"Id  Ilarrisburg,  the  capital  of  Pennsylvania,  the  same  enthusiasm 
greeted  the  President  which  had  thus  far  accompanied  him  through 
every  stage  of  his  journey.  Again  the  President  uttered  those 
conciliatory  and  peaceful  sentiments  which  constituted  so  essen- 
tial a  part  of  his  generous  nature.  He  was  conducted  to  the  hotel 
in  a  barouche  di'awn  by  six  white  horses,  and  accompanied  by  a 
very  imposing  military  array.  In  response  to  the  address  of  wel- 
come, lie  said  : 

''I  recur,  for  a  moment,  to  tlie  words  uttered  about  the  military 
suppoi-t,  which  the  General  Government  may  expect  from  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  in  a  proper  emergency.  To 
guard  against  any  possible  mistake,  do  I  recur  to  this.  It  is  not 
with  any  pleasure,  that  I  contemplate  the  possibility  that  a  neces- 
sity may  arise,  in  this  country,  for  the  use  of  the  military  arm. 
While  I  am  exceedingly  gratified  to  see  the  manifestation  upon 
your  steets  of  the  military  force  here,  and  exceedingly  gratified 
at  your  promise  here  to  use  tliat  force  upon  a  proper  emergency, 
I  desire  to  repeat,  to  preclude  any  possible  misconstruction,  that  I 
do  most  sincerely  ho])e  that  we  shall  have  no  use  for  them;  that 
it  will  never  become  their  duty  to  shed  blood,  and  most  especially 
never  to  shed  fraternal  blood.  I  promise  that,  so  far  as  I  may 
have  wisdom  to  direct,  if  so  painful  a  result  shall  in  any  wise  be 
brought  about,  it  shall  be  through  no  fault  of  mine." 

"  To  go  trom  Harrisburg  to  Washington,  it  was  necessary  to  pass 
through  the  slaveholding  State  of  Maryland,  and  through  the 
City  of  Baltimore,  where  the  spirit  of  secession  had  manifested 
itself  in  its  most  envenomed  type.  The  loyal  citizens  of  Balti- 
more were  preparing  to  give  the  president  a  courteous  reception. 
The  partisans  of  the  slaveholders  had  formed  a  conspiracy'  for  his 
assassination.  The  plan  was  discovered  by  the  police.  It  consist- 
ed in  getting  up  a  riot,  very  easily  accomplished  in  Baltimore,  at 
the  depot,  during  which  the  unarmed  and  unjtrotected  President 
was  to  be  stabbed  or  shot.  The  detectives  who  ferreted  out  the 
plot,  assumed  to  be  secessionists  from  Louisiana.  The  cons))ira- 
tors  were  to  mingle  with  the  croAvd,  pretending  to  be  friends  of 


1108  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

the  President,  when,  at  a  given  signal,  a  great  tumnlt  was  to 
be  raised,  and  some  were  to  shoot  at  him  witli  their  pistols,  and 
others  to  throw  hand  grenades  into  his  carriage.  In  the  inevitable 
confnsion  the  assassins  expected  to  escape  to  a  vessel  waiting  for 
them  in  tlie  harbor,  which  would  convey  them  to  Mobile,  in  Ala- 
bama, where  tliey  wouLl  be  safe  from  all  harm.  General  Scott 
and  Senator  Seward  had  been  apprised,  by  the  police,  of  this  dan 
ger,  and  immediately  dispatched  Mr.  F'rederick  W.  Seward,  a  son 
of  the  Senator,  to  Philadelphia,  to  inform  Mr.  Lincoln  of  his  peril. 
After  consultation  with  friends,  it  was  deemed  advisable,  in  the 
then  excited  state  of  the  country,  when  even  a  slight  disturbance 
would  plunge  the  country  into  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war,  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  should  frustrate  the  plans  of  the  conspirators,  by 
taking  an  earlier  express  train,  and  passing  through  Baltimore 
incognito,  as  an  ordinary  traveler.  The  wisdom  of  this  decis- 
ion few  now,  ujion  reflection,  will  dispute.  Mr.  Lincoln  receiv- 
ed this  information  at  Philadelphia,  l)ut,  according  to  his  plan, 
proceeded  to  Harrisburg, 

"After  the  public  reception  at  Harrisburg,  the  President,  with  a 
few  of  his  confidential  friends,  retired  to  his  private  apartments, 
in  the  Jones  House,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  As  lie  was 
known  to  be  weary  with  the  toils  of  the  day,  he  was  exposed  to 
no  interruptions.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  he,  in  company  with 
Col.  Lamon,  unobserved,  entered  a  hack,  and  drove  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad,  where  a  special  train  was  waiting  for  him.  The  tel- 
egraph wires  were  in  the  mean  time  cut,  so  that  the  knowledge  of 
his  departure,  if  discovered  or  suspected,  could  not  be  sent  abroad- 
The  train  reached  Philadelphia  at  10|-  o'clock  that  night.  They 
drove  immediately  across  the  city  to  the  Baltimore  and  Washing- 
ton de])ot.  The  regular  night  train  was  just  leaving,  at  \  past  11. 
The  party  took  berths  in  a  sleej)ing  car,  and,  without  any  change, 
passed  directly  through  Baltimore  to  Washington,  where  they  ar- 
rived safely,  and  all  unexjjected,  at  \  past  6  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  find  it  necessaiT  to  assume  anv  dis<>-uise, 
but  journeyed  in  his  ordinary  traveling  dress. 

"The  Hon.  Mr.  Washburn,  of  Illinois,  who  had  been  privately 
informed  of  the  arrangement,  was  at  the  station  to  receive  the 
President.  They  drove  directly  to  Willard's  Hotel,  where  they 
were  met  by  Mr.  Seward.  The  active  agents  in  this  infamous 
plot  were  of  course  well  known  by  the  detectives ;  but  it  was 
deemed,  at  that  time,  desirable  to  avoid  everything  which  could 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  1109 

add  to  the  excitement  of  the  public  mind,  already  so  sorely  agi- 
tated. The  President-elect  thus  silently  entered  Washington, 
Saturday  morning,  February  23.  The  news  of  his  arrival  was 
immediately  flashed  over  the  land,  and  the  next  day  liis  family 
entered  tlie  city  by  the  special  train  designed  for  the  Presidential 
party.'" 

"  IJy  this  time  it  liad  become  quite  evident,  that  the  secession- 
ists wished  for  no  compromise.  They  felt  strong,  sure  of  success, 
and  witli  unflinching  determination  advanced  in  their  measures  to 
break  up  the  Union,  form  a  Confederacy  of  the  Cotton  States, 
on  a  thoroughly  pro-slavery  Constitution  ;  then  draw  in  the  bor- 
der States,  which  without  any  doubt  would  be  eager  to  follow  thera, 
and  then,  thi-ough  their  partisans  in  the  Middle  and  North  Western 
States,  draw  those  States  in,  and  thus  thoroughly  reconstruct  and 
reunite  the  country,  leaving  New  England  out,  in  a  cold  corner, 
to  be  attached  to  Canada,  or,  if  independent,  to  be  so  weak  as  to 
be  quite  at  the  disposal  of  the  great  pro-slavery  republic,  which, 
grasping  Cuba  and  Mexico,  would  overshadow  the  whole  land. 
The  |)lot  of  the  secessionists  to  seize  defenseless  Washington  was 
so  palpal)le,  and  manifestly  so  feasible,  surrounded  as  it  was  by 
slaveholding  Virginia  and  Maryland,  that  even  President  Buchan- 
an became  alarmed.  General  Scott  was  there  urging  him  to  de- 
cisive measures.  During  the  first  week  in  Januai'y,  General  Scott 
had  succeeded,  with  some  difticulty,  in  collecting  about  three 
hundred  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington.  President  Bu- 
chan  was  excessively  averse  to  any  show  of  power,  lest  it  might 
be  regarded  as  a  menace,  by  a  foe  whom  he  dreaded,  and  who 
had  gained  almost  entire  dominion  over  his  mind. 

"  On  the  4th  of  February,  forty-two  of  the  secessionists  met  in 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  representing  the  States  of  Alabanui,  Flor- 
ida, Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  South  Carolina  and  North 
Carolina.  They  proceeded  immediately  to  organize  a  new  nation, 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  to  consist  of  the  above-mentioned  seven 
States,  and  such  others  as  might  subesequently  be  a(hled.  And 
then  these  forty  two  men  chose  Jefterson  Davis,  President,  and 
Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Vice  President  of  the  Southerrj  Confede- 
racy. In  all  the  Southern  States  there  were  large  numbers  op- 
posed to  all  these  measures  of  revolt,  and  in  some  of  the  States 
there    were,  undoubtedly,   a    decided    majority  ;  but   the  leading 

t  Abbott's  Hist,  of  the  Civil  War,  p.  64. 


1110  HISTORY     OF      A  N,C  I  K  N  T     \V  O  O  U  B  U  11  Y  . 

slaveholders  had  got  the  ])0\ver  entirely  in  their  hands,  and  all  op- 
position was  overawed.  On  the  18Lh,  Jeflerson  Davis  was  inau- 
gurated President,  at  Montgomery. 

"These  forty  two  delegates,  without  the  slightest  misgivings, 
undertook  to  revolutionize  a  nation  of  thirty  millions.  They 
deemed  themselves  umpires  from  whom  there  was  no  a|)peal.  They 
framed  a  Constitution,  adoj)ted  articles  of  Confederation,  chose  a 
President  and  Vice-President,  confirmed  Cabinet  and  Minislei-ial 
appointments,  and  set  in  operation  all  the  machinery  of  what  they 
believed  would  prove  a  powerful  and  perpetual  government. 
History  affords  no  parallel  to  such  an  audacious  usurpation.  The 
peojile  had  no  voice  in  the  organization  of  the  government.  And 
yet  so  sagaciously  was  the  whole  thing  managed,  that  the  igno- 
rant masses  at  the  South  were  led  as  obediently  as  slaves  on  the 
plantations.  Those  who  ventured  to  utter  the  slightest  murmurs 
were  instantly  silenced  with  the  most  inexorable  cruelly. 

"  No  American  can  write  such  nan  atives  about  his  own  coun- 
trymen without  extreme  reluctance.  But  these  facts  must  be 
known,  or  one  can  not  understand  how  every  voice  of  opposition 
was  silenced  at  the  South.  The  ap])arent  unanimity  at  the  South, 
was  simply  the  silence  enforced  by  the  bludgeon,  the  lash,  the  hal- 
ter, and  the  stake.  Hume  has  remarked  upon  the  barbarizing  in- 
fluence of  slavery  in  ancient  Rome.  Its  influence  has  been  equally 
debasing  in  our  own  land.  Its  influence  upon  woman's  character 
has  been  still  more  marked  than  ui)on  the  character  of  men.  That 
there  are  noble  men,  and  lovely  and  lovable  women  at  the  South, 
all  must  gladly  aflirra.  The  writer  knows  many  such,  whose  mem- 
ory he  must  ever  cherish  with  affection.  But  this  rebellion  has 
proved  beyond  all  dispute,  that  such  are  the  exceptions.  It  is  the 
unanimous  declaration  of  our  army,  that  the  venom  exhibited  by 
the  secession  females  of  the  South  was  amazing  aiul  very  general. 
Ladies,  so  called,  would  spit  ujion  our  soldiers  in  the  streets  of 
Baltimore.  One  clergyman  testifies  that  a  woman,  a  member  of 
his  chnrch,  whom  he  had  always  considered  a  worthy  member, 
said  to  him,  that  "she  would  be  perfectly  willing  to  go  to  hell,  if 
she  could  but  shoot  a  Yankee  first."  Another  Zac??/  said,  to  a  gen- 
tleman who  related  it  to  the  writer,  that  she  hoped  yet  'to  sleep 
under  a  blanket  made  of  the  scalps  of  Kortheiners.' " 

While  such  outrageous  proceedings  were  carried  on  by  active, 
malignant  traitors,  the  ])eoj)le  of  the  free  States  were  waiting 
qiuetly,  but  with   intense  latent  emotion,  for  the  inauguration  of 


IIISTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1111 

Abraham  Lincoln  as  President.  ISTothing could  be  hoped  for  while 
Mr.'Buclianan  remained  in  the  Presidential  chair.  He,  liimself, 
was  probably  the  most  impatient  man  in  the  United  States  for  the 
hour  to  arrive  in  which  he  could  retire.  But,  tlie  secessionists 
had  no  idea  of  allowing  President  Lincoln  to  be  inauc:i^urated.  To 
be  sure,  tliey  liad  failed  in  their  plans  to  assassinate  him  on  his 
journey  to  the  cajiital.  But  they  were  still  quite  confident  of  their 
abilily  to  seize  Washington,  and  make  it  the  capital  of  their  new 
confi'derncy,  and  they  wore  fully  determined  to  carry  out  their 
wicked  designs.  Mr.  Al)bott,  in  his  history  of  the  Civil  War  has 
so  a<lniir;ibly  descrilied  the  state  of  affairs  at  the  date  of  the  inau- 
guration, that  it  is  thought  well  to  give  the  account  of  it  in  sub- 
stantially his  words. 

"The  week  preceding  the  4th  of  March,  when  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
to  be  inaugurated,  was  one  of  intense  solicitude  and  excitement. 
The  air  was  filled  with  rumors  of  conspiracies,  to  prevent  the  in- 
auguration by  a  V)loody  tumult,  and  by  seizing  the  Capital.  Wash- 
ington was  thronged  with  strangers,  many  from  the  South,  armed 
with  bowie-knives  and  revolvers..  Aitparentl}^  thei'e  would  have 
been  but  little  difficulty  in  a  few  thou&and  men,  at  a  concei'ted 
signal,  making  a  rush  which  would  sweep  all  opposition  before 
them.  Gen.  Scott  and  Secretary  Holt  were  in  the  meantime  ma- 
king quiet,  but  effectual  preparations,  to  meet  any  emergency.  An 
important  military  escort  was  provided  to  conduct  the  President 
to  the  Capitol,  and  back  again,  after  the  inauguration,  to  the 
\\  liite  House. 

"The  eventful  morning  dawned  propitiously.  At  an  early  hour, 
Pennsylvania  Avenue  was  thronged,  the  center  of  attraction  being 
Willard's  Hotel,  where,  thus  far,  the  President  elect  had  occupied 
apartments.  The  procession  began  to  form  about  9  o'clock.  It 
was  very  brilliant  and  imposing.  One  very  striking  feature  was, 
a  large  tiaumphal  car,  the  Constitution,  bearing  thirty  four  very 
beautiful  girls,  robed  in  white,  as  representatives  of  the  several 
States.  It  was  thus  manifest  that  the  government  had  no  idea  of 
recognizing  the  Union  as  dissolved.  Mr.  Buchanan  and  Mr,  Lin- 
coln sat,  side  by  side,  in  the  carriage.  They  ascended  the  steps 
of  the  Capitol  arm  in  arm.  It  was  noticed  that  Mr.  Buchanan 
looked  pale,  sad,  and  nervous;  he  sighed  audibly  and  frequently. 
Mr.  Lincoln's  face  was  slightly  flushed,  and  his  li])s  compressed, 
with  an  expi'ession  of  much  gravity  and  firmness." 

The  President  elect  took  liis  stand   upon   the  platform  of  the 


1112  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 

portico  of  the  Capitol.  The  Supreme  Court,  the  Senate,  the  House 
of  Representatives,  the  Foreign  Ministers,  and  a  vast  crowd  of 
privileged  persons,  soon  occupied  every  seat.  A  countless  tlirong 
filled  the  grounds  below,  a  surging  mass  of  friends  and  foes.  There 
were  exasperated  secessionists,  watching  for  a  chance  to  strike  a 
blow,  and  pure  patriots  ready  to  repel  that  blow,  at  any  hazard  of 
life.  Senator  Baker,  of  Oregon,  introduced  the  President  to  the 
people.  Mr.  Lincoln  then,  with  strength  of  voice  which  arrested 
every  ear,  delivered  his  inaugural  address.  Speaking  of  secession, 
he  said : 

"  Physically  speaking,  we  cannot  separate, — Ave  can  not  remove 
our  respective  sections  from  each  other,  nor  build  an  impassable 
wall  between  them.  A  husband  and  wife  may  be  divorced,  and 
go  out  of  the  presence  and  beyond  the  reach  of  each  other ;  but 
the  different  parts  of  our  country  can  not  do  this.  They  can  not 
but  remain  face  to  face;  and  intercourse,  either  amiable  or  hostile, 
must  continue  between  them.  Is  it  possible,  then,  to  make  that 
intercourse  more  advantageous  or  more  satisfactory  after  separa- 
tion than  before?  Can  aliens  make  treaties  easier  than 
friends  can  make  laws?  Can  treaties  be  more  faithiuUy  en- 
forced between  aliens  than  laws  can  among  friends?  Suppose  you 
go  to  war;  you  can  not  fight  always,  and  when,  after  much  loss 
on  both  sides,  and  no  gain  on  either,  you  cease  fighting,  the  iden- 
tical questions,  as  to  terms  of  intei  course,  are  again  upon  you." 
In  reference  to  the  policy  to  be  pursued,  he  said  : 
"  To  the  extent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as  the  Constitution 
itself  ex))ressly  enjoins  upon  me,  tliat  tlie  laws  of  the  Union  be 
faithfully  execi'Hted  in  all  the  States.  Doing  this  I  deem  to  be 
only  a  simple  duty  on  my  part.  I  shall  perfectly  perform  it,  so  far 
as  is  practicable,  unless  my  rightful  masters,  the  American  people, 
shall  withhold  the  requisition,  or,  in  some  authoritative  manner, 
direct  the  contrary.  I  trust  this  will  not  be  regarded  as  a  menace, 
but  only  as  the  declared  ))ur|)ose  of  the  Union,  that  it  will  consti- 
tutionally defend  and  maintain  itself.  In  doing  this,  there  need 
be  no  bloodshed  or  violence,  and  there  shall  be  none,  unless  it  is 
forced  upon  the  national  authority.  The  power  confided  in  me 
will  be  used  to  hold,  occu])y,  and  possess  the  pro])erty  and  places 
belonging  to  the  government,  and  collect  the  duties  and  imposts; 
but  beyond  what  may  be  necessary  for  these  objects,  there  will  be 
no  invasion, — no  using  of  force  against  or  among  the  people  any- 
wheie." 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  O  I  E  N  T    W  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  1113 

Mr.  Lincoln  closed  his  noble  inaugural  with  the  following  words, 
alike  firm  and  conciliatory  : 

"In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen,  and  not  in 
mine,  is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The  government  will 
not  a  sail  you.  You  can  have  no  conflict  without  being  yourselves 
the  aggi'essors.  You  have  no  oath  registered  in  heaven  to  destroy 
the  government;  while  I  shall  have  the  most  solemn  one  to  'pre- 
serve, protect,  and  defend  it.'  I  am  hith  to  close.  We  are  not 
enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be  enemies.  Though  passion 
may  have  strained,  it  must  not  break  our  bonds  of  afl^ection.  The 
mystic  chords  of  tnemoi-y,  stretching  from  every  battle-field  and 
patriot  grave,  to  every  living  heart  and  hearth-stone,  all  over  this 
broad  land,  will  yet  swell  the  choi-ns  of  the  Union,  when  again 
touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the  better  angels  of  our  na- 
ture." 

The  oath  of  oftice  was  then  administered  by  Chief  Justice  Ta- 
ney; the  procession  was  again  formed,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  es- 
coited  to  the  White  House. 

For  several  weeks  preceding  the  inauguration,  that  grand  old 
patriot  and  war-worn  hero,  Lieut.  Gen.  Scott,  had  been  quietly 
collecting  the  scattered  fragments  of  our  little  regular  army,  and 
transporting  them  to  Washington.  By  the  4th  of  March,  he  had 
in  this  way  gathered  about  a  thousand  eff"ective  and  reliable  men, 
and  a  few  j)ieces  of  artilleiy,  for  the  defense  of  Washington  and 
the  ]ieaceable  inauguration  of  the  new  I'lX'sident.  During  the 
ceremonies,  he  was  standing  by  one  of  the  guns,  which  were 
planted  in  such  a  way  as  to  do  fearful  execution,  in  case  of  any 
attempt  at  violence  on  the  part  of  the  secessionists,  ready  to  give 
directions  in  any  emeroency  that  might  arise.  When  those  glo- 
rious, patriotic  and  immortal  words  of  the  new  President  rang 
out  upon  the  clear,  still  air,  in  the  ears  of  the  breathlessly  listening 
thousands,  and  were  reported  to  the  old  veteran,  as  he  stood  firm- 
ly, thougli  anxiously  at  his  post  of  duty: — "  You  have  no  oath 
regif^tered  in  Heaven  to  destroy  the  governwent,  lehile  I  shall  have 
the  most  solemn  one  to  '•  preserve,  protect  and  defend  U^  "—  in  spite 
of  military  rule,  he  could   not   help  exclaiming: — 'Thank  God! 

AT  LAST  W"E  HAVE  A  PRESIDENT  ! 

To  the  surprise  and  disgust  of  the  rebels,  the  President  had 
been  peacefully  inaugurated,  they  had  not  been  able  to  seize 
Washington,  and  many  of  their  fondest  calctdations  had  not  been 
realized.     Their  remaining  plans  were,  therefore,  more  desperately 


1114  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

cariied  on  all  ovex*  the  South.  It  was  not  possible,  witli  their  views, 
for  the  secessionists,  after  all  their  long  years  of  preparation,  and 
after  all  their  insolent  bluster,  to  come  back,  and  ask  for  terms  of 
arrangement.  Nor  avouM  it  do  to  delay.  Every  moment  passed 
in  inaction  was  a  moment  lost  to  the  cause  of  the  rebels.  Tlieir 
blows  must  be  sudden  and  decisive,  to  avail  them  anything.  Ac- 
cordingly, at  half-past  four,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  April, 
18G1,  fourteen  batteries  in  Charleston  harbor,  manned  and  sustain- 
ed by  ten  thousand  men,  opened  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter,  and  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,  thus  inaugurating  civil  war  in  all  its  hor- 
roi"s,  with  tremendous  energy.  This  formidable  array  was  op- 
posed by  about  eighty  soldiers  of  the  United  States,  shut  up  with- 
in the  fort,  too  few  to  man  a  tithe  of  its  guns  effectively.  After 
a  fierce  bombardment  of  about  36  hours,  and  throwing  against 
the  beleaguered  fort  2,301  solid  shot,  and  980  shells,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  gallant  little  garrison  should  surrender  the  fort,  on  being 
allowed  to  take  away  all  their  individual  and  company  property, 
their  side  arms,  and  their  war-scathed  flag,  which  they  were  to 
salute  with  a  hundred  guns  before  they  hauled  it  down.  Such 
were  the  terms  demanded  by  Major  Anderson,  and  accorded  to 
him — after  he  was  compelled  to  surrender. 

"The  battle  now  ceased.  The  fire  was  ere  long  extinguished, 
having  destroyed  nearly  everything  combustible,  and  the  wearied 
men  had  a  night  of  such  rest  as  could  be  found  in  the  mid^t  of  the 
ruins  which  surrounded  them.  About  half-past  9  o'clock  on  Sun- 
day morning,  the  evacuation  commenced.  The  booming  of  can- 
non echoed  over  the  bay,  as  the  heroic  and  indomitable  band  sa- 
luted the  Flag,  sinking  from  its  staff,  and  then,  as  with  the  proud 
step  of  victors,  the  band  playing  "  Yankee  Doodle"  and  "Hail 
Columbia,"  they  marched  out  of  the  main  gate,  with  the  Stars  and 
the  Stripes  waving  over  them,  and  entered  the  transport  Isabel, 
which  conveyed  them  to  the  United  States  Ship  Baltic,  in  the 
ofliug,  by  which  they  were  carried  in  triumph  to  New  York. 

"  Fort  Sumter  was  the  Bunker  Hill  of  this  Civil  War.  In  both 
cases,  a  proud  aristocracy  were  determined  to  subj(!ct  this  country 
to  its  sway.  In  both  cases,  the  defeat  was  a  glorious  victory. 
This  little  band  of  heroes  withstood  the  attack  of  an  army,  pro- 
vided with  ihe  heaviest  batteries  which  Europe  and  America 
coulil  afford.  For  thirty-six  houi's  they  contined  the  unequal  con- 
flict. And  then,  when  they  had  not  another  cartridge  to  fire,  and 
not  another  biscuit  to  divide,  they  evacuated  the  ruins,  the  Stars 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  C  T  E  X  T      W  O  O  P  15  U  R  Y  .  1115 

and  Stripes  still  waving  over  them,  and  they  stepping  pi-ondly  to 
the  air  of  "Hail  Columbia."  The  nation  regarded  it  as  a  victory, 
and  welcomed  them  as  heroes.  And  the  people  of  the  United 
States  will  never  cease  to  regard  each  member  of  the  intrepid  gar- 
rison of  Fort  Sumter  with  admiration  and  homage. 

"The  avowed  object  of  the  rebels,  in  tiieir  attack  upon  Sumter, 
was  to  cross  the  Rubicon  in  the  actual  inauguration  of  civil  war, 
and  thus  to  "fire  the  heart  of  the  South  "  It  was  supposed  that 
the  South,  being  thus  committed,  would  be  compelled,  by  pride, 
to  (jontinue  the  conflict,  for  southern  pride  would  scorn  to  enter" 
tain  the  thought  of  apology  and  submission.  This  outrage  u])on 
our  country's  flag,  this  inauguration  of  civil  war,  which  was  to 
cost  near  half  a  million  lives,  to  impoverish  countless  families,  and 
to  imperil  our  national  existence,  was  received  throughout  the  re- 
bellious cities,  with  all  the  demonstrations  of  pride  and  joy.  Tliose 
who  still  loved  their  country  did  not  dare  to  utter  a  remonstrating 
word,  for  an  iron  tyranny  crushed  them. 

"But  the  uprising  in  the  North  was  such  as  the  world  never 
witnessed  before.  The  slaveholders  at  the  South  had  so  long  been 
threatening  blood  and  ruin,  that  the  North  had  quite  ceased  to 
regard  their  menaces.  There  was  hardly  a  man  to  be  found  in  all 
the  Noith,  who  had  any  idea  that  the  Southern  rebels  would  ven- 
ture to  commence  civil  war.  The  boml)ardment  of  Sumter  created 
universal  amazement  and  indignation.  As  the  news  of  the  insult 
to  the  national  flag,  of  the  battle,  and  of  the  capture  of  the  f  )rt 
by  the  rebels,  was  flashed  .along  the  wires,  excitement,  perhaps 
unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  world,  pervaded  every  city  and 
hamlet,  and  almost  every  heart.  All  |>arty  distinctions  seemed  to 
be  forgotten.  There  were  henceforth  but  two  parties  in  the  land, 
— the  rebels  with  their  sympathizers,  and  the  friends  of  the  Union. 

''  On  the  next  day,  Monday,  April  15,  the  President  issued  a  call 
for  three  months'  service  of  75.000  volunteers,  and  summoned  an 
extra  session  of  Congress  to  meet  on  tlie  4th  of  July.  Tlie  re- 
sponse of  the  loyal  States  to  this  call  for  troops  was  prompt  ai^d 
cordial  in  the  highest  possible  degree.  Never  perhaps  wei'e  a 
people  found  less  prepared  for  war,  than  were  the  people  of  the 
Northern  States.  Accustcnned  only  to  peace,  and  not  anticijtating 
any  foe,  many  of  the  States  hnd  not  even  the  form  of  a  military 
organization.  All  the  energies  of  the  people  were  consecrated  to 
the  arts  of  industry,  not  to  those  of  destruction.  We  had  neither 
soldiers  nor  officers.     The  men  who  had  received  military  edtica- 

18 


1116  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

tioii  at  West' Point,  weary  of  having  absolutely  nothing  to  do, 
but  to  wear  away  the  irksome  hours,  in  some  fort  on  the  shore  or 
in  the  wilderness,  had  generally  engaged  in  other  pursuits.  They 
had  become  civil  engineers,  railroad  superintendents,  instructors 
in  scientific  schools,  and  thus  had  become  in  reality  merely  civil- 
ians who  had  studied  the  science  and  theory  of  war,  but  with  no 
practical  acquaintance  with  the  duties  of  the  field. 

"This  was  not  our  shame,  but  our  glory.  We  were  men  of  peace 
and  industy,  and  of  great  pros|)erity.  We  had  not  dreamed  that 
traitors  would  rise  to  plunge  this  happ^  land  into  anarchy,  and  to 
destroy  this  best  government, — best,  notwitstanding  all  its  imper" 
fections, — eartl)  has  ever  known.  Floyd  had  emptiei  the  arsenals, 
and  placed  the  guns  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  Our  little  stand- 
ing army,  consisting  of  but  10,755  men,  officers  and  privates  all 
told,  he  had  scattered  at  almost  illimitable  distances  over  our  vast 
frontier.  Mr.  Buchanan's  Secretary  of  the  Navy  had  equally  dis 
persed  the  fleet ;  in  fact,  our  neglected  navy  had  fallen  almost  into 
decay.  And  more  than  all  this,  the  majority  of  the  officers  in  the 
army  and  in  the  navy,  were  men  of  slaveholding  connect'ons, 
many  of  whom  openly  avowed  their  sympathy  Avith  the  rebellion, 
and  they  had  become  so  lost  to  all  sense  of  honor,  that  the  betray- 
al of  the  Flag  which  they  had  sworn  to  protect, — a  deed  which  all 
the  rcvst  of  the  vvoi-ld  called  infamous,  they  deemed  chivalrous. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  the  North,  when  the  war  commenced." 

Mr.  Cameron  thus  describes  the  condition  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment, as  he  entered  upon  its  duties  : 

"Upon  my  ap{)ointment  to  the  position,  I  found  the  department 
destitute  of  all  the  means  of  defense;  without  guns,  and  with  lit- 
tle prospect  of  purchasing  ihe  materiel  oi.  war.  I  found  the  nation 
without  an  army,  and  I  found  scarcely  a  man  thr  )ughout  the  whole 
War  Department  in  whom  I  could  put  my  trust.  The  Adjutant 
Geneial  deserted.  The  Quartermaster  General  ran  off!  The  Com- 
missary General  was  on  his  death-bed.  More  than  half  the  clerks 
were  disloyal.  I  remember  that  upon  one  occasion  General  Scott 
came  to  me,  apparently  in  great  mental  tribulation.  Said  he,  'I 
have  spent  the  most  miserable  day  in  my  life ;  a  friend  of  my  boy- 
hood has  just  told  me  I  am  disgracing  myself  by  staying  here,  and 
serving  this  fragnient  of  the  government,  in  place  of  going  to 
Virginia,  and  serving  under  the  bainier  of  my  native  State;  and 
I  am  pained  to  death.'     But  the  old  hero  was  patriotic,  loyal,  and 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1117 

wise  enough  to  say  tliat  his  friend  was   wrong,  and  he  was  right 
in  remaining  where  he  was." 

"The  unanimity  with  which  the  whole  North  arose,  in  this  cri" 
sis,  all  party  differences  being  merged  in  enthusiastic  devotion  to 
the  Union,  is  one  of  the  most  exti-aordinary  events  of  history- 
Men  who  but  a  few  days  before  had  been  bitterly  hostile,  were  at 
once  standing  side  by  side,  upon  the  same  platform,  in  earnest  co- 
operation to  resist  the  audacious  rebellion.  Senator  Douglas,  one 
of  the  candidates  for  the  Presidency,  at  this  crisis,  came  forward 
witli  zeal  and  power,  which  will  forever  entitle  him  to  the  grati- 
tude of  his  countrymen.  The  overflowing  majority  of  his  party 
followed  their  illustrious  leader  in  the  magnanimity  of  his  patriot- 
ism. On  the  1st  of  May,  Senator  Douglas  reached  Cliicago,  Illi- 
nois, on  his  return  from  Washington.  He  was  met  at  the  depot, 
by  an  immense  assemblage  of  citizens,  who  conducted  him  in  a 
triumphal  procession  to  the  great  "  Wigwam,"  where  ten  thousand 
persons,  of  all  parties,  were  seated,  awaiting  him.  Tlie  Senator 
addressed  them  in  the  following  strain,  which  thrilled  the  heart 
of  the  nation,  and  which  will  give  him  ever-during  and  gr-iteful 
remembrance. 

'' '  I  beg  you  to  believe  that  I  will  not  do  you  or  myself  the  in- 
justice to  think  that  this  magnificent  ovation  is  personal  to  myself. 
I  rejoice  to  know  that  it  expresses  youi  devotion  to  the  Constitu- 
tion, the  Union  and  the  flag  of  our  country.  I  will  not  conceal 
gratification  at  the  uncontrovertible  test  this  vast  audience  pre- 
sents— that,  what  political  differences  or  party  questions  may  have 
divided  us,  yet  you  all  had  a  conviction  that,  when  the  country 
should,  be  in  danger,  my  loyalty  could  be  relied  on.  That  the 
present  danger  is  imminent,  no  man  can  conceal.  If  war  must 
come — if  the  bayonet  must  be  used  to  maintain  the  Constitution — 
I  say  before  God,  my  conscience  is  clean.  I  have  struggled  long 
for  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  difliculty.  I  have  not  only  tendered 
those  States  what  was  theirs  of  right,  but  I  have  gone  to  the  very 
extreme  of  magnanimity. 

"The  return  we  receive  is  war,  armies  marched  upon  our  Cap- 
itol, obstructions  and  dangers  to  our  navigation,  letters  of  marque 
to  invite  pirates  to  prey  upon  our  commerce,  a  concerted  move-- 
ment  to  blot  out  the  United  States  of  America  from  the  map  of 
the  globe.  The  question  is.  Are  we  to  maintain  the  country  of  our 
fathers,  or  allow  it  to  be  stricken  down  by  those  who,  when  they 
can  no  longer  govern,  threaten  to  destroy? 


1118  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  What  cause,  what  excuse  do  disunionists  give  us,  for  break- 
inc:  up  the  best  Government,  on  wliich  the  sun  of  heaven  ever 
shed  its  rays?  They  are  dissatisfied  with  the  result  of  the  Presi- 
dential election.  Did  they  never  get  beaten  before?  Are  we  to 
resort  to  the  sword  when  we  get  defeated  at  the  ballot  box  ?  I 
understand  it  that  the  voice  of  the  people  expressed  in  the  mode 
appointed  by  the  Constitution,  must  command  the  obedience  of 
every  citizen.  They  assume,  on  the  election  of  a  particular  can- 
didate, that  their  rights  are  not  safe  in  the  Union.  What  evidence 
do  tliey  present  of  this?  I  defy  any  man  to  show  any  act  on 
which  it  is  based.  What  act  has  been  omitted  to  be  done?  I  ap- 
peal to  these  assembled  thousands,  that  so  far  as  the  constitutional 
rights  of  slaveholders  are  concerned,  nothing  has  been  done,  and 
nothing  omitted,  of  which  they  can  complain. 

"There  has  never  been  a  time,  from  the  day  that  Washington 
was  inaugurated  first  President  of  tliese  United  States,  when  the 
rights  of  the  Southern  States  stood  firmer  under  the  laws  of  the 
land  than  they  do  now ;  there  never  was  a  time  when  they  had 
not  as  good  cause  f(n-  disunion  as  they  have  to-day.  v*'hat  good 
cause  have  they  now  that  has  not  existed  under  every  Adminis- 
tration ? 

"If  they  say  the  territorial  question — now,  for  the  first  time, 
there  is  no  act  of  Congress  prohibiting  slavery  anywhere.  If  it 
be  the  non-enforcement  of  the  laws,  the  only  complaints  that  I 
have  heard,  have  been  of  the  vigorous  and  faithful  fulfillment  of 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Law.     Then  wliat  reason  have  they  ? 

"  The  Slavery  question  is  a  more  excuse.  The  election  of  Lin- 
coln is  a  mere  pretext.  The  present  secession  movement^is  the 
lesult  of  an  enormous  conspiracy  foi-med  more  than  a  year  since, 
formed  by  leaders  in  the  Southern  Confederacy  more  than  twelve 
months  ago. 

"  l^>ut  this  is  no  time  for  the  detail  of  causes.  The  conspiracy 
is  now  known.  Armies  have  been  raised,  war  is  levied  to  accom- 
plish it.  There  are  only  two  sides  to  the  question.  Every  man 
must  be  for  tlie  United  States  or  against  it.  There  can  be  no  neu- 
trals in  this  war  ;  only  patriots — or  traitors. 

"Thank  God,  Illinois  is  not  divided  on  this  question.  I  know 
they  expected  to  jtresent  a  united  South  against  a  divided  North. 
They  hoped,  in  the  Northern  States,  party  questions  would  bring 
civil  war  between  Democrats  and  Republicans,  when  the  South 
would  step  in,  with  her  cohorts,  aid  one  party  to  conquer  the  oth- 


niSTOEY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1119 

er,  and  then  make  easy  prey  of  tlie  victors.  Their  scheme  was 
carnage  and  civil  war  in  the  North. 

"There  is  but  one  way  to  defeat  this.  In  Illinois  it  is  being  so 
defeated  by  closing  up  the  ranks.  War  will  thus  be  jjreventcd  on 
our  own  soil.  While  there  was  a  hope  of  peace,  I  was  ready  for 
any  reasonable  sacrifice  or  compromise  to  maintain  it.  But  when 
the  question  conies  of  war  in  the  cotton-tields  of  the  South,  or  the 
corn-fields  of  Illinois,  I  say  the  farther  olf  the  better. 

"  I  have  said  more  than  I  intended  to  say.  It  is  a  sad  task  to 
discuss  questions  so  fearful  as  civil  war  ;  but  sad  as  it  is,  bloody 
and  disastrous  as  I  expect  it  will  be,  I  express  it  as  my  conviction 
before  God,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  citizen  to  rally 
around  the  flag  of  his  country. 

"  I  thank  you  again  for  this  magnificent  demonstration.  By  it 
you  show  you  have  laid  aside  party  strife.  Illinois  has  a  proud 
position — united,  firm,  determined  never  to  penuil  the  Govern- 
ment to  be  destroyed." 

Such  is  1.  brief  account  of  the  origin  and  successive  events  in 
the  opening  of  our  great  civil  war.  It  remains  for  us  to  recount, 
in  the  succeeding  pages,  the  part  which  Ancient  Woodbury  took 
in  the  Great  Rebellion,  giving  the  names  and  deeds  of  the  heroic 
men  who  went  forth  to  battle  from  our  midst,  at  the  call  of  our 
imperiled  country,  some  of  whom  lie  peacefully  sleeping  on  many 
a  glorious  battle-field,  all  over  our  union,  or  within  the  honored 
and  sacred  enclosures  of  our  beautiful  National  Cemeleries. 

In  the  very  opening  of  this  laithful  record  of  Woodbury's  pat- 
riotic doings,  in  the  great  war  of  the  ages  for  the  immortal  jirin- 
ciples  of  liberty,  the  author  has  the  happiness  to  say,  that  this 
ancient  town,  which  has  been  true  and  faithful  in  all  the  conflicts 
which  have  arisen  since  1U70,  in  maintenance  of  the  true  princi- 
ples of  a  free  government,  were,  in  this  final  conflict  of  ideas, 
with  some  fc-w  solitary  exceptions,  in  the  cases  of  men  with  minds 
diseased, — an  unit  in  defense  of  tlie  glorious  old  flag,  and  tlie  con- 
stitution of  our  fathers.  This  is  well  to  be  said  by  the  author, 
who,  from  the  first  hour  of  the  conflict,  felt  the  great  issues  of  the 
hour  in  the  marrow  of  his  bones,  and  was  sensitively  jealous  of 
every  exhibition  of  weakness,  of  faltering,  or  the  sligjuest  taint 
of  treachery,  under  any  circumstances,  to  the  flag  of  the  free. 

As  soon  as  the  news  arrived  in  town,  that  the  rebels  liad  ojjened 
fire  upon  Fort  Sumter,  and  thus  inaugurated  a  war  against  the 
honor  and  integrity  of  the  Union,  a  patriotic  ardor  and  wild  en- 


1120  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

thiisiasm  seized  pvery  heart.  At  the  sugj^estion  of  leading  citi- 
zens, the  town  committees  of  the  Republican  and  Democratic  par- 
ties issued  a  joint  call  for  a  mass  meeting  of  all  citizens,  irrespec- 
tive of  party,  to  take  counsel  in  regard  to  the  perils  of  the  hour, 
and  the  proper  measures  of  defense  to  be  taken  in  common  with 
the  patriotic  citizens  throughout  the  land. 

The  following  brief"account  of  tliis  meeting  is  taken  from  the 
Litchfield  Etiquirer,  printed  at  the  time,  and  shows  the  unanimity 
that  prevailed  among  us. 

"Union  Mp:eting. — The  crisis  in  our  national  affairs,  caused 
the  citizens  of  Woodbury  to  assemble  en  masse,  on  Tuesday  eve- 
ning, the  23d  instnnt.  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith  was  called  to  preside? 
assisted  by  C.  H.  Webb,  M.  D.,  C.  W,  Kirtland,  Lewis  Judd' 
Henry  Minor,  William  Cothren,  James  Huntington,  Nathaniel 
Smith  and  G.  H.  Peck,  Esquires,  Vice-Presidents ;  R.  J.  Allen  and 
G.  P.  Allen,  Esquires,  were  appointed  Secretaries. 

"  A  committee,  consisting  of  Wm.  Cothren,  James  Huntington 
and  C.  H.  Webb,  was  appointed  to  prepare  resolutions  for  the 
consideration  of  the  meeting,  and,  during  their  absence,  A.  N. 
Lewis,  Esq.,  sung  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  with  thrilling  ef- 
fect; and  Nathaniel  Smith,  Esq.,  with  his  usual  eloquence — in  a 
stirring  speech — caused  the  cord  of  patriotism  to  vibrate  witli  un- 
wonted vigor.  The  Committee  on  Resolutions  reported  the  fol- 
lowing : — 

"■Resolved^  That  this  meeting,  assembled  irrespective  of  party 
affiliations,  under  a  deep  sense  of  our  duties  as  citizens  of  a  common 
country,  do  hereby  declare  that  we  liave  a  deep  and  abiding  trust 
in  the  principles  of  our  fathers,  in  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  benign  influence  of  our  institutions. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  })resent  is  not  the  time  for  political  discus- 
sion or  abstractions ;  for  our  country  is  in  danger,  to  perpet- 
uate and  sustain  it  is  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  ;  and  to  up- 
hold and  support  the  President  in  his  patriotic  endeavors,  no  man 
who  is  not  an  alien  to  all  that  makes  our  government  dear  to  us, 
will  hesitate  to  pledge  his  life,  his  fortune,  and  his  sacred  honor  in 
this  our  greatest  peril. 

^'Resolved,  Tliat,  as  we  have  prospered  under  the  old  flag  of 
the  Union,  we  cannot  and  will  not  desert  it  noio,  but  that  we  are 
ready,  if  need  be,  to  lay  down  our  lives  in  its  defence. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1121 

"These  Resolutions,  after  a  full  and  truly  patriotic  discussion, 
in  which  Messrs.  W.  T,  Biicon,  Jas,  Huntington,  Wni.  Cothren, 
A.  N.  Lewis,  C.  H.  Weljb  and  Lewis  Judd,  participated,  were — 
with  the  enthusiasm  whicli  now  marks  New  England — unani- 
mously adopted. 

**  Wm.  Cothren,  Jas.  Huntington,  Charles  S.  Dayton,  Sidney 
Hurd  and  William  C.  Beecher,  wei-e  chosen  a  committee  to  solicit 
volunteers  for  the  defence  of  our  National  Flag, 

"  G.  P.  Allen,  Nathaniel  Smith  and  R.  I.  ToUes  were  designated 
a  committee  to  solicit  aid  for  the  families  of  the  volunteers.  A  sub- 
scription paper  was  immediately  circulated,  but  when  our  reporter 
saw  it,  only  two  names  appeared  on  it,  namely,  Wm.  Cothren  and 
Daniel  Curtiss,  each  having  subscribed  SoOO,  Mr.  Cothren,  in  ad- 
dition to  his  subscription,  pledged  the  nett  income  of  his  business 
during  the  war.  ' 

"  The  volunteers  were  organized  on  Saturday,  the  2'7th  inst., 
and  the  following  officers  were  appointed  : — 

"  Captain, — Josinh  G.  Bcckwith,  Jr, 

*^  1  st  JLieuf  , — Wilson  Brynnt. 

"  2d  Lieut.,— Geo.  E.  Hairis. 

^'  Orderly  Sergeant,  -Henry  M.  Dutton. 

'*  Sergeants, — DeGrasse  Fowler,  Wm.  H.  McKay,  Chas.  N.  New 
ton,  Richard  Spring. 

"  Corporals, — Burton  Downs,  Calvin  A.  Hubbard,  Albert  Win- 
ton,  Geo.  A.  Chatfield. 

"  The  name  taken  by  the  Company  is  the  *  Woodbury  Rifle  Co.'  " 

Before  this  meeting  closed,  thirty-two  young  men  had  volun- 
teered for  the  defence  of  the  country.  Woodbury  was  in  advance 
of  the  neighboring  towns  in  its  patriotic  outburst,  and  men  in 
the  latter,  impatient  to  obey,  with  alacrity,  the  call  of  duty, 
came  in  from  all  quarters,  to  join  our  brave  volunteers. 

The  subscription  paper,  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  report,  was 
as  follows,  being  drawn  amid  the  excitement  and  noise  of  a  crowd- 
ed public  meeting.  It  shows  the  forethought,  as  well  as  the  pat- 
riotism of  the  citizens: — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  agree  to  pay  the  sums  set  against  our 
respective  names,  to  Thomas  Bull,  Esq.,  from  time  to  time,  as  they 
shall  be  called  for,  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  out  one  hundred  sol- 
diers fiom  this  town,  for  the  United  States'  service  ;  and  more  par- 

*  This  pronii.se  was  carried  out  to  the  letter. 


1122  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

ticularly,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  the  families  of  the  soldiers 
who  shall  enlist,  during  their  absence  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States.  If  one  hundred  soldiers  volunteer,  then  we  are  to  pay  the 
whole  of  the  following  sums:—  if  a  smaller  number,  then  we  are 
to  pay  2jro  rata,  according  to  the  number  who  shall  enlist. 

Woodbury,  April  23,  1861. 

NAMES. 

William  Cothren,  ....  $50000 

Daniel  Curtiss,  .....         500.00 

— and  a  multitude  of  others. 

Within  a  few  days,  by  the  judicious  efforts  of  the  enlistment 
committee,  a  company  was  gathered  to  go  to  the  succor  of  imper- 
illed Washington.  But  such  was  the  ardent  uprising  in  the 
State,  that  the  three  Regiments  called  for  by  the  Governor,  were 
much  more  than  filled  before  notice  of  our  patriotic  contribution 
was  received.  These  three  regiments  were  enlisted,  as  was  our 
company,  for  three  months.  Immediately,  there  was  a  call  for 
men  to  enlist  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and  our  noble 
company,  which  had  enlisted  only  for  the  former  term,  with  undi- 
minished ardor,  signed  enlistment  papers  for  three  years.  They 
were  to  join  Colt's  Revolving  Rifle  Regiment,  but  as  that  organ- 
ization was  afterwards  given  up,  they  finally  became  Co.  E.  of  the 
5th  Regiment  Conn.  Vols.,  under  Col.  O.  S.  Ferry.  This  change 
gave  the  volunteers  time  to  drill  here  for  a  time,  instead  of 
marching  at  once,  without  drill,  or  experience.  They  drilled  hei'e 
several  weeks,  and  became  quite  proficient  for  raw  recruits,  and 
finally  were  ordered  to  Hartford. 

During  these  hurried  days,  it  was  gratifying  to  see  with  what 
ze.'il  all  the  inh.-ibitants  entered  into  the  spirit  of  preparation,  and 
hastened  on  the  glorious  volunteers.  Contributions,  in  various 
sums,  came  in  from  all  sides;  alike,  from  the  humblest  and  from 
the  highest.  All,  priest  and  people,  entered  into  the  great  work. 
As  an  exatnple,  the  Committee,  while  urging  on  their  work  of  re- 
cruiting and  collecting  supplies  for  the  soldiers  and  their  families, 
(there  were  no  bounties,  then,  family,  or  other  bounty,)  received 
the  following  letter  fi'om  Rev.  Charles  E.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  now 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Troy,  N.  Y. : — 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBUKY.  1123 

"Hon.  Williain  Cothren,  Dr.  C.  11.  Webb,  and  others  of  the  Com. 
niittee  for  recruiting  in  the  town  of  VV^oodbury  : — 

Gent: — Enclosed  you  will  find  $S0,  which  I  desire  you  to  use 
for  the  best  interests  of  our  volunteers,  with  the  most  earnest 
prayers,  and  sincere,  good  wishes  of  their  friend,  and  yours, — 

Charles  E.   Kobinson." 

During  the  five  weeks  succeeding  the  patriotic  meeting  referred 
to,  the  volunteers  were  busy  drilling,  the  Committee  in  recruiting, 
and  the  citizens,  particularly  the  ladies,  in  soliciting  contributions 
of  every  thing  useful  for  the  soldiers,  who  were  to  go  in  haste  to 
the  front.  Havelocks  for  the  head,  needle-books,  towels,  clothes, 
shoes,  and  red-flannel  shirts,  were  prepared  and  distributed  to  the 
brave  boys,  who  exhibited  in  turn  a  grateful  recognition  of  their 
zeal  and  kindness.  At  length,  the  company  was  called  to  go  to 
Hartford,  to  join  Colt's  Regiment,  as  they  supposed.  On  Satur- 
day, the  18th  day  of  May,  the  company,  whicli  had,  from  the  color 
of  the  flannel  the  ladies  had  given  them,  gained  the  sobriquet  of 
the  "  Woodbury  Reds,"  but  who  called  themselves  the  Woodbury 
Valley  Rifle  Company,  "fell  in,"  and  after  marching  tlirough  the 
principal  streets  of  the  village,  partook  of  refreshments  in  the 
grounds  of  the  writer,  where  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  had  assembled,  to  cheer  them,  on  their  departure  for 
the  unknown  results  of  their  patriotic  venture.  They  were  es- 
corted, by  some  of  the  leading  citizens,  to  Hartford,  preceded  by 
the  Woodbury  Drum  Corps.  The  streets  were  crowded  with  cit- 
izens, who  made  themselves  hoarse  with  enthusiastic  cheering. 
Flags  floated  everywhere,  while  every  window  w.as  crowded  with 
patriotic  ladies,  waving  handkerchiefs,  and  in  every  way  manifest- 
ing their  respect  and  approval  of  the  departing  braves.  At  Water- 
town,  the  reception  was  no  less  enthusiastic,  and  as  to  the  recep- 
tion in  Waterbury,  the  following  is  taken  from  the  American  of 
that  date : — 

"  The  Woodbury  Troops. — The  Woodbury  Valley  Company 
C.  in  Colt's  Revolving  Rifle  Regiment,  left  Woodbury  for  Hart- 
ford on  Saturday  last,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  principal  citi- 
zens of  that  place.  At  Waterbury,  the  Co.  was  received  by  Mayor 
Bradley,  and  was  escorted  by  the  Union  Spear  Co.  and  a  large 
body  of  citizens,  to  Brown's  Hotel,  where  refreshments  were  serv- 
ed.    The  Co.  was  then  escorted  to  the  depot,  where  eloquent  and 


1124  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

patriotic  addresses  were  made  by  Mayor  Bradley,  H.  B.  Graves, 
S.  W.  Kelloog,  and  Wrn.  Cothren,  Esqrs.,  and  by  Dr.  J,  G.  Beck- 
with,  of  Litchfield,  who  furnishes  two  sons  for  the  Company,  one 
of  whom  is  the  Captain. 

"The  Company  arrived  at  Hartford  about  5^  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
after  marching  through  the  principal  streets,  went  to  their  quar- 
ters in  Colt's  steamboat  depot,  a  commodious  and  excellent  place. 
The  Company  was  highly  complimented  by  the  citizens  and  sol- 
diers in  Hartford,  and  were  pronounced  to  be  one  of  the  finest 
companies  that  had  yet  arrived,  in  drill,  appearance,  and  good  be- 
havior.    They  will  give  a  good  account  of  themselves. 

"Previous  to  their  departure  for  Hartford  they  passed  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : — 

'•''  Resolved^  That  our  best  thanks  are  due  to,  and  are  hereby  ten- 
dered to  the  ladies  of  Woodbury  for  their  indefatigable  labors  in 
fitting  out  our  soldiers  for  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  Col. 
Colt's  Revolving  Rifle  Regciment. 

'"'•Resolved^  That  our  thanks  are  hereby  tendered  to  those  of 
Woodbury  who  have  aided  in  fitting  us  out  for  said  service,  and 
we  ai'e  determined  to  do  them  honor  under  the  flag  of  our 
country. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  are  under  especial  obligations  to  William 
Cothren,  Esq,  who  has  been  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  promote  our 
welfare,  and  has  shown  himself  to  be  an  honest  man,  a  most  libe- 
ral friend,  and  a  patriot  in  the  highest  sense." 

The  gathering,  subsisting  during  the  weeks  of  drill,  and  fitting 
out  of  this  first  company  furnished  by  the  town,  though  there 
were  no  bounties  in  this  early  stage  of  the  war,  cost  not  less  than 
a  thousand  dollars.  It  is  only  by  considering  these  ever-accruing 
small  items  of  expenditure  of  the  war,  in  every  town  and  hamlet 
in  the  entire  North,  that  we  are  able  at  last  to  grasp  an  idea  of 
the  vast  total  that  the  late  rebellion  cost  our  government  and 
people. 

This  "  first  offering  "  of  our  old  town,  as  tliey  marched  away 
from  their  homes  in  our  beautiful  borders,  officers  and  men,  were 
as  follows  : — 

Captain, — Josiah  G.  Beckwith,  Jr. 

\st  Lieut.^ — Wilson  Wyant. 

2d  Lieut., — George  E   Harris. 

Orderly  Sergeant, — Henry  M.  Button. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1125 

Sergeants, — DeGrasse  Fowler,  William  H.  McKay,  Richard  H. 
Spriiif^,  and  Charles  N.  Newton. 

Corporals, — Barton  Downs,  Calvin  A.  Hubbard,  Albert  Win- 
ton  and  George  A.  Chatfield. 

Privates. 

Philip  H.  Wells,  Joseph  Marshall, 

Wm.  H.  Cone,  ,        James  L.  Warner, 

John  Ledger,  Frank  Martin, 

Piirnet  Bronson,  Franklin  Newton, 

Gardner  Stockman,  George  S.  Beckwith, 

Seth  M.  Reynolds,  Wilhelmo  Soramers, 

George  McCan,  Philo  A.  Hamlin, 

DeWitt  C.  Curtiss,  Arnold  Raymaker, 

Dodge,  Andrew  Budge, 

John  M.  Quinn,  Ransom  P.  Tomlinson, 

Trueworthy  Munger,  William  Barton, 

Robertson,  Ed  ward  Knickerbocker, 

Edward  A.  Root,  Joel  F.  Sellick, 

Wm.  C.  Barry,  Myron  G.  Bishop, 

Edwin  D.  Bishop,  Wm.  Kensilor, 

Henry  Booth,  Charles  A.  Squire, 

John  Gordon,             "  Richard  Condon, 

Hugh  S.  Gosley,  Charles  Gosley. 
Henry  M.  Dawson, 

After  the  arrival  of  the  Company  at  Hartford,  it  was  recruited 
to  the  full  standard,  and  Col.  Colt's  organization  having  been  given 
up,  it  joined  the  5th  Regiment,  under  Col.  Ferry,  and  was  after- 
wards known  as  Co.  E.  of  that  organization.  As  such  it  partici- 
pated in  all  the  arduous  campaigns  in  which  that  Regiment  was 
engaged,  crowning  its  glorious  record  by  participating  in  Gen. 
Sherman's  grand  march  to  the  sea! 

Subsequently  to  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  others  in 
the  spi-iug  of  1861,  there  was  a  lull,  and  an  apparent  unwilling- 
ness on  both  sidf-s  of  the  fight  to  risk  more  than  was  necessary  in 
actual  conflict,  while  they  both  were  leisurely  engaged  in  collec- 
ting, arming  and  drilling  their  numerous  legions.  Col.  Ferry  was 
ordered,  with  his  Regiment,  in  July,  to  guard  the  Upper  Poto- 
mac in  Maryland.  This  was  a  dry,  distasteful,  dull  duty,  quite 
different  from  the  stirring  scenes  which  the  soldiers  expected, 
when  they  "  left  for  the  front."  When  the  "Woodbury  Reds  " 
left    Woodbury,    it    was  still  judged  injudicious    to  march   our 


1126  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

troops  through  Baltimore,  but  they  were  sent  round  by  An- 
napolis. Not  yet  had  Gen.  Butler  taken  possession  of  that  rebell- 
ious city,  which  had  massacred  some  soldiers  of  the  glorious  Mas- 
sachusetts sixth,  as  it  was  liastening  to  the  rescue  of  the  capitol 
of  the  Nation.  The  writer  will  ever  have  a  vivid  remembrance 
of  that  foul  deed,  as  a  near  relative  was  among  those  who  shed 
this  first  blood  to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  Union.  Wood- 
bury, too,  has  an  abiding  interest  in  this  first  glorious  act  of  Gen. 
Butler,  in  silencing  the  traitorous  city,  and  opening  the  way  to 
Washington  for  the  passage  of  the  loyal  troops  of  the  North  to 
the  capital  of  their  country  ;  for  he  is  of  Woodbury  origin.  His 
grandfather,  Capt.  Zephaniah  Butler,  who  fought  under  Wolff"  at 
Quebec,  was  a  native  of  Woodbury. 

At  the  Waterbury  ovation  to  our  Woodbury  Boys,  on  their 
way  to  join  their  Regiment  at  Hartford,  frequent  allusion  was 
made  by  the  speakers  to  their  "marching  through  Baltimore," 
and  at  every  such  mention,  the  air  rung  with  their  cheers,  and 
with  the  stern  avowal,  that  they  would '■^  march  through  Balti- 
more," and  t/tey  did, — thajiks  to  the  wise  and  vigorous  action  of 
Gen,  Butler.  Being  assigned  to  patrol  duty,  it  was  not  much  to 
their  liking,  and  they  pined  for  more  active  duty.  In  their  rough, 
soldier  way  of  expressing  it,  they  were  "  spoiling  for  a  fight,"  and 
the  squelching  of  the  rebellion.  Their  letters  from  camp  at  this 
time,  to  friends  at  home,  were  full  of  this  complaint  about  their 
enforced  inactivity.  A  lew  extracts  from  letters  received  by  the 
author  at  this  time,  will  show^  this  more  fully.  They  will  also 
show  how  the  soldiers  felt  in  regard  to  that  small  number  of  per- 
sons, who  somewhat  faintly  clamored  for  peace.  It  is  these  out- 
pourings of  the  heart,  written  on  the  s])ot,  and  with  all  the  feel- 
ings of  the  supreme  hour,  that  give  us  the  clearest  pictures  of  the 
soldier-hearts,  that  were  in  the  great  contest. 

The  first  letter  is  from  Capt.  Robert  G.  Williams,  of  Co.  G.,  4th 
Conn.  Vols.,  afterwards  the  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery.  He  was 
the  last  pastor  of  the  1st  Congregational  Church  in  Woodbury, 
and  the  people  had  a  great  interest  in  his  movements,  when  it  was 
known  that  an  irresistible,  conscientious  impulse  compelled  him  to 
enlist  in  the  armies  of  the  Union. 

"  Camp  Abercrombie,  ) 
Hagkrstown,  Ml).,  July  31st,  1861.  ) 
"William  Cothren,  Esq — My  Dear  Friend. — Yours  of  the 
6th  of  July  was  received  by  due  course  of  mail.     I  Avas  very  soon 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1127 

detniled,  with  a  portion  of  ray  Company,  to  do  escort  duty  for  a 
train  of  baggage  wagons  to  Martinsbarg,  which  occupied  two 
days.  The  next  day  after  my  return  I  was  taken  sick,  and  re- 
mained so  for  two  weeks,  and  have  not  yet  fully  recovered. 

"On  tlie  4th  of  July,  tlie  left  wing  of  the  Regiment  was  ordered 
to  Williamsport,  to  protect  stores  and  provisions  there,  the  Divis- 
ion under  Gen.  Patterson  having  been  ordered  forward.  The  day 
was  very  liot,  we  marched  slowly  for  us,  and  only  reached  Camp 
at  daik.  We  bivouaced.  I  ate  my  sa})per  just  at  12  P.  M.  At 
2  A.  M.,  an  alarm  raised  us  all,  but  it  was  only  an  alarm.  In  the 
morning  we  moved  Camp  and  remained  there  more  than  a  fort- 
night, expecting  to  move  every  day.  We  had  orders  to  hold  our- 
selves in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  Detachments 
of  our  Companies  were  continually  sent  over  to  Virginia,  and 
made  several  captures  from  the  rebels,  of  various  value.  One 
party  went  ten  miles  and  back,  during  the  darkness  of  one  night, 
and  took  a  rebel  Captain  (Mr.  Geary)  whom  they  found  hid  be- 
tween two  feather  beds. 

"  On  Saturday  last,  I  was  ordered  to  report,  with  my  whole 
Com[)any,  at  this  place  in  the  A.  M. — We  left  the  cirap  at  Wil- 
liamsport at  5  A.  M.,  and  reached  this  place  at  6-20  A.  M.,  a  dist- 
ance of  six  miles.  I  was  obliged  to  ride,  and  the  Company  came 
on  \inder  the  1st  Lieut.,  who  remained  in  the  rear,  and  allowed 
the  men  to  come  as  they  i)leased.  I  overtook  the  Company  just 
as  it  reached  here.  We  ai-e  highly  complimented  for  our  march 
it  being  really  before  breakfast. 

"I  advised  the  men  to  stop  at  a  spring  about  half  way,  and  eat 
the  breakfast  they  brought  with  them.  They  had  their  knap- 
saks,  haversacks,  canteens  and  arms.  I  am  happy  to  report,  that 
Company  G.  is  at  the  head  of  the  Regiment  for  discipline  and 
drill.  Some  of  the  rest  do  not  like  it  very  well,  but  such  was  my 
aim  and  purpose. 

"I  am  writing. now  in  front  o^  my  tent,  and  also  witnessing 
their  irymnastics.  They  ai'e  forming  a  pyramid,  five  men  at  the 
base,  four  in  the  next  tier,  three  in  the  next,  and  one  or  two  in  the 
next.  With  the  tiers  they  easily  march  around  the  street.  Often, 
one  lakes  another  on  his  shoulders  and  marches  all  around  the 
Camp.  ]\Iany  of  them  tui-n  somersets,  handsprings,  &c.,  and  with 
the  musket  are  equally  ready. 

"  Our  Regiment  is  doing  nothing  but  guard  duty,  which  is  not 
so  actively  military  as  we  had  hoped,  but  we  have  obtained  a  good 


1128  UISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

reputation  among  the  people  of  Hagerstown  and  Willianisport, 
who  have  sent  a  petition  to  Head  Quarters,  asking  that  we  be  de- 
tailed to  remain  at  these  two  places  in  preference  to  any  other 
Regiment.  Some  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  Regiments 
have  behaved  rudely,  and  even  cruelly  to  the  inhabitants. 

"Two  of  my  Company  have  been  discharged.  I  wish  you  to 
say  to  Perry  Lake  and  Walter  Whitcock,  that  I  have  places  for 
them.     I  wish  they  wonld  write  to  me. 

«  *  4:  «  *  :ic  ^ 

Very  truly  yours, 

R    G.  Williams." 


"  Camp  Wooster,  ) 

Hancock,  Maryland,  Aug.  13,  ]861.  ) 
Dear  Cothren : 

I  liave  just  received  your  welcome  letter.  I  sincerely  thank 
you  for  your  interest  in  our  "  Woodbury  Boys,"  and  in  return  will 
write  you  as  often  as  I  iiave  an  opportunity.  There  is  but  little 
news  here  at  present.  We  ex})cct  marching  orders  every  day. 
Our  boys  are  all  eager  for  fight,  but  I  do  not  think  we  shall  have 
much  of  it  to  do  at  present.  I  think  we  shall  be  called  to  Point 
of  Rocks,  about  eight  miles  northeast  of  this  place,  soon.  The 
rebels  are  trying  to  cross  the  river  at  that  place,  but  we  do  not  in- 
tend to  let  them  do  it.  Leave  that  to  the  Connecticut  boys. 
Never  fear  but  I  shall  do  my  duty.  I  shall  never  flinch  in  the 
hour  of  battle.  Never  will  I  cease  to  fight  against  the  traitors, 
that  would  destroy  our  beloved  Union,  and  that  Constitutional 
liberty  which  Washington  and  our  forefathers  fought  and  bled  for. 
I  do  not  wish  to  return  home  li  I  truth  and  justice  triumph  over 
cruelty  and  oppression,  and  not  till  the  name  of  every  lead- 
ing traitor  t-hall  be  blotted  from  every  page  of  decent  history,  to 
be  enrolled  on  the  roll  of  infamy. 

'■  Yesterdny,  six  of  us  went  out  on  a  scouting  ex])edition,  and  we 
captured  an  old  man  and  his  son— both  rebels.  The  sou  has  for 
the  past  two  weeks  been  acting  as  a  spy. 

"I  read  your  letter  to  the  "  boys"  in  my  tent,  and  at  its  close 
they  gave  three  cheers  for  "  old   \\'oodbury  "  and  three  more  for 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY  1129 

yon.     You  see  we  do  not  forget  old  friends.     The  "boys"  often 
speak  of  you,     I  wish  you  were  here  with  us. 

"We  liear  there  are  some  secessionists  and  "  peace  men"  in 
Connecticut.  We  cannot  understand  this.  How  there  can  be 
traitors  in  our  good  old  State  we  cannot  conceive.  It  strikes  with 
a  deadening  force  our  brave  and  enthusiastic  sohliers.  They 
ought  to  have  our  experience  with  tlie  rebels  for  a  little  while. 
Nothing  can  so  much  injure  the  success  of  our  army  as  to  have 
the  impression  prevail  among  the  men  that  their  toils  and  dangers 
are  ill-appreciated  at  home,  or  that  tliere  is  any  considerable  party 
there  which  would  glory  in  our  defeat. 

''Jack  Ledger  and  James  Warner  are  both  with  our  Company, 
and  are  doing  well.  Capt.  Wyant  is  well  and  thanks  you  lor  the 
interest  you  take  in  his  men.  Military  life  suits  me  exactly.  Our 
men  are  improving  in  drill  every  day.  I  will  inform  you  of  all 
our  movements. 

Yours  ever  for  the  Union, 

William  H,  McKay." 


"  Hagarstown,  Maryland,  ) 
Aug.  16th,  1801.  ) 

Dear  Friend: — I  thank  you  for  your  very  excellent  letter, 
which  came  to  hand  evening  before  last.  It  was  filled  with  more 
news  than  any  I  have  had  since  I  left  Connecticut,  and  contained 
what  I  wanted  to  know — the  common  incidents  of  Woodbury 
life.  It  brought  up  the  people  before  me  as  in  review,  and  their 
familiar  faces  passed  before  me  with  all  the  distinctness  of  former 
years.  With  the  names  came  also  old  recollections;  scenes,  as 
you  say,  very  diffei-ent  from  my  '  resent  surroundings.  l>ut  such 
is  life!  change  is  written  on  the  whole  of  it.  I  have  for  years 
feared  civil  war  would  overtake  this  country,  but  did  not  expect 
it  so  soon.  I  supposed  my  course  would  surpi-ise  my  friends,  es- 
pecially as  few  of  them  knew  the  ste|is  by  which  I  was  led  to  take 
it.  JMy  blood  almost  boiled  when  reading  the  accounts  of  South- 
ern treason,  and  I  felt  a  growing  desire  to  do  something  myself 
to  pmiish  it.  It  was  very  easy  to  read  and  cry — "Why  do  not 
(hei/  rise  and  put  it  down?  " — I  could  uot  satisfactorily  answer  the 


1130  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

qncPtion — "Why  do  not  I  join  the  rising  hosts?"  Passing 
through  New  Haven,  to  and  from  Berlin,  where  I  supplied  the 
pulpit  six  Sabbaths,  and  seeing  the  troops  there  marshalling  to 
defend  the  best  government  the  world  has  known,  and  finding 
among  them  many  old  friends  and  companions-in-arms,  of  my  early 
days,  I  could  no  longer  restrain  myself.  I  supposed  all  that  I 
could  do  would  be  to  go  as  Chaplain,  and  made  application  accord- 
ingly. But  no  Chaplains  were  to  be  appointed,  at  least  then.  And 
when  the  students  from  Middletown  came  to  me  and  said  they 
wanted  me  to  go  with  them  as  Captain,  and  chose  me  partly  be- 
cause I  was  a  Minister,  and  when  for  weeks  every  former  and  re- 
cent acquaintance  (besides  my  wife  and  children)  said  I  ought  to 
go,  I  could  not  refuse.  And  so  here  I  am.  I  have  thrown  myself 
into  the  service  of  my  country.  If  my  life  is  the  price  of  her  sal- 
vation, I  freely  offer  it.  It  is  too  good  a  country,  too  good  a  gov- 
ernment, to  be  allowed  to  be  overthrown  without  the  must  despe- 
rate efforts  to  maintain  it. 

All  the  troops  of  our  regiment  leave  for  Frederick,  Md.,  this 
P.  M.  You  will,  therefore,  please  direct  to  that  place.  We  have 
made  a  long  stay  here,  and  the  people  are  very  unwilling  that  we 
should  go.  They  say  the  place  has  not  been  so  quiet  and  orderly 
for  fifteen  years,  as  since  we  have  been  here,  and  they  have  twice 
sent  in  petitions  to  have  us  remain,  but  we  obey  orders  and  leave. 
"  I  should  like  to  close  this  as  Paul  does  some  of  his  epistles,  es- 
pecially to  the  Romans,  requesting  you  to  salute  all  my  friends 
by  name,  but  I  have  not  time.  Please  give  my  kindest  regards 
to  all  my  friends  and  all  the  patriots  of  Woodbury.  I  give  you  a 
special  commission  to  do  this  to  our  very  kind  friends,  Mrs.  Whit- 
lock  and  family.  I  expect  Walter  to  come  on  and  join  my  Com- 
pany soon. — I  would  like  to  have  two  or  three  more  from  Wood- 
bury— true  men  and  faithful — come  into  my  Company,  as  I  have 
a  few  vacancies. 

"  Last,  but  not  least,  I  send  ray  best  regards  to  your  good  wife, 
and  again  to  all,  and  remain, 

Yours  most  truly, 

R.  G.  Williams." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1131 


"  Sandy  Hook,  Maryland,  [ 
Aug.  16th,  1861.      i 

"  Dear  Friend  , — I  received  your  letter  in  due  course.  The 
war  news  here  is  favoi'able  for  our  side.  We  have  gained  a  sub- 
stantial victory  in  Missouri,  though  we  have  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  General  Lyon.  Old  Connecticut  may  be  proud  of  the 
early  distinguished  martyrs  she  has  furnished  in  this  war.  Ells- 
worth, Ward,  Farnham  and  Lyon,  constitute  a  company  of  distin- 
guished names  not  to  be  excelled  by  those  of  any  State,  who  have 
in  this  war  yielded  up  life  for  the  principles  of  freedom. 

"  Since  I  wrote  you,  I  have  been  out  scouting,  with  some  men 
from  our  Company,  and  we  were  quite  successful.  We  wished  to 
capture  a  spy  living  three  miles  over  the  mountain.  We  went 
well  armed  with  our  rifles.  I  had  also  a  revolver  which  our  Cap- 
tain lent  me.  This,  with  our  sabres,  made  us  hard  fellows  to  fight 
against.  We  had  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  the  place  when 
we  met  an  elderly  man.  We  questioned  him  closely,  and  as  his 
answers  did  not  prove  to  be'  satisfactory,  we  tied  his  hands  and 
took  him  along  with  us.  We  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance, 
when  we  discovered  the  trail  of  a  horse.  We  followed  it,  and 
soon  found  both  horse  and  rider.  I  ordered  him  to  "  halt,"  or  I 
would  slioot  him.  Thi?  had  the  desired  efl:ect;  he  evidently  did 
not  like  our  looks.  We  found  him  to  be  the  old  man's  son,  and 
the  spy  we  were  after.  After  looking  around  for  others,  we  start- 
ed for  camp  with  our  prisoners,  proud  of  capturing  two  armed 
men.  We  delivered  them  over  to  our  ofHcers,  and  they  will  be 
tried  as  traitors  on  the  16tli  inst.  So,  you  see,  we  are  making  a 
small  beginning  in  executing  the  duties  we  came  here  to  perform. 
Yours  truly, 

Wm.   II.  McKay. 


"  Harper's  Ferry,  Aug.  24,  1861. 

"  Dear  Friend  : — We  arrived  safely  at  Harper's  Ferry  after 
many  delays.  We  could  not  go  by  the  direct  route,  because  the 
rebels  had  destroyed  all  the  bridges.  We  went  from  New  York 
to  Elizabethport,  and  thence  to  Baltimore.     At  Baltimore  we  were 

19 


1132  HISTORY      OF     ANf^IENT     WOODBURY. 

received  very  cordially.  A  large  n timber  of  the  citizens  of  both 
sexes  congregated  at  the  Depot,  and  about  tlie  cars,  and  greeted 
us  with  clieers,  assuring  us  that  their  sympathies  were  enlisted  in 
our  behalf.  I  received  many  little  tokens  from  the  ladies  of  Bal- 
timore— some  of  which  1  mean  to  send  you. 

"All  we  at  present  have  to  do,  is  to  go  on  picket  duty,  and  on 
guard.  I  think  we  shall  go  out  scouting  in  a  few  days.  We  have 
already  taken  four  of  the  enemy.  All  that  we  have  seen  have 
proved  to  be  very  cowardly.  The  reports  about  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  are  very  much  exaggerated.  I  have  seen  quite  a  number  of 
men  that  were  in  the  battle,  and  our  loss  was  comparatively  small 
to  that  of  the  rebels.  As  to  our  position  here,  we  are  so  strongly 
fortified,  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  whole  Southei-n  force 
to  take  us.  There  are  thirty  Regiments  encamped  within  one 
mile  of  us — in  fact,  all  of  our  best  troops,  under  Gen.  Banks,  are 
here.  Regiments  are  coming  in  daily.  We  are  in  possession  of 
all  the  batteries  this  side  of  the  river  as  far  as  you  can  see.  Four 
of  them  I  can  see  as  I  write.  I  have,  this  morning,  a  fine  view  of 
Maryland  Heights,  where  one  of  our  strongest  batteries  is  located. 
These  batteries  are  so  located,  that  they  can  sweep  the  river  as  far 
as  one  can  see.  The  woods  are  full  of  game  of  all  kinds.  We 
have  plenty  of  good  spring  water  here  close  by  our  camp-ground. 
We  have  a  plenty  of  tents,  but  I  prefer,  in  this  hot  climate, 
sleeping  on  the  ground,  my  rubber  blanket  under  me,  and 
my  woolen  one  over  me,  with  my  knapsack  for  a  pillow. 

"There  is  no  chance  for  a  fight,  and  I  think  it  is  the  intention 
of  General  Scott  to  concentrate  as  large  a  fjrce  as  possible,  and 
wait  until  cooler  weather  before  he  gives  the  relxjls  battle.     If  he 
should  do  this,  you  may  expect  me  home  in  the  spring. 
Yours  truly, 

William   H.  McKay." 


"Frederick,  Md.,  Sept.,  1861. 
"Dear  Friend  Cotiiuen: — Your  favor  of  the  30th  ult.  came 
to  hand  yesterday.  I  will  write  a  letter  soon  for  the  public,  giving 
my  views  of  "  peace"  meetings.  It  will  make  vKtr  for  our  people 
at  home  to  cry  for  peace  till  treason  is  punished  and  rebellion  sub. 
dued.     I  came  to  save  our  country  from  a  Cataline   conspiracy, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1133 

wliicli  aimed  to  destroy  our  liberties,  and  the  best  Lcovenunent  the 
world  has  ever  known.  And  now,  for  timid  do-notliings  and  dol- 
lardovers  to  crouch  around  tlie  kitchen  corners  and  cry — "  Don't ! 
— let  them  ak^ne;  war  will  ruin  us;  better  give  up,"  will  make 
the  war  closer  home,  for  I  cannot  see  how  a  true  patriot  can  allow 
the  country  any  other  basis  than  that  upon  which  our  fathers 
planted  it.  x\nd  I  hope  there  are  patriots  enough  left  to  fight  all 
traitors,  even  if  near  neighbors  and  own  relations.  If  the  wiping- 
out  process  onust  begin  in  New  England,  so  be  it.  If  this  gov- 
ernment is  overthrown,  the  light  of  the  world  is  extinguished,  and 
human  liberty  is  put  back  into  the  dark  ages.  Self-government 
will  be  proven  impossible,  might  will  make  I'ight,  and  the  weaker 
everywhere  must  serve  the  stronger. 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  some  of  those  "  peace  meeting"  speeches, 
and  I  should  like  to  ha\e  the  privilege  of  answering  them.  The 
makers  and  approvers  ought  to  be  consigned  at  once  to  the  posi- 
tion and  service  of  the  slaves  whose  chains  they  would  forever 
rivet,  and  whose  bondage  they  are  perpetuating,  as  well  as  extend- 
ing the  area  of  slavery. 

"These  States  can  never  be  occupied  by  ttoo  governments. 
One  or  many  will  be  the  governments  of  this  country.  If  many^ 
how  long  will /jertce  exist  between  them?  With  custom-houses 
and  j)olice  at  every  State  boundary,  traveling  will  be  delightful, 
and  commerce,  now  the  life-blood  ot  nations,  will  gradually  dry 
up,  and  the  petty  Republics  of  the  United  States  will  be  in  one 
constant  ague  of  fear  of  the  power  of  all  their  neighbors. 

'' What  do  these  "peace  men"  propose?  Submission  to  Jeff. 
Davis?  Let  them  go  and  wear  his  collar  a  little  where  he  now 
rules.  He  has  driven  off  a  sister  of  mine  and  her  husband  from 
the  home  where  they  have  always  lived,  and  from  the  church  and 
congragation  to  which  he  has  preached  for  tice?ity  yecfrsvmd  more, 
because  he  loves  the  government  Jeff.  Davis  once  and  again  swore 
to  sustain. 

"  Will  they  divide  the  country  witli  him  ?  Show  me  the  farmer 
who  says  yes,  and  I  will  go  and  squat  on  his  fai-m,  and  if  he  ob- 
jects, I  will  cry — "All  I  want  is  to  l)e  let  alone,"  and  if  he  wants 
peace  I  will  divide  his  farm  with  him,  and  be  very  peaceful  till  I 
become  strong  enough  to  take  the  whole. 

'•Perhaps  you  have  thought  me  too  phletmatic  to  bec(»me  much 
excited,  but  my  blood  fairly  boils  when  I  think  of  this  rebellion, 
and  the  ends  sought  by  its  authors,  and  I  cannot  think  of  peace 


1134  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

till  they  who  have  distiirhed  our  peace  are  so  punished  that  they, 
nor  any  one  else,  will  attempt  to  do  it  again  while  the  earth  re- 
volves. 

Truly  yours, 

R.  G.  Williams," 


"  Camp  Sherman,  Frederick,  Md.,  ) 
Aug.  29,  1861.  \ 

"  Dear  Cothren  : — I  will  improve  the  few  moments  I  have  to 
spare  in  giving  you  a  little  history  of  what  we  are  doing  at  pres- 
ent. How  long  we  shall  remain  here  I  cannot  tell.  The  whole  of 
Gen.  Banks'  Division  has  removed  from  Harper's  Ferry,  and  at 
present  we  are  but  a  few  miles  from  Frederick  city,  near  a  Utile 
village  called  Hyatville — Why  we  have  removed  here  I  cannot 
tell,  unless  the  locality  is  belter  for  sending  the  troops  to  any  place 
where  they  may  be  wanted,  at  the  shortest  possible  notice.  We 
can  send  men  to  Washington  or  Harper's  Ferry  in  a  few  hours. 
We  are  thirty  miles  from  Washington  ;  twenty  eight  from  Balti- 
more ;  and  thirty-one  from  Harper's  Ferry.  So  you  see  our  posi- 
tion is  a  good  one.  There  must  be  as  many  as  40,000  men  here 
under  Banks,  and  we  are  so  concealed  by  being  encamped  in  the 
woods,  that  the  enemy,  or  a  stranger,  would  not  suppose  we  had 
more  than  three  or  four  regiments.  We  are  encamped  about  sixty 
rods  from  the  main  road  to  Washington,  and  at  the  least  alarm, 
could  call  together  a  sufficient  force  to  destroy  any  force  the  reb- 
els could  send  against  us. 

"I  see  by  some  of  the  northern  newspapers,  that  there  are  men 
who  talk  about  a  compromise  with  tfae  South.  Such  a  com))rom- 
ise  1  sincerely  hope  the  North  will  never  make,  till  the  rebels  lay 
down  tlieir  arms  and  cry  for  "  ))eace"  themselves.  They  neither 
offer  or  desire  any  peace.  I  say  for  one — "wo  comjyromise  with 
traitors!''''  I  know  it  may  cost  the  lives  of  many,  but  it  is  far 
better  to  sacrifice  the  lives  of  thousands  of  our  men,  and  crush 
rebellion  at  once  and  forever,  than  to  compromise  with  traitors, 
who,  as  soon  as  they  could  regain  their  strength,  would  renew 
their  attempt  more  successfully  than  ever  to  destroy  our  beloved 
Union.  I  see  some  think  this  war  will  be  a  long  one,  but  I  do  not. 
The  government  is  prepared  indeed  for  a  long  struggle,  but  what 
is  to  be  done  will  be  done  speedily.     The  little  reverses  we  have 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1135 

received  at  tlie  commencement  of  the  war  have  been  a  good  lesson 
to  as,  for  they  have  caused  a  reorganization  of  the  whole  Northern 
army  on  different  principles.  Johnson  with  his  army  is  in  a  des- 
perate condition.  He  is  nearly  surrounded  by  McClellan  on  one 
side  and  Banks  on  the  other,  ready  to  follow  up  any  advantage 
that  may  be  found.  We  feel  sure  of  him.  We  may  have  march- 
ing orders  at  any  moment. — The  health  of  our  Regiment  is  good. 
— only  seven  in  the  hospital.  Tell  our  friends  we  will  do  our  best 
for  the  honor  of  "  Old  Woodbury." 
Truly  yours, 

R.   G.   Williams. 


"Camp  Muddy  Branch, 
Oct.  2Sth,  1861. 

"  Dear  Cothren  ; — I  reeeived  yours  this  morning.  Our  regi- 
ment returned  here  last  night,  after  a  hard  day's  march.  Gen. 
Bank's  division  was  ordered  to  Edward's  Ferry,  where  some  of 
the  Union  troops  were  engaged  with  the  enemy.  We  immedi- 
ately struck  our  tents  and  commenced  our  march.  On  arriving  at 
the  scene  of  action,  we  learned  that  the  15th  and  21st  Massachu- 
setts Regiments,  under  Col.  Baker,  had  crossed  the  river  and  at- 
tacked the  rebels.  Before  the  arrival  of.our  troops  the  rebels  re- 
treated back  towards  Leesburgh,  which  is  considered  one  of  their 
strongi)olds.  Our  troops  re-crossed  the  river  and  pitched  their 
tents  along  the  banks,  and  erected  our  batteries.  I  suppose  this 
was  done  in  order  to  have  the  rebels  advance  upon  us.  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan was  here  and  had  an  interview  with  Geii.  Banks,  We  re- 
mained here  the  whole  of  the  next  day  and  night,  and  on  the 
next  morning  were  ordered  to  march  to  our  present  camping 
ground.  Gen.  Williams  is  here,  the  commander  of  our  brigatle. 
What  the  object  of  our  leaders  is  I  do  not  know,  but  I  think  the 
figfit  at  Edward's  Ferry,  and  the  large  (orce  we  had  occupying  the 
position  they  did,  was  a  ruse  to  mislead  tlie  rebels  and  have  tliem 
withdraw  their  forces  from  some  other  position  to  defend  this. 
It  is  evident  they  expected  a  hard  tight,  for  they  brought  in  their 
reinforements  all  night  on  the  cars.  It  is  reported  here  that  we 
have  gained  a  victory  at  Springfield.  Whether  this  is  so  or  not  I 
do  not  know,  but  it  is  evident  that  some  general  movement  is  to 


1130  HISTORY     OF     AI^CIENT     WOODBURY. 

be  made  soon.  Gen.  McClellan  has  so  arranged  his  plans  that  the 
Generals  under  him  can  act  in  concert  with  him.  To-day  our  com- 
pany are  out  on  picket  duty.  We  are  placed  .along  the  lines  of 
the  Potomac  for  miles,  and  are  within  hailing  distance  of  each 
other.  We  shall  return  to  our  camp  to-morrow,  when  we  are  in 
hopes  that  we  shall  soon  be  called  to  join  the  whole  ISToi'thern  force 
in  one  glorious  struggle  for  the  Union. 

"When  I  was  in  Connecticut,  I  heard  many  say  that  when  they 
were  needed  they  would  enlist  (to  all  such  I  say  come,  we  want 
you).  If  they  could  be  with  us  and  see  the  bodies  of  their  dead 
comrades,  and  see  how  terribly  their  bodies  were  mutilated  by 
Southern  rebel  cowards,  it  would  fan  the  little  spark  of  patriot- 
ism within  their  breasts  into  a  flame,  and  they  would  come  out 
nobly  and  boldly  unite  with  us  in  putting  down  one  of  the  most 
accursed  of  rebellions  the  world  has  ever  known.  As  we  daily 
see  more  and  more  of  the  rebels,  and  witness  their  bittei-  hatred 
towards  us,  and  their  barbarous  mode  of  warfare,  which  they 
manifest  in  thrusting  the  bayonet  into  the  bodies  of  our  wounded 
and  dead,  that  fall  into  their  hands,  it  destroys  the  feeling  of  sym- 
pathy that  we  liave  always  shown,  even  to  an  enemy.  I  sincerely 
wish  that  every  Northern  man  capable  of  bearing  arms  would 
unite,  heart  and  hand,  with  us  in  putting  this  rebellion  down,  and 
restoring  our  beloved  country  to  its  former  happy  and  prosperous 
condition. 

"  The  Woodbury  Valley  Rifle  Company  all  send  their  regards  to 
you  and  to  our  other  friends. 

From  your  friend, 

William  H.  McKay." 


"Camp  Lyon,  Bank's  Division,  Sept.  1861. 

"  Friend  CoTHRKN : — I  have  just  received  your  letter.  We 
left  Frederick,  Md.,  on  Saturday  last,  at  short  notice,  at  daylight, 
knowing  only  that  we  were  going  towards  Wasliington.  We 
marched  about  thirteen  miles  over  a  rough  Maryland  road,  and 
halted  in  an  open  lot  at  the  foot  of  "Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,"  on 
which  Gen  Banks  has  his  observatory.  We  arrived  here  about 
dark,  built  some  tires,  and  as  we  had  no  flag  in  sight,  we  were 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     A\^  O  O  1)  B  U  K  Y  1137 

taken  for  a  rebel  Regiment.  I  was  on  guard  that  night,  as  I  al- 
ways happen  to  be  when  we  are  on  a  march.  Signals  were  sent 
up  for  two  or  three  hours,  when,  I  believe.  General  Banks  recol- 
lected there  was  a  Fourth  Connecticut  Regiment  coming  down  to 
join  his  Division,  which  saved  us  from  an  attack  from  our  friends. 
On  Sunday  we  marched  thirteen  miles  more,  over  the  roughest 
and  poorest  land  in  Maryland.  We  continued  our  march  next 
day,  and  here  we  are  now,  nineteen  miles  from  Washington.  I 
think  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a  great  battle.  For  two  days  past, 
there  has  been  a  constant  stream  of  army  wagons  passing  towards 
Washington,  with  provisions,  clothing,  &c  1  am  told  1,700  teams 
have  passed  in  two  days. 

"We  have  become  well  drilled,  and  are  still  di-illing  five  hours 
per  day.  We  think  ourselves  fully  equal  to  any  Regiment  in 
these  regions.  A  beautiful  flag  has  been  presented  to  our  Regi. 
ment  by  Connecticut  citizens  of  California,  as  being  the  first  Con- 
necticut Regiment  for  tliree  years  in  the  war.  I  have  a  good  deal 
of  interest  in  this  flag,  as  our  Company  is  the  flag  Company  of 
the  Regiment.  We  shall,  therefore,  probably  have  a  chance,  par- 
ticularly, to  defend  this  flag,  and  no  rebel  band  will  ever  take  it, 
as  long  as  one  man  in  our  Company  is  left  to  defend  it. 

"  I  should  like  to  be  in  old  Woodbury  for  half  a  day,  but  do 
not  know  as  I  shall  ever  see  the  town  again,  though  I  hear  that 
General  Banks  thinks  it  will  be  but  a  short  wai-.  We  are  one  mile 
from  the  Potomac.  Johnson's  army  is  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  a  little  below.  We  can  see  a  plenty  of  the  rebel  Cavalry, 
and  will  have  a  brush  with  them  if  they  cross  the  river.  Let  them 
come,  if  they  think  they  have  any  business  here — they  will  have 
a  warm  reception.  Write  often.  It  relieves  the  tedium  of  camp 
life  to  hear  from  friends. 

Yours  very  truly, 

William  H.  Proctor." 


"Camp  Near  Dahnestown,  Oct.  1861. 

Dkar  American. — I  have  been  waiting  for  some  new  move- 
ment in  our  Brigade,  or  I  sliould  have  written  you  before.  There 
has  been  no  new  movement  yet,  though  the  various  regiments 
have  been   concentrating  near  each  other.     The   object  of  Gen. 


1138  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Banks  is  to  have  the  men  under  him  in  the  right  place  at  the  right 
time.  The  great  trouble  with  most  of  our  leaders  has  been,  their 
men  have  been  so  scattered  they  could  not  be  brought  as  reinforce- 
ments in  time  to  be  of  any  use.  Our  loss  at  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington does  not  discourage  us.  It  is  thought  by  all  of  us  soldiers 
that  Gen.  Fremont  will  retrieve  the  loss,  by  re-taking  all  we  have 
surrendered  to  the  enemy.  I  sincerely  hope  it  will  prove  in  the 
end  to  our  advantage. 

"  All  the  men  place  great  confidence  in  Gen.  Banks.  The  strict 
discipline  which  he  enforces  in  his  Brigade  only  increases  our  con- 
fidence in  him  as  an  able  leader.  I  think  this  month  will  make  a 
great  change  in  the  aflTairs  of  our  government.  We  are  thorough- 
ly prepared  for  battle,  and  ready  to  strike  a  blow  at  any  moment. 
I  think  the  people  of  good  old  Connecticut  will  soon  hear  news 
that  will  rejoice  their  hearts.  I  see  that  Connecticut  is  doing  no- 
bly in  raising  troops  for  this  war.  Let  all  those  who  wish  to  take 
a  part  in  the  defence  of  our  country,  enlist  immediately,  and  unite 
with  us,  who  have  preceded  them  in  this  most  righteous  contest. 
To  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Woodbury,  who  have  sent  their  sons, 
and  used  their  money  and  influence  for  this  war,  to  our  friend, 
Mr.  Cothren,  the  father  of  our  Company,  we  send  our  sincere 
thanks,  and  hope  in  the  day  of  battle  to  prove  ourselves  worthy 
of  their  kindness. 

Yours,  ever, 

Wm.  H.  McKay." 


"  Camp  Eixswoth,  Md.,  Sept.  14th,  1861, 
"Friend  Cothren: — I  have  to  plead  guilty  for  not  writing 
you,  our  best  friend,  before  this  time.  You  Avill  have  to  pass  sen- 
tence upon  me  for  the  utmost  the  law  will  allow,  as  I  have  no  ex. 
cuse  except  the  exigencies  of  the  service  in  defence  of  our  com- 
mon country. 

Almost  all  the  men  of  Coni])any  E  are  well— there  are  a  few 
cases  of  measles.  The  Woodbury  Company  has  made  great  im- 
provement in  drill  since  it  left  Ilai-tford.  It  cannot  be  beat  by 
any  Company  in  the  5th  Regiment.  The  whole  Regiment  is  ready 
for  a  fight,  or  fur  any  duty.  They  hold  themselves  ready  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice,  night  or  day.     We  will,  in  any  event  give 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1139 

a  good  account  of  ourselves.  We  should  be  glad  to  have  you 
give  us  a  call  at  camp  at  any  time.  You  would  receive  a  warm 
reception  from  your  Woodbury  Company. — We  have  had  several 
false  alarms.  I  think  that  the  great  battle  will  be  fought  at  the 
Chain  Bridge,  and  if  so,  you  will  hear  a  good  account  from  Coth- 
ren's  Woodbury  Rifles. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Wilson  Wyant,  Captain  Co.  E., 
Fifth  Regiment,  C.  V." 


"Camp  Ellsworth,  Md.,  Sept.  16,  1867. 
"  Dear  Cothren: — I  have  received  some  papers  from  you  to- 
day, and  by  them  I  see  that  old  Connecticut  is  not  thoroughly 
purged  from  traitors  yet,  but  the  promptness  with  which  all  such 
sentiments  are  put  down,  shows  that  the  people  of  Connecticut 
are  true  in  their  love  for  the  Union.  I  can  not  but  compare  re- 
bellion at  the  North  with  that  of  the  South.  Rebellion  at  the 
North  and  South  should  be  placed  on  a  par.  The  strengih  and 
baseness  of  the  one  equals  that  of  the  other. — Every  day  we  see 
the  weakness  of  the  South  in  her  struggle  with  the  North.  Every 
day  the  South  diminishes  in  strength  in  the  same  ratio  that  the 
North  gains.  Rebellion  has  been  at  its  height — its  end  is  near. 
The  war  news  at  present  is  not  very  exciting.  In  my  last  I  told 
you  we  were  expecting  a  battle  every  minute.  We  were  told 
that  the  rebels,  in  considerable  force,  were  making  an  attempt  to 
cross  the  Potomac.  The  ca])tains  of  each  Company  immediately 
gave  their  men  70  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  in  a  short  time  we 
were  ready  for  battle.  We  soon  found  the  report  untrue,  and  all 
the  men  were  disappointed  in  not  having  a  chance  at  the  rebels. 
We  expect  marching  orders  every  day.  I  will  write  you  as  soon 
as  we  make  another  move,  which  we  hoi)e  will  be  soon.  Tell  all 
the  "  Woodbury  fJoys  "  to  hurry  up,  if  they  expect  to  take  part 
in  this  struffirle. 

Yours  very  truly, 

William  H.  McKay." 


•(?&' 


1140  history    of    ancient   woodbury. 

"United  States  Ship  Savannah, 
Newport  News,  Virginia. 

Dear  Friend: — I  thought  you  might  like  to  liear  from  the 
seat  of  war  on  the  water,  I  have  addressed  several  letters  to  my 
friends,  but  have  received  no  reply.  I  am  now  hard  at  work  pre- 
paring mess  for  eleven  men,  but  that  is  not  half  they  require  of 
us.  They  wish  us  to  do  about  six  things  at  once;  so  I  must  write 
in  a  hurry.  I  even  sleep  so  fast,  that  I  have  no  time  to  dream. 
When  we  are  at  sea,  the  sleeping  is  done  with  our  eyes  open,  ac- 
companied with  pulling  ropes  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night,  in 
all  kinds  of  weather.  In  the  forenoon,  at  10  A.  M.,  our  officer 
drills  us,  and  you  had  better  understand  he  drills  us,  too.  After 
that  we  drill  at  the  big  guns.  This  ship  carries  twenty-five  lai'ge 
guns,  and  two  small  Dalilgren  guns.  We  have  often  been  as  far 
as  Cape  Platteras,  on  the  North  Carolina  shore,  chasing  Privateers, 
but,  so  far,  the}""  have  proved  too  fast  for  us.  We  stopped  a 
schooner  on  Sunday  night,  which  claimed  to  be  from  Ireland. 
Our  Captain  let  it  pass,  but  a  few  days  after,  one  of  our  Steam 
Frigates  overhauled  the  same  craft,  and  she  proved  to  be  a  Pri- 
vateer, valued  at  |;98,000, — too  bad  for  us  to  lose  her.  We  might 
have  had  so  valuable  a  prize  if  our  officers  had  been  a  little 
sharper. 

I  will  now  tell  you  about  our  first  fight  with  a  Rebel  steamer. 
She  came  down  about  midnight  from  Norfolk,  and  gave  us  a  fair 
challenge  to  fight  by  raising  a  red  flag.  She  fired  two  shots  at  us 
before  we  could  get  our  guns  to  bear  on  her.  I  am  2d  Captain  of 
the  after  pivot  one  inch  gun.  We  put  in  a  ten  second  shell,  but 
it  fell  short  of  her,  bursting  in  the  air.  We  then  used  fifteen 
second  shells,  and  those  came  near  striking  her.  She  was  nearly 
four  miles  distant  from  lis.  You  will  think  this  a  great  distance 
to  be  fighting  with  an  enemy,  but  great  as  it  is,  the  Privateer 
made  the  best  shots.  She  had  a  rifled  canon,  and  fired  nineteen 
shots,  ten  of  which  whistled  through  our  mizzen  rigging,  directly 
over  our  heads.  One  ball  struck  the  mainmast  about  forty  feet 
from  deck,  cutting  away  the  iron  band  and  about  one-third  of  the 
mast.  I  tell  you  the  boys  began  to  look  wild  as  the  splinters  flew 
about  their  ears.  At  every  shot  we  fell  flat  on  our  fjices,  and  held 
our  breath  as  the  balls  struck  on  the  other  side  of  the  shi}).  Ev- 
ery moment  we  expected  the  balls  to  crash  through  the  bulwarks, 
and  send  us  to  the  other   world.     One  shell  exploded  under  our 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1141 

ship,  and  it  made  everything  tremble.  As  soon  as  th-e  men  could 
get  the  ship  around  broadside,  we  0[)ened  our  port  battery  upon 
them,  throwing  shot  and  shell  in  quick  succession.  The  Union 
troops  on  shore  fii-ed  their  rifled  cannon,  and  it  soon  became  so 
liot  that  the  rebels  left.  The  next  day  a  flag  of  truce  came  down 
from  Norfolk,  sending  a  dispatch  to  our  Captain,  asking  him  how 
he  liked  their  shots,  and  saying,  that  they  would  take  or  sink  all 
the  ships  we  could  bring  here,  as  they  were  coming  down  with 
three  steamers  to  take  us  to  Norfolk  in  less  than  three  days.     Our 

ships  here  are  the  Yorktown,  Germantown  and .     We  have 

not  seen  their  ships  yet.  We  doubt  very  much  whether  they  can 
do  that  little  job!  Our  Captain  sent  back  word  to  them,  that  he 
had  the  best  men  that  had  ever  shipped  on  board  ship.  He  said, 
before  they  took  the  Savannah,  there  would  not  be  enough  left  of 
it  to  carry  oflf. 

"  We  hold  ourselves  ready  for  instant  action,  sleeping  on  our 
arms  ;  our  guns  are  sighted  and  primed,  and  ready  for  any  ship  that 
approaches  us.  I  shall  ever  try  to  do  my  duty  in  the  great  cause 
in  which  I  have  enlisted,  hoping  to  see  you  .again  when  "  war's 
dread  blast  is  over. 

From  your  friend, 

James  H,  Manville." 


"Camp  on  the  Potomac,  near  Muddy  Branch,  ) 
Sunday,  Nov.  lYth,  1861.  ) 

"Friend  Cothrkn; — Sunday  in  New  England  and  Sunday  in 
Maryland  ;  in  one  the  deep  toned  bells  are  calling  its  quiet,  church- 
going  inhabitants  to  their  accustomed  places  of  worship ;  rough 
visages  are  clean  shaved,  diily  ones  are  washed,  clean  collars? 
clothes-brushes,  boot-blacking,  &c.,  are  in  great  demand.  In  the 
other,  rattling  drums  are  furiously  sounding  the  hour  of  inspec- 
tion, knapsacks  are  being  packed,  ramrods  are  continually  jingling 
in  burnished  guns,  careless  fellows,  who  never  know  where  their 
accoutrements  are,  are  rummaging  around  for  haversacks,  cart- 
ridge-boxes, canteens,  &c.  Orderlies  are  loudly  calling  for  tlieir 
respective  Companies  to  "  fall  in  ;  "  lazy  ones,  at  the  eleventh  hour, 
are  hurriedly  rubbing  a  rusty  gun,  or  scouring  a  corroded  belt- 
plate;  regimental  bands  are  roaring  Yankee  Doodle  or  Hail  Co- 


1142  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

lumbia,  the.  signal  for  guard  nionnting;  such  is  Sunday  oti  the 
Potomac. — Company  A,  returned  from  picket  on  the  river  late 
last  night.  We  slept  none  during  our  twenty-four  hours'  picket 
duty,  and  consequently  myself  as  well  as  the  rest  do  not  feel  very 
wide-awake  to-day.  But  your  letter  of  Nov.  11th  is  by  me  un- 
answered. McKay  is  unable  to  write  you,  and  it  devolves  upon 
my  dull  comprehensiveness  to  keep  you  posted.  There  is  not 
much  news  outside  of  our  own  camp. 

"  The  favorable  accounts  of  our  naval  expedition  spreads  a 
gleam  of  satisfaction  on  almost  every  countenance,  and  furnishes 
a  theme  of  conversation  and  speculations  as  to  what  will  be  done 
next,  to  occupy  our  minds  during  leisure  moments. 

"  Col.  Ferry  has  returned  to  us  safe  and  sound.  He  appeared 
quite  suddenly  among  us  last  Thursday  afternoon.  He  came  in 
wrapped  up  in  a  large  rubber  overcoat,  but  despite  his  disguise  he 
was  recognized,  and  cheer  upon  cheer  rent  the  air,  greeting  him 
with  the  warm  welcome  of  soldiers  who  love  and  respect  their 
commander.  But  the  enthusiasm  with  which  he  was  received  was 
redoubled  when  it  became  known  that  he  brought  the  paymaster 
with  him.  And  to  crown  all,  in  the  wake  of  the  paymaster  fol- 
lowed the  sutler's  wagon,  returning  from  Washington,  laden  with 
cakes,  candies,  oysters,  and  all  the  available  good  things  he  could 
lay  hands  on  in  Washington. 

"  We  received  our  two  months'  pay,  $26.00,  with  an  additional 
belief  in  the  unbounded  resources  of  Uncle  Sam's  pocket.  We 
have  got  an  eye  open  for  Col.  Irish,  who  promised  to  visit  us  in 
November.  He  will  find  the  5th  as  eager  to  do  business  with  him 
as  they  ever  were. 

"  But  among  all  that  is  pleasant,  I  must  also  write  the  reverse. 
Friend  McKay  is  seriously  ill.  He  has  a  severe  attack  of  neural- 
gia and  rheumatism  combined.  He  is  now  in  Captain  Wyant's 
tent,  where  everything  for  his  comfort  is  done.  I  see  him  three 
or  four  times  a  day.  To-day  he  is  a  little  better.  Should  any 
change  for  the  worse  take  place,  I  will  immediately  write  you. 

"  Hoping  this  will  find  you  in  as  good  health  and  spirits  as  my- 
self, I  remain. 

Yours  truly, 

Gardiner  Stockman." 


history    of    ancient    woodbury.  1143 

"  Camp  Trumbull,  Nov.  18,  1861. 

"Friend  Cothren  ; — Yours  of  the    12th  came   duly  to   hand 
and  I  was  glad  to  heai*  from  you.     The  5th   Regiment  boys  are 
making  good  progress  in  their  drill.     We  expect  that  we  shall  go 
into  winter  quarters  in  a  few  days  at  Rockville,  Md.     It  is  getting 
rather  cold  here  to   stay  in  our  tents  much  longer.     Our  Colonel 
has  recovered  from  his  sickness  and  rejoined  his  Regiment.     The 
5th  has  received  its  two  months  pay,  and  our  boys  will  send  home 
to  their  friends  some  eight  thousand  dollars^   which  spe.aks  well 
for  the  5th  Regiment.     Your  friend  McKay  is  some  better ;  I  took 
him  to  ray  tent  and  am  doing  all  I  can  for  him.     My  duty,  or  the 
duty  of  the  Regiment,  is  mostly  picket  guard  duty  on  the  Potomac 
river.     We  guard  some  six  miles  of  the  i-iver.     I  liad  the  j^leasure 
of  being  a  witness  to  some  tightiiigor  skirmishing  on  the  Virginia 
side  of  the  river  at  Edward's  Ferry.     I  think  if  the  5th  Regiment 
has  a  chance,  it  will  give  a  good  accout  of  itself.     We  should  like 
to  see  the  light  of  your  face  down  here.     William  sends  you  his 
best  respects.     I  don't  think  that  the   5th  Regiment  can  be  beat 
by  any  volunteers  that  have  been  in  the  field  no  longer  than  it  has 
been.     Spring,  Dawson,  Raymaker,  Root,  and  all  the  Cothren  Ri- 
fles are  doing  well  except  McKay,  and   he  will  soon  get  well.     1 
have  a  stove  in  my  tent.  So  you  see  that  McKay  will  be  taken  care 
of.     I  shall  do  all  I  can  for  him,  not  only  on  your,  but  on  his  own 
account,  for  William  is  a  good  boy.     Please  to  write  often.     The 
"  boys  "  all  like  to  hear  from  you,  for  you  are  a  good  friend  to  the 
*'  boys,"  and  we  all  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done  for  us. 
Yours  truly, 

Wilson  Wyant, 
Capt.  Co.  E.,  5th  Regiment." 


*'  Camp  Burnside,  Annapolis,  Md., 
Dec,  26tb,  18G1. 

"  Friend  Cothren  : — I  promised  to  write  you  often,  and  T  have 
waited  a  long  time,  hoping  to  have  something  important  to  write 
you,  or,  at  least,  to  inform  you  we  had  arrived  at  some  important 
place,  and  were  ready  to  serve  our  country  effectively.     It   has 


1144  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

seemed  as  thougli  we  should  never  be  ready  to  start,  but  it  is  most 
probable  that  we  shall  t^o  in  Gen.  Burnside's  expedition,  some- 
Mdiere,  the  first  or  second  week  in  January.  There  are  some 
twenty-five  or  thirty  transports  here  to  take  us  olF.  A  new  dock 
is  being  built  to  facilitate  the  loading  of  military  stores.  It  has 
been  a  very  poor  place  for  landing. 

The  city  is  a  very  old  looking  place.  The  liouses  are  poor  and 
look  deserted.  We  see  now  and  then  a  white  person,  and  plenty 
of  pretty  good  looking  "darkies,"  but  we  have  no  intercourse 
with  the  people  here. 

"The  Woodbury  boys  in  Capt.  Smith's  Company  are  all  very 
well,  fat  and  hearty,  with  enough  to  eat  and  that  which  is  good. 
We  like  Uncle  Sam's  business  first-rate,  and  are  ready  at  all  times 
(as  are  all  of  Capt.  Smith's  company)  for  a  fight.  In  fact,  "we 
are  "spiling  for  a  fight,"  and  we  hope  to  arrive  at  the  loioer  end 
of  Dixie  pretty  soon.  We  drill  4^  hours  e.ich  day,  and  are  as  well 
drilled  as  any  regitnent  in  the  field.  When  it  comes  to  fighting, 
give  us  the  Woodbury  and  Waterbury  boys,  say  we.  We  have 
had  three  or  four  division  reviews.  There  are  twelve  Regiments 
of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  one  of  artillery  already  here  in 
readiness  for  the  expedition.  The  11th  IJegiment,  C.  V.,  arrived 
here  last  Friday,  and  ^dad  were  we  to  see  some  more  of  the  Con- 
necticut boys.  Ivoderick  Freeman  and  Daniel  Taber  came  amongst 
the  rest.  Rod,  thougli  he  is  colored  and  caimot  go  in  the  ranks, 
chooses  to  go  witli  the  Woodbury  boys,  as  cook  and  waiter. 

"We  have  lost  one  man  in  our  Company  and  there  is  another 
man  out  of  A.  dead  at  the  hospital.  Our  Regiment  is  pretty 
healthy — only  fifteen  or  twenty  in  the  hospital. 

"  The  news  has  just  come  into  camp  that  England  is  going  to 
help  the  rebels.  Let  her  come  on.  The  North  is  ready  for  her. 
I  am  ready  and  willing  to  si)ill  my  blood,  if  necessary,  to  help 
teach  lier  to  mind  her  own  business,  and  such  is  the  determination 
of  all  the  boys.* 

"Our  division,  which   is  the  largest  yet  organized,  is  all  eii 
camped   in  sight.     The   transports  are  being  loaded  rapidly,  and 
we  shall  soon  be  olf  to  some  imitortant   point,  when   you  may  ex- 
pect to  hear  a  good  account  of  us. 

Yours  truly, 

John  E.  Tuttle." 

*  This  brave  young  soldier  fell  at  the  Battle  of  Antietam,  pierced  by  a  bullet 
through  the  heart — a  modest  but  noble  sacrifice  for  the  salvation  of  his  country. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1145 

PIancock,  McL,  Jan.  21,  18G2. 

"Dear  American: — It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  heard  fi-om 
the  vicinity  of  home,  or  seen  a  copy  of  your  paper,  so  I  write  you 
a  few  lines  in  this  time  of  general  army  inaction.  The  5th  IJegi- 
ment  is  encamped  at  Hancock,  some  sixty  miles  north  of  Frede- 
rick City,  Maryland,  The  rebel  general,  Jackson,  is  about  six 
miles  from  our  lines,  and  has  under  his  command  some  fourteen 
thousand  men.  Our  third  brigade,  with  that  of  Gen.  Kelly,  num- 
bers about  fifteen  thousand  men,  and  as  soon  as  the  Potomac  shall 
fall  so  that  our  men  can  get  across,  I  think  we  shall  give  him  bat- 
tle. The  Potomac  has  risen  some  twenty  live  or  thirty  feet  during 
the  late  rains,  and  it  is  impossible  to  cross  at  present. 

"The  cry  of  both  men  and  officers  is  'over  to  Dixie's  land.' 
We  ai'e  all  tired  of  inactive  camp  life.  We  had  much  rather  en- 
ter on  active  duties,  finish  up  the  business,  and  come  home,  than 
to  be  loitering  here.  For  some  months,  we  have  not  understood 
why  we  did  not  fight,  and  whip  out  the  rebels,  but  KUppose  it  is 
all  right,  and  that  there  is  some  good  reason,  though  we  'do  not 
see  it.'  The  duty  of  the  soldier  is  to  obey,  and  we  do  that  cheer- 
fully. 

''The  most  of  the  'Cothren  Rifles,' Company  E.,  are  in  good 
health  and  spirits ;  Raymaker,  Root,  McKay,  Spring,  Dawson,  the 
brothers  Bishop,  and  uW  the  rest  send  their  kind  regards.  1  have 
been  sick  of  late,  and  am  boarding  with  a  private  family  till  I  am 
better.     Am  improving  slowly,  and  hope  lo  be  'all  right'  soon. 

"Our  Regiment  has  just  been  paid  its  two  months'  wages,  and 
a  large  part  of  the  whole  is  being  sent  to  friends  at  home. 

"About  the  first  of  the  month,  we  henrd  our  fiiend  and  fatlier 
of  our  Company,  Mr.  Cothren,  of  Woodbury,  was  on  his  way  to 
visit  us,  and  were  very  much  disappointed  when  lie  failed  to  reach 
us.  Our  regret  was  greatly  increased  when  we  learned  that  he 
was  un;ible  to  continue  his  journey  to  us  fi'om  Washington  on  ac- 
count of  his  illness.  We  greatly  hope  he  will  '  try  again  '  to  see 
us,  soon. 

Youi-s  truly, 

Wilson  Wvant, 
Capt,  Co,  E.,  5th  Reg't  C.  V."  ' 

This  letter  was  written  to  the  editor  of  the  "  Waterburj'  American." 


1146  HISTOKY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

The  foregoing  letters,  written  iu  the  spirit  of  the  hour,  while 
the  influence  of  the  vast  conflict  which  had  been  inaugurated  was 
strong  upon  the  hearts  of  all,  have  been  introduced  to  show  how 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  time  transformed  the  humblest  in  our  com- 
munities into  heroes,  and  how  those  who  had  received  only  a  com- 
mon school  education,  and  had  perhaps  never  been  called  to  write 
a  specimen  of  English  composition  in  their  lives,  were  enabled) 
under  the  inspiration  of  patriotic  fervor,  correctly  to  appreciate 
the  great  principles  involved  in  the  contest,  and  to  correctly,  elo- 
quently and  forcibly  express  them  in  these  communications  to 
friends.  Not  one  of  the  writers  of  the  preceding  letters  had  re- 
ceived any  thing  but  the  advantages  of  our  common  country 
schools,  except  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  and  it  is  submitted  that 
these  productions  compare  favorably  with  those  of  men  who  have 
received  the  honors  of  our  Universities.  They  show,  too,  how  the 
events  transpiring  at  the  North  struck  these  brave  young  hearts. 
The  President  and  the  entire  North,  loving  their  country,  and  lov- 
ing the  arts  of  peace,  hesitated  long  in  this  first  unlucky  year  of 
the  war  of  the  rebellion,  to  strike  at  and  extirpate  the  great  root 
of  all  this  evil — the  omnipotent  curse  of  slavery.  The  all-perva- 
ding wish  was  to  see  how  peace  could  be  restored,  and  slavery 
remain  unscathed.  All  possible  devices  to  this  end  were  entered 
upon,  but  without  satisfactory  result.  And  thus  the  year  of  1861 
came  gloomily  to  a  close. 

1862.  Tlie  year  1861  had  closed,  while  the  afiairs  of  the  nation 
were  enveloped  in  gloom.  The  results  of  the  year,  so  far  as  the 
union  arms  were  concerned,  had  not  been,  on  the  whole,  a  success. 
Great  preparations  had  been  made,  and  great  expectations  had 
been  raised,  but  there  had  been  but  a  moderate  share  of  success, 
and  a  plentiful  harvest  of  disaster.  Many  a  devout  Christian 
somewhat  irreverently  began  to  think  that  "  the  Devil  reigned," 
or  perhaps  it  is  more  charitable  to  suppose,  tliat  they  merely 
thought  the  time  spoken  of  in  Revelations,  when  Satan  was  to  be 
"  loosed  for  a  season,"  had  arrived.  But  the  time  for  inaction 
seemed,  with  the  opening  of  the  year,  almost  to  have  passed  away. 
Vast  movements  were  on  foot,  and  the  war  appeared  to  be  taking 
a  decisive  turn. 

"On  the  11th  of  January,  1862,  a  strange  and  heterogeneous 
assemblage  of  vessels  filled  Hampton  Roads,  Gen.  Burnside  had 
been  ordered  to  fit  out  an  expedition  to  proceed  against  a  certain 
point  on  the  Southern  coast — but  where  that  point  was  it  was  re- 


HISTORY      OF     xVNCIENT      WOOPBURY,  1147 

served  for  time  and  events  to  announce.  Accordingly,  by  dint  of 
unwearied  exertion,  Gen.  Burnside  had  collected  this  mass  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  water-craft.  Utterly  regardless  of  the 
appearance  of  this  fleet,  and  with  a  single  eye  to  utility,  he  drew 
ujion  all  the  resources  of  the  steam  merchant  service,  from  the 
Kennebec  to  the  Chesapeake. 

"  The  land  forces,  under  the  command  of  General  Burnside, 
amounted  to  sixteen  thousand  men,  with  an  ample  supply  of  field- 
pieces  and  batteries,  and  all  the  material  of  war.  The  troops 
were  divided  into  three  brigades,  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Foster,  Reno  and  Parke,  all  experienced  and  able  officers  of  the 
regular  army." 

Burnside's  expedition,  after  experiencing  all  the  perils  of  furi- 
ous storms,  arrived  near  the  island  of  Roanoke,  on  the  early  days 
of  February,  1862,  and  on  the  7th  the  fleet  opened  its  heavy  guns 
upon  the  rebel  fortifications  on  the  island.  The  bombardment  by 
the  fleet  continued  all  day  with  unabated  fury. 

"It  was  just  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  the  United 
States  flag  was  raised  at  Ashley's  Harbor.  The  cannonade  was 
still  raging  at  the  battery.  It  continued  unabated  all  day,  and  as 
the  night  was  clear  and  the  range  was  perfect,  it  did  not  cease 
with  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  Nothing  can  be  imagined  more 
sublime  than  a  bombardment  by  night.  The  glare  of  the  guns, 
so  passionate  and  s]^iteful  in  exj)ression  ;  the  roar  of  the  explo- 
sions ;  the  shrieks  of  the  shells,  as  if  demons  were  howling  through 
the  air;  the  explosion  of  the  shells,  w^ith  meteoric  brilliance  and 
thunder  peal ;  the  volumes  of  smoke  rising  into  the  darkened  sky 
— all  these,  blended  with  the  gloom  of  night,  present  a  scene, 
which,  once  witnessed,  can  never  be  forgotten.  About  one  hour 
after  dark  the  fl.eet  drew  ofl",  and  was  silent  and  motionless  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night.  The  land  forces  had  indeed  a  choei-lcss 
prospect  before  them.  Thoroughly  drenched  and  cliilled  by  the 
cold  wintry  waves,  they  were  compelled  to  bivouac  on  the  shel- 
terless shore,  without  tents,  exposed  to  a  cold  north  wind,  and  a 
heavy  rain.  Their  discomfort,  through  the  night,  was  extreme. 
Still  they  were  in  good  spirits.  A  landing  in  force  had  been  ef- 
fected with  the  loss  of  but  four  men  killed  and  eight  wounded. 
The  fleet  had  been  severely  handled,  by  the  heavy  shot  of  the  bat- 
teries and  the  rebels  gun-boats.  Round  shot  and  shell  passed 
through  several  of  the  National  shijts,  killing  and  wouiuling  a 
few  of  their  crews.     Still  no  damage  was  done  to  interfere  with 

20 


1148  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

tlie  efficient  action  of  the  fleet,  and  all  on  the  island  and  in  the 
ships  waited  impatiently,  cheered  with  hope,  for  the  opening  of 
another  day." 

The  morning  of  Thursday,  the  8th,  came.  It  was  still  cold  and 
dismal,  but  the  loyal  troops  pressed  bravely  on,  fought  a  desperate 
battle,  and  were  successful  beyond  the  expectation  of  the  most 
hopeful. 

"A  victory  had  been  won,  second  to  none  since  the  national 
forces  took  the  field.  It  was  a  victory  to  thrill  every  loyal  heart 
throughout  the  land  with  joy.  As  the  sun  went  down  on  that 
Saturday  evening,  Feb.  8,  it  closed  a  week  of  glorious  work  for 
God  and  humanity.  Even  with  a  spy-glass,  fiom  the  central  bas 
tions  of  Roanoke,  no  rebel  flag  could  be  seen.  The  national  ban- 
ner floated  everywhere.  Nothing  now  remained  to  be  done,  but 
to  ])ursue  the  rebel  steamers  to  their  lurking-places,  and  to  re- 
establish the  national  authority  in  all  the  important  towns,  washed 
by  the  two  Sounds  and  their  tributary  rivers.  Six  forts,  2,500 
prisoners,  forty-two  heavy  guns,  with  a  large  number  of  smaller 
arms  and  muuitions  of  war,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors. 
The  Union  loss  consisted  of  40  killed  and  200  wounded.  Among 
the  killed  was  Col.  Russell,  of  the  Connecticut  10th,  a  gallant 
ofiicer,  a  genial,  generous  man,  a  fearless  soldier,  a  warm-hearted 
Christian.     He  died  universally  lamented." 

Gen.  Burnside  was  not  the  man  to  delay,  and  with  commenda- 
ble promptness  he  inaugurated  the  Battle  of  Newberne,  March 
14th,  1862.  The  gallantry  of  the  Connecticut  troops  was  con- 
spicuous in  this  battle — Col.  Rodman's  charge  was  highly  com- 
mended. 

"  This  charge  by  Col.  Rodman,  leading  the  4th  Rhode  Island 
Regiment,  was  one  of  the  most  heroic  deeds  of  the  day.  They 
were  in  front  of  a  battery  of  five  guns;  while  there  was  another 
battery  close  by  its  side  of  nine  guns,  protected  by  rifle-pits.  At 
the  double-quick  they  ran  upon  the  muzzles  of  these  five  guns, 
pouring  in  a  volley  of  bullets  as  they  ran,  rushed  through  the 
parapet,  and  instantly,  with  the  precision  of  veterans,  forming  in 
line  of  battle,  with  a  bristling  array  of  bayonets  bore  down  upon 
the  other  guns,  thus  capturing  both  batteries  with  two  flags.  The 
8lh  and  11  th  Connecticut  and  the  5th  Rhode  Island,  followed 
closely  in  their  tracks,  to  support  them.  The  enemy  fled  precip- 
itately, and  the  stars  and  stripes  floated  proudly  over  this  small 
portion  of  the  enemy's  extended   line.     A  grand  charge  was  now 


HISTORY      ©F      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 


1149 


made  upon  the  enemy's  lefl,  aided  by  the  troops  who  were  already 
established  within  the  ramparts.  The  enemy  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  and  in  great  confusion  they  fled.  With  exultations  and 
shoutings  which  none  can  appreciate  but  thoee  who  have  passed 
through  such  terrible  scenes — perhaps  the  most  ecstatic  joy  of  fall- 
en humanity — the  National  troops  clambered  over  the  ramparts, 
discharging  their  guns  at  the  retiring  foe,  and  with  huzzas  re- 
peated again  and  again  and  again,  raised  the  glorious  old  banner 
of  National  integrity  over  all  the  bastions  which  had  just  been 
degraded  by  the  flaunting  flag  of  rebellion.  It  was  a  hard  fought 
fight  and  a  glorious  victory.  Every  regiment  and  almost  every 
man  behaved  heroically.  The  olst  New  York  performed  deeds 
of  valor,  which  will  induce  every  man  of  the  regiment  to  look 
back  upon  that  day  with  pride,  so  long  as  he  shall  live." 

The  colored  population  were  rejoiced  beyond  measure  at  the 
triumph  of  the  North.  The  slaves  throughout  the  south,  univer- 
sally, regarded  the  coming  of  the  Northern  armies  as  the  signal 
for  their  patriotic  deliverance.  No  language  can  express  the  sat- 
isfaction with  which  they  received  the  loyal  troops, "and  the  eager 
willingness  they  manifested  to  serve  them.  "  They  could  hardly 
believe  the  evidence  of  their  senses,  and 
could  not  possibly  restrain  their  delight, 
when  they  saw  their  aflirighted  masters 
running  before  our  troops.  They  had  nev- 
er before  dreamed  that  there  could  be  any 
earthly  power  superior  to  that  which  their 
dreaded  masters  wielded.  A  slaveholder, 
breathless  with  terror,  spurred  his  horse 
to  his  utmost  speed,  by  his  own  door,  not 
venturing  to  stop.  Just  then  a  shell,  with 
its  terrific,  unearthly  shriek,  rushed  through 
the  air,  over  his  head.  A  poor  slave,  a 
man  of  unfeigned  piety  and  fervent  pra)'er,  y^^^ 
^n  uncontrollable  emotions  of  joy,  ran  into 
his  humble  cabin,  shouting,  "  Wife;  he  is  running;  he  is  running, 
and  the  vnxith  of  God  is  after  him.^'' 

Another  devout  old  negro  fell  on  his  knees  and  prayed,  saying 
"  God  bless  these  d — d  Yankees."  It  was  the  only  name  he  had, 
ever  heard  his  master  give  them. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1862,  Gen.  McClellan  fought  the 
desperate  battle  of  Antietam,  sometimes  called  the  battle  of  Sliarps- 


1150  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

burg,  as  it  was  fought  on  the  Antietara-creek,  over  against  the 
village  of  Sharpsburg.  This  was  the  bloodiest  day,  perhaps,  that 
America  had  ever  seen,  and  yet  the  battle  closed  indecisively.  The 
blood  of  some  of  Woodbury's  bravest  boys  saturated  the  soil  of 
those  hotly  contested  fields.  The  next  great  battle  in  whicli  the 
Woodbury  soldiers  received  a  bloody  baptism,  was  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  which  was  fought  on  the  13th  of  December,  1862. 
Our  limits  do  not  allow  a  general  description  of  the  battle.  '  A 
few  passages  from  Greeley's  "  American  Conflict,"  follow  : 

"  Braver  men  never  smiled  at  death  than  those  who  climbed 
Marye's  Hill  that  fatal  day  ;  their  ranks  were  plowed  through  and 
torn  to  pieces  by  rebel  batteries,  even  in  the  process  of  formation; 
and  wlien  at  heavy  cost  they  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  they 
were  confronted  by  a  solid  stone  wall,  four  feet  high,  from  behind 
which  a  Confederate  brigade  of  infantry  mowed  them  down  like 
grass,  exposing  but  their  heads  to  our  bullets,  and  these  only 
while  themselves  firing.  Never  did  men  fight  better,  or  die,  alas! 
more  fuitlessly,  than  did  most  of  Hancock's  corps,  especially 
Meagher's  Irish  brigade,  composed  of  the  63d,  69th,  and  88th  New 
York,  the  28th  Massachusetts,  and  the  116th  Pennsylvania,  which 
dashed  itself  repeatedly  against  those  impregnable  Jieighta,  until 
two-thirds  of  its  number  strewed  the  ground ;  when  the  remnant 
fell  back  to  a  position  of  comparative  safety,  and  were  succeeded 
as  they  had  been  supported,  by  other  brigades  and  divisions ;  each 
to  be  exposed  in  its  turn  to  like  pitiless,  useless,  hopeless  slaugh- 
ter. Thus  Hancock's  and  French's  corps  were  successively  sent  up 
against  those  slippery  heights,  girdled  with  batteries,  rising,  tier 
above  tier,  to  its  crest,  all  carefully  trained  upon  the  approaches 
from  Fredericksburg;  while  that  fatal  stone  wall — so  strong  that 
even  artillery  could  make  no  impression  on  it — completely  shel- 
tering Baiksdale's  brigade,  which,  so  soon  as  our  cliarging  col- 
umns came  within  i-iflc-shot,  poured  into  their  faces  the  deadliest 
storm  of  musketry.  Howard's  division  supported  the  two  in  ad- 
vance; while  one  division  of  Wilcox's  (9th,  late  Burnside's)  corps 
was  detached  to  maintain  communication  with  Franklin,  on  our 
left. 

"Hooker's  grand  division  was  divided,  and  in  good  part  sent  to 
reenforce  Franklin  ;  while  Hooker  himself,  believing  the  attack 
hopeless,  required  repeated  and  imperative  orders  from  Burnside 
to  induce  liim  to  order  an  advance ;  but  Humphrey's  division  was 
at  length  thrown  out  from  Fredericksburg,  and  bore  its  full  part 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1161 

in  the  front  attack,  losing  lieavily.  And  thus  the  flight  was  main- 
tained till  after  dark — assault  after  assault  being  delivered  by  di- 
visions advancing  against  twice  their  numbers,  on  ground  where 
treble  the  force  was  required  for  the  attack  that  sufficed  for  the 
defense ;  while  a  hundred  rebel  cannon,  posted  on  heights  which 
our  few  guns  on  that  side  of  the  river  could  scarcely  reach,  and 
could  not  effectually  batter,  swept  our  men  down  from  the  mo- 
ment that  they  began  to  advance,  and  while  they  could  do  nothing 
but  charge,  and  tall,  and  die.  And  when  night  at  length  merci. 
fully  arrested  this  fruitless  massacre,  though  the  terraces  and 
slopes  leading  up  to  the  rebel  works  were  piled  with  our  dead  and 
our  disabled,  there  was  no  pretense  that  the  rebel  front  had  been 
advanced  one  foot  from  the  ground  held  by  it  in  the  morning. 
We  had  reason  enough  for  sorrow,  but  none  for  shame. 

"  Thus  closed  what  the  exulting  correspondent  at  Lee's  head- 
quarters of  The  Times  (London)  calls  '  a  memorable  day  to  the 
historian  of  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  American  Republic'  Not 
so,  O  owl-eyed  scribe !  but  rather  one  of  those  days  of  bloody 
baptism,  from  whose  regenerating  flood  that  Republic  was  divinely 
appointed  to  rise  to  a  purer  life,  a  nobler  spirit,  a  grander,  more 
benignant  destiny !  " 

A  considerable  number  of  Woodbury  soldiers  were  engaged  in 
all  these  great  battles,  scattered  through  all  the  Connecticut  regi- 
ments engaged  in  them,  A  local  historian,  copfined  to  [)rescribed 
limits,  caimot  give  a  connected  history  of  the  war.  He  can  only 
be  expected  to  allude  to  the  prominent  events  in  which  the  [)eople 
of  the  town  took  a  commendaljle  part.  It  is,  therefore,  thought 
best  to  introduce  here  letters  frojn  the  soldiers  of  Woodbury,  de- 
scribing the  part  they  took,  in  all  these  events,  and  in  the  sevei-al 
battles,  and,  it  is  believed,  that  it  must  be  far  more  interesting  to 
our  people,  coming  from  their  own  sons,  written  on  the  spot,  when 
the  "  inspiration  was  on,"  and  when  there  could  be  no  temptation 
to  misstatement,  than  anything  that  the  general  historian  could 
write,  \*^ho  is  forced  to  condense  all  the  incidents  of  a  battle  into 
a  single  statement,  showing  only  general  results.  In  these  indi- 
vidual statements,  we  feel  the  pulse-beats  of  the  heart.  Besides, 
it  is  of  absorbing  interest  to  know  what  sliare  our  immediate 
neighbors  had  in  achieving  the  glorious  results  described.  The 
account  given  in  these  letters  will  be  all  that  our  space  will  alhnv 
for  an  account  of  several  of  the  battles. 


1152         histoktop    ancient    w  o  o  d  b  u  e  y  . 

"  Hbadquarteks  Provost  Guard,  ) 
Martinsburg,  Va.,  March  Yth,  1862.     ) 

"Friend  Cothren: — When  I  last  wrote  you,  my  determina- 
tion was  (as  I  then  intimated)  not  to  write  you  again  until  I  could 
date  my  letter  from  Virginia.  And  now,  embracing  the  first  op- 
portunity after  arriving  here,  I  appropriate  some  "  secesh  "  pen, 
ink  and  paper,  left  in  the  hurried  departure  of  the  owners  from 
this  place,  on  Saturday  last,  to  the  laudable  purpose  of  informing 
as  worthy  a  person  as  yourself  in  regard  to  the  appearance  of  the 
recent  home  of  the  rebels. 

"Gen.  Williams  left  Hancock,  with  his  brigade,  on  Saturday 
morning  of  last  week.  He  reached  Williamsport  that  night,  and 
Sunday  and  Monday  were  occupied  in  transpoi'ting  the  brigade 
across  the  river.  The  5th  Connecticut  crossed  about  9  o'clock  on 
Monday  morning,  and  with  a  good  road  before  them,  and  pleasant 
anticipations  of  soon  having  a  fight,  they  gladly  hailed  the  order, 
*'  Column,  forward  !  "  in  the  well-known  thunder  tones  of  Col. 
Ferry.  By  3  o'clock  they  were  quartered  in  the  churches  and 
public  buildings  of  Martinsburg,  and  the  curious  ones  having  de- 
posited their  knapsacks  and  accoutrements,  were  making  tours 
through  the  town,  and  picking  up  little  mementoes  to  send  home 
and  to  keep  as  relics  of  the  capture  of  Martinsburg. 

"Being  detached  from  the  regiment  to  serve  in  the  office  of 
the  Provost  Marshal,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  remain  in  Wil- 
liamsi)ort  until  the  Provost  Guard  crossed  the  river,  which  did  not 
take  place  until  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  No  sooner  had 
we  stepped  from  the  ferry-boat  on  to  the  Virginia  lauding,  than 
the  sky,  which  for  some  hours  had  been  growing  dark  and  omi- 
nous with  black,  watery-looking  clouds,  began  to  let  fall  copious 
doses  of  the  Hydropathic  remedy.  I  was  soon  tired  with  the 
slow  traveling  of  the  guard  and  prisoners,  and  with  a  friend  start- 
ed on  ahead.  We  reached  Martinsburg  about  8  o'clock,  com- 
pletely drenched.  We  found  the  town  jammed  full  of  soldiers. 
The  houses  were  crowded  with  men  and  the  streets  with  wagons, 
mules,  gun-carriages  and  horses.  After  considerable  hunting, 
blundering  and  stumbling  around,  we  found  a  hotel,  the  landlord 
of  which,  with  abundant  excuses  for  his  poor  accommodations,  as 
he  termed  them,  said  he  could  provide  for  us  through  the  night- 
Over  a  hearty  sui)per  of  warm  biscuit,  ham  and  secesh  coffee  (bar- 
ley), our  host  gave  us  a  history  of  the  state  of  affairs  which  had 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY  1153 

existed  since  the  blockade.  A  man  could  not  get  a  file  to  sharpen 
a  saw  ;  a  piece  of  calico  large  enough  to  make  a  child  an  apron  ; 
tea,  salt — scarcely  any  sugar  -and  spices  of  all  kinds  were  not  to 
be  had  ;  coffee  was  sometimes  obtainable  at  $1.50  per  pound.  Such 
were  some  of  the  deprivations  rehearsed  to  us,  that  the  people  of 
the  South  are  obliged  to  undergo. 

To  say  nothing  of  squads  of  the  semi-barbarous  rebel  soldiery- 
who  intrude  into  every  household  which  rumor  breathes  conserva, 
tiem  or  a  particle  of  Union  sympathy  of,  and  who  order  the  in- 
mates to  set  a  table,  partake  of  a  repast,  and  walking  out,  with 
oaths  and  insult,  tell  thein  to  charge  it  to  Jeff,  Davis,  I  never  shall 
forget  the  scene  which  met  my  eyes  on  looking  out  at  the  window 
the  next  morning.  The  place  where  we  stopped  was  close  by  the 
railroad,  and  directly  opposite  was  the  railroad  depot  and  engine- 
house,  both  once  large  and  fine-looking  edifices,  now  partially  de. 
raolished. — The  broad  surface  in  front  and  around  them,  interlaced 
with  its  labyrinth  of  tracks  and  switches,  as  you  always  find  in 
connection  with  a  railroad  stopping-place  of  any  importance,  was 
covered  with  crisped,  rugged  fragments  of  broken-down  locomo- 
tives. In  one  place  I  should  think  there  were  at  least  forty  pon- 
derous locomotives  piled  one  on  the  other,  some  on  their  side, 
some  bottom  up,  and  others  standing  on  end.  It  looked  as  if  two 
or  three  score  of  railroads  were  laid  down  so  as  to  cross  each  other 
at  the  center,  and  from  the  outside  of  the  wheel-like  concern  a  lo- 
comotive was  started  with  full  steam  on,  one  on  each  track,  and 
all  had  met  in  the'center.  Certainly,  if  such  was  the  case,  a  more 
promiscuous  confusion  could  not  have  been  produced.  A  high 
bridge  over  a  small  stream  was  loaded  with  all  the  engines  that 
could  be  crowded  on  it,  and  then  set  on  fire.  Among  the  stone 
pillars,  which  are  all  that  is  left  of  the  bridge,  lay  the  ruins  of  the 
wantonly  destroyed  engines. 

"The  town  itself  presents  rather  a  dreary,  exhausted  appear- 
ance. Many  of  the  houses  are  deserted  ;  the  stores  are  empty, 
their  show-windows  and  cases  presenting  tobacco  cut  and  twiste<I 
in  every  conceivable  shape,  to  supply  the  want  of  anything  else  to 
make  them  attractive.  I  am  informed  that  the  population  of  Mar- 
tinsburg  ranged  from  3,000  to  4,000,  in  times  of  [»eace,  and  before 
these  troublous  times  it  was  a  thriviuff,  pfrowino:  villaire. 

Gen.  Williams'  Brigade  left  here  Wednesday  morning,  and  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  Bunker  Hill,  a  small  place  ten  miles  from  here,  on 
the  Winchester  road,  where  they  still  remain.     Gen.  Banks  was 


1154  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

at  Charleston  yesterday.  Col.  Sullivan  arrived  here  last  night, 
with  the  advance  of  the  late  Gen.  Lander's  forces,  7,000  strong. 
The  main  body,  about  15,000  of  them,  are  expected  to-night.  A 
concentration  of  the  forces  under  Banks,  Williams,  and  Gen. 
Shields,  who  succeeds  Lander,  appears  to  be  the  object  in  view 
now.     When  this  is  done,  then  Winchester  look  out. 

"The  boys  all  wish  to  be  rem embered  to  you.     Hoping  to  hear 
from  you  soon,  I  am 

Sincerely  yours, 

Gardner  Stockman." 


"Friend  Cothren: — The  old  political  motto,  to  the  "victors 
belong  the  spoils,"  is  a  favorite  one  with  you  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion. Believing  you  are  not  an  exception  to  the  general  rule,  I 
take  the  liberty  of  sending  you  this  addition  to  your  stock  of  legal 
text-books.  The  volume  is  one  provided  by  the  late  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, for  the  benefit  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Berkley  County,  and 
was  left  behind  in  the  hurried  evacuation  of  the  Town  and  Court 
House  by  the  rebels,  on  the  approach  of  the  troops  a  few  nights 
ago. 

"  Although  it  may  never  be  of  practical  use  in  any  cases  in  which 
you  may  be  employed,  I  thought,  perhaps,  you  might  value  it  as  a 
relic  of  the  once  proud  State,  whose  enactments  the  highest  in 
the  land  were  bound  to  respect — but  now  brought  so  low, 
that  "  none  are  so  poor  as  to  do  it  reverence,"  Although  a 
'''■  dead  letter''''  now,  I  know  you  will  unite  with  me  in  hoping,  that 
the  day  is  not  far  distant,  when  the  letter  of  the  law  will  assume 
the  dignity  to  which  it  is  entitled  ; — and  theyi,  perhaps,  the  book 
may  be  useful  for  reference. 

Gardner  Stockman. 
Court  House,  Berkley  County, 

Martinsburg,  Va., 
March  8,  1862. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1155 

"Edinburgh,  Virginia,  April  8,  1862. 

"  Friend  Cothren  : — As  the  rain,  which  is  driving  so  monoto- 
nous a  tune  on  the  roof  of  the  tent,  prechxdes  the  possibility  of  a 
drill  this  forenoon,  I  propose  to  devote  the  leisure  drill  hour  to 
the  troubling  you  again  with  our  little  troubles. 

"The  first  grievance  of  which  we  have  to  complain  is  this:  A 
certain  few  of  us  (Woodbury  boys),  upon  discovering  among  the 
local  items  of  Woodbury,  in  a  Litchfield  Enquirer.,  lately  sent  us 
a  brief  mention  of  Wm.  Cothren's  illumination  (the  only  one  in 
the  place),  on  the  night  of  the  anniversary  of  Washington's  birth- 
day, electrified  the  entire  camp  by  three  such  rousing  cheers,  that, 
some  one,  who  thought  that  such  a  noise  could  not  be  made  on 
any  occasion  of  less  importance,  speedily  set  afloat  the  report  that 
Richmond  was  in  possession  of  Burnside,  the  stars  and  stripes 
were  waiving  over  New  Orleans,  the  whole  South  were  throwing 
down  their  arms,  and  the  paymaster  had  come — all  this,  of  course, 
elevating  the  spirit^  of  the  regiment  only  to  let  them  fall  again, 
and  vent  their  disappointment  in  Avrath  upon  our  innocent  heads, 
for  making  such  a  hooting,  over  some  Woodbury  celebration  way 
up  in  Connecticut,  as  they  termed  it. 

"  We  are  to  soon  lose  our  much  loved  and  respected  Colonel. 
He  leaves  us  this  week  for  Washington.  It  is  hard  for  us  not 
to  express  a  little  selfishness  by  saying  that  we  hope  he  will  not 
go.  But  Col.  Ferry  merits  his  promotion.  The  country  needs 
him  to  act  in  a  more  extended  field  than  his  lot  has  hitherto  fur- 
nished him.  We  must  part  with  him  and  allow  the  future  of  the 
regiment  to  look  dark — why,  you  shall  know  in  good  time.  I  am 
not  at  liberty  to  say  just  now. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote  you,  which  I  think  was  from  Martinsburg, 
we  have  advanced  by  easy  marches  some  fifty-five  miles  towards 
the  interior  of  the  State,  and  probably  as  soon  as  the  bridge  over 
the  north  branch  of  the  Shenandoah,  which  the  rebel  Jackson 
burned  in  his  retreat,  is  rebuilt,  we  shall  continue  our  onward 
movement — that  is  if  Jackson  has  no  objections. — He  will  be 
obliged  to  bring  forward  some  very  forcible  arguments  in  order 
to  prove  to  our  satisfaction  that  it  is  not  advisable  for  us  to  pro- 
ceed on  our  Southern  tour,  for  we  are  full  of  the  spirit  of  the  en- 
terprise. We  have  started,  and  would  be  very  much  disappointed 
should  we  be  obliged  to  retrace  our  steps,  or  even  to  remain  where 
we  are. 


1156  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 

"  Since  we  have  passed  the  Rubicon  Potomac,  and  been  travel- 
ing in  the  land  of  '  Dixie,'  the  favorite  pastime  of  jayhawking 
(you  being  of  the  legal  persuasion  of  course  understand  the  im- 
port of  the  term,)  has  been  extensively  indulged  in.  You  would 
enjoy  it  with  us  could  you  form  one  in  our  battalion  of  jayhawk- 
ers,  as  we  fall  in  with  the  estate  of  some  F.  F.  V.,  ingloriously  de- 
serted upon  our  approach. — Quickly  deploying,  what  thorough 
searches  are  instituted  for  bee-hives  of  honey,  chickens,  turkies, 
geese,  &c.  Smoke-house  doors  are  battered  in  with  musket  butts, 
and  from  them  emerge  whole  sides  of  bacon,  sausages,  beef  and 
hams,  which  seem  to  have  suddenly  caught  the  evacuation  spirit 
so  lately  prevalent  in  this  vicinity.  While  through  the  lofty,  de- 
serted halls  of  the  proud  old  mansion  rings  the  muffled  footfall  of 
grim  visaged  warriors,  crowding  to  the  "  banquet  hall "  to  search 
in  its  cupboards  and  closets  for  jars  of  jelly,  pickles,  butter,  &c. 
Secesh  emblems,  and  everything  of  curiosity  or  utility  to  a  soldier, 
are  token  care  of,  and  in  time  many  center-tables  and  mantel  pieces 
of  Connecticut  will  receive  additions  to  their  stock  of  curiosities, 
mementoes  and  relics. 

"One  little  incident  I  must  relate  to  you.  The  orders  against 
pillaging  or  jayhawking  are  very  stringent.  All  who  are  detected 
in  it  are  most  severely  punished.  On  the  day  after  our  entrance 
into  Martinsburg,  Col.  Knipe,  of  the  46th  Penn.  Vols.,  met  one  of 
the  members  o  his  regiment,  of  Hibernian  origin  and  wit,  who 
was  carrying  a  fine,  large  goose  towards  camp,  whose  head,  by 
being  turned  around  two  or  three  times,  was  "  hanging  perfectly 
loose,"  as  the  boys  say.  The  fellow  knew  the  penalty  attached  to 
his  offense.  He  also  knew  that  his  Colonel  was  aware  that  the 
paymaster  had  not  been  seen  for  a  long  time — so  any  story  about 
2nirchasing  the  goose  would  not  be  swallowed  by  Col.  Knipe. 

" '  Where  did  you  get  that  goose,  sir  ?  '  was  the  Colonel's  first 
question. 

" '  Back  on  the  road  a  bit,  your  honor.' 

"' Well,  sir,  you  know  what  the  consequences  are — you  have 
disobeyed  orders.  What  is  your  name,  and  what  company  do  you 
belong  to  ?  ' 

"  '  Arrah  now.  Colonel,  be  aisy  till  I  tell  me  story  to  you.  Yer 
see.  Colonel,  as  we  marched  up  the  town,  yesterday,  with  our  gal- 
lint  flag  a  stramin,  out  comes  a  party  of  dirty,  blackguarding,  se- 
cesh geese,  and  hissed  at  the  flag,  yer  honor.     It  made  the  blood 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY, 


1157 


of  me  bile,  sir,  to  see  the  dirty  oraythers  hissing  at  the  flag  we're 
all  fightin  for,  and  I  marked  the  foremost  one,  sir — I  marked  him 


'MU^Xl'K'^S. 


till  I'd  know  him  agin,  it  being  against  orders  to  lave  the  ranks. 
And  to-day  I  went  back  and  hunted  him,  and  broke  his  head  off 
for  him,  the  same  as  I  would  any  secesher  that  would  hiss  down 
me  country's  stars  and  stripes.  And  I  thought,  yer  honor,  it  was 
a  sin  to  cast  him  away  when  he  was  killed,  so  I  brought  him 
along.'" 

"  Col.  Knipe  could  not  refrain  from  indulging  in  a  hearty  laugh 
at  the  fellow's  wit.  So  telling  him  to  let  things  alone  that  did 
not  belong  to  him,  in  future,  the  Colonel  sent  him  along  to  roast 
his  goose,  and  think,  while  eating  it,  of  his  narrow  escape  from 
the  clutches  of  the  court  martial. 

"The  paymaster  arrived  at  headquarters  yesterday.  We  are 
all  happy  to  see  him,  having  heard  nothing  from  him  since  the  Ist 
of  January. 

"  The  country  here  is  full  of  shin-plasters,  from  three  cents  up- 
wards. They  pass  quite  readily  between  our  soldiers  and  the  cit" 
izens,  but  our  sutlers,  who  procure  their  goods  from  the  North' 
'  can't  see  it'  if  we  offer  it  to  them. 

"  From  the  Potomac  to  way  south  of  Winchester,  the  country 
is  now  well  supplied  with  coffee,  salt,  sugar,  and  in  fact  all  groce- 
ries, as  well  as  cotton  and  woollen  goods,  which  one  montli  ago 
the  inhab'tants  were  suffering  for.  All  the  necessaries  and  luxu- 
ries of  life  are  pouring,  like  a  fast-rising  tide,  into  the  western 
portion  of  the  State,  following  up  the  line  of  blockade,  as  it  moves 
steadily  and  surely  onward  to  meet  its  counterpart  extended  along 
the  gulf. 


1158  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

*■'  The  weather  for  the  past  week  has  been  quite  mild  and  pleas- 
ant. The  peach  and  appletrees  are  budded,  the  meadows  look 
fresh  and  green,  and  the  lazy  languor  with  which  we  lounge 
around,  in  the  warm,  sunny  days,  under  the  trees  and  along  the 
grassy  banks  of  the  winding  Shenandoah,  makes  us  feel  that  Spring 
has  really  come  again.  Our  thoughts  wander  back  to  where  we 
were  a  year  ago.  How  much  we  would  have  then  given  to  have 
known  where  we  were  to  be  this  Spring.  And  Oh !  how  we 
would  like  to  know  beside  what  streams  we  shall  roam  a  year  from 
now.  A  waggish  tent-mate,  peering  over  my  shoulder  at  what  I 
am  writing,  suggests  that  very  likely  some  of  us  will  be  going  up 
Salt  River. — Shouldn't  wonder  a  bit  if  we  were. 

"  We  expect  that  in  a  day  or  two,  "  Head  of  column,  forward ! '' 
will  rouse  us  from  our  listless  life  in  camp,  to  again  resume,  for 
the  weary  march,  our  knapsacks  and  three  days'  rations,  which 
last,  with  a  poor  fellow  who  is  gifted  with  a  good  appetite,  is  no 
small  consideration  in  way  of  freight. 

"  Ashby,  with  his  rebel  cavalry  and  some  light  batteries  of  ar- 
tillery, is  continually  showing  himself  along  our  advanced  lines. 
More  than  once  have  our  workmen  on  the  bridge  been  surprised 
by  a  shower  of  bullets  whistling  among  them  from  a  heavily- 
wooded  knoll,  just  a  good  rifle  shot  in  front  of  them.  Fre- 
quently are  they  startled  by  the  demon  screech  of  a  spherical 
shell,  drawing  most  uncomfortably  near,  from  some  flying  battery 
which  our  wiley  foe  has  stealthily  drawn  up  and  opened  upon 
them.  Fortunately,  scarcely  any  of  the  secesh  shells  burst — not 
more  than  one  in  a  dozen. — They  are  some  purchased  from  English 
agents,  so  I  am  informed.  I  guess  that  shells  are  not  the  only 
English  things  that  the  C.  S.  A.  are  taken  in  on. 

"  There  goes  the  dinner  signal,  and  as  I  am  habitually  prompt 
in  responding  to  all  noises  of  the  kind,  and  as  I  have  some  scru- 
ples in  regard  to  being  late  to  dinner,  I  must  close  by  remember- 
ing all  the  boys  to  you,  and  hoping  you  will  not  forget  your  inten- 
tion of  visiting  us. 

Truly  yours, 

G.  Stockman. 


history    of    ancient    woodbury.  1159 

"  Camp  at  Williamsport,  Maryland, 
May  29th,  1862. 

"Friend  Cothren: — I  suppose  you  are  anxiously  waiting  for 
a  word  from  us,  to  learn  wh.-it  part  your  Valley  Rifles  bore  in  the 
stirring  incidents  which  have  transpired  in  this  department  during 
the  past  few  days.  In  the  first  place  let  me  dispel  any  concern 
you  may  have  for  our  welfare.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  state 
that  out  of  the  eighty  men  lost  from  the  regiment  by  the  battle 
and  retreat  from  Winchester,  none  of  the  Woodbury  boys  are 
numbered.  With  the  more  general  details  of  the  battle  you  are 
undoubtedly  well  acquainted,  through  the  official  reports  which 
liave  been  published ;  but  believing  that  a  short  chapter  of  par- 
ticulars will  not  be  uninteresting,  I  will  describe  a  few  scenes  in 
which  the  5th  bore  a  part. 

"Saturday  morning,  May  24th,  at  daybreak,  the  bustle  and 
stir  of  breaking  up  camp  was  over,  and  the  reduced  but  gallant 
body  of  troops  under  the  immediate  command  of  Gen.  Banks, 
were  on  the  road  towards  Winchester.  The  efibrts  made  to  hurry 
us  up,  the  anxious  appearing  countenances  of  Gen  Banks  and  staff, 
as  they  dashed  by  us  on  to  the  head  of  the  column,  and  the  sad 
fate  of  the  First  Maryland  Regiment,  one  of  the  four  composing 
our  brigade,  caused  a  depression  to  hang  over  our  spirits,  ominous 
of  we  knew  not  what.  One  thing  was  evident — the  rebel  Gen, 
Ewell,  after  utterly  annihilating  the  force  at  Fort  Royal,  was 
making  his  way,  fast  as  possible,  to  reach  Winchester  before 
Banks,  thereby  cutting  off  our  retreat. 

"It  was,  therefore,  a  race  for  life — our  legs  were  our  only  sal- 
vation. Fortunately  we  were  a  little  in  advance,  and  about  8 
o'clock  in  the  evening  we  arrived  at  Winchester.  Our  brigade 
was  stationed  that  night  about  a  half  a  mile  outside  the  city,  on 
the  Front  Royal  road. — Gordon's  brigade  took  up  a  position  in 
line  of  battle  horizontal  to  the  road  leading  to  Strasburg.  Our 
regiment  filed  into  a  clover  field — we  stacked  our  arms,  and  with 
the  rest,  wearied  out,  I  lay  down,  and  praying,  as  I  heard  the  rat- 
tling musketry  of  the  distant  pickets,  and  gave  one  last  glance  at 
the  Southern  sky,  all  aglow  with  the  blazing  camp-fires  of  the 
enemy,  that  we  might  Tiot  be  called  up  before  morning.  With 
the  whole  earth  for  a  bed,  and  the  star-studded  heavens  for  a  cov- 
ering, I  fell  into  the  welcome  sleep  that  ever  awaits  the  tired 
soldier. 


1160  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"Sunday  morning  dawned  serenely  bright  and  beautiful,  seem- 
ing to' invite  man,  by  its  calm  peacefulness,  to  partake  of  its  spirit 
andMesist  from  making  it  a  day  of  blood.  I  was  startled  from 
my  slumber,  under  the  lea  of  a  stonewall,  by  the  terrific  screech 
of  a  shell  as  it  passed  over  my  head  and  burst  a  rod  or  two  from 
me,  in  the  center  of  the  field  in  which  we  were  bivouaced.  Not 
half  the  regiment  were  awake,  but  this  early  intruder,  and  his 
dozen  quick  successors  that  followed,  plunging  into  the  ground  all 
around  and  among  us,  making  the  dirt  and  stones  fly  in  clouds' 
started  them,  and  such  a  getting  up  never  was  beat.  Our  battery 
had  opened  its  return  fire,  from  a  hill  just  in  our  rear,  and  the 
whizzing,  banging,  and  thundering  going  on  over  and  around  us, 
was  truly  terrific  ;  added  to  all  this  was  the  terror  in  hearing  from 
one  to  another  the  report  that  the  enemy  w^ere  advancing  up  the 
other  side  of  the  hill,  in  line  of  battle — rather  trying  circum- 
stances for  a  regiment  that  had  never  been  under  fire  to  get  into 
line  under.  But  we  did  it,  just  did  it,  when  Major  stone  shouted 
— "  Look  out,  boys — look  out  here — they  are  right  on  to  us  !  "  I 
just  had  time  to  glance  u\)  (we  were  just  under  the  brow  of  a  hill,) 
and  see  the  top  of  the  hill  swarming  with  the  devils  coming  on  a 
"double-quick."  The  order  -was  given  to  lie  down.  Down  we 
went  into  the  high  grass,  just  in  time  to  escape  a  few  scattering 
shots  that  were  sent  for  us. 

"The  46th  Pennsylvania,  which  was  posted  on  our  right,  on  a 
higher  piece  of  pr.)und,  drew  their  fire  and  promptly  returned  it, 
but  did  not  check  them.  A  moment  more  and  they  would  have 
been  on  top  of  us,  when  Major  Stone  jumped  up  and  shouted — 
"  NoWgis  your  time,  boys  !  Up  and  give  it  to  them  !  "  Up  sprang 
every  man,  with  his  rifle  leveled — along  our  line  blazed  a  sheet  of 
flame,  and  down  like  ten-pins  went  the  front  ranks  of  the  rebels. — 
They  returned  our  volley  with  fearful  effect,  particularly  on  the 
right  of  our  regiment,  which  was  nearei  to  them  than  the  left. 
Our  fire  was  rapid  and  steady — theirs  slackened  not — and  for  a 
moment  or  two  it  was  doubtful  which  would  whip,  the  25th  North 
Carolina  or  the  6th  Connecticut.  But  our  boys,  true  to  their 
Northern  natures,  were  growing  cool,  and  many,  realizing  the 
value  of  every  shot,  were  stepping  to  the  front  to  take  more  de- 
liberate aim  and  obtain  better  shots.  All  of  a  sudden  the  rebels 
turned  and  broke  for  a  stonewall  about  a  rod  in  their  rear.  Our 
boys,  wide  awake  to  seize  every  advantage,  held  their  fire  for  an 
instant,  until   the  rebels  were  on  the  wall.     Many  of  them  went 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1161 

over  that  wall  with  the  impetus  of  a  bullet  in  the  rear.  The  sur. 
vivors  left  for  down  the  hill,  and  we  fell  back  behind  a  stonewall, 
where  we  waited  fifteen  minutes  for  another  regiment  to  try  us.' 
But  the  intention  seemed  to  be  to  shell  us  out,  for  we  were  under- 
going a  regular  bombardment.  Gen.  Williams,  who  was  watching 
us,  said — "  Look  at  that  5th  Connecticut — they  are  the  boys  to 
fight !  "  vSince  the  fight  I  have  heard  many  speak  of  the  gallantry 
of  our  regiment. 

'•  We  now  heard  along  our  right  wing  a  furious  cheering — not 
the  three  distinct  hearty  cheers  of  our  Northern  boys,  but  a  con- 
fused mingle  of  hoots  and  yells,  which  was  all  we  wanted  to  in. 
form  us  that  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  forcing  back  our  right 
wing.  And  according  to  instructions  we  withdrew  from  the  field 
and  commenced  our  retreat,  passing  in  good  order  through  the 
town,  though  a  murderous  fire  was  kept  up  upon  us  from  doors, 
windows,  and  behind  corners  and  fences,  by  the  citizens,  and  in 
many  cases  women  were  seen  shooting  down  our  wounded  as  they 
staggered  out  of  the  ranks.  It  was  hard  treatment  to  receive  at 
the  hands  of  those  we  had  tried  so  hard  to  please.  We  shall  re- 
member you,  Winchester.  Our  retreat  was  well  conducted — Gor- 
don's Brigade  crossing  the  river  at  Williamsport  and  Donnelly's 
at  Dam  No.  4,  six  miles  below.  The  march  was  a  tough  one — 
over  forty  miles — but  we  are  now  recruited  and  ready  for  another. 

"  Hoping  that  the  next  time  we  are  in  the  field  we  may  have  an 
enemy  only  twice  our  own  number, 

I  remain  as  ever  yours, 

Gardner  Stockman." 


"Newbern,  N.  C,  March  18,  1862. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  : — I  wrote  you  hastily  just  before  we  left 
Roanoke,  that  our  regiment  was  to  accompany  the  next  expedi- 
tion. Since  then  stirring  events  have  taken  place  about  us.  T 
have  but  little  time  at  present,  and  can  give  you  but  a  brief  ac- 
count of  what  has  transpired  during  the  interval.  The  fleet  set 
sail  on  the  morning  of  the  11th,  I  think.  Our  steamer,  the  Loui- 
siana, got  aground,  through  the  carelessness  of  her  Captain.  He 
has  previously  caused  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  both  at  Old  Point 


1162  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

and  Hatteras,  and,  at  the  latter  place,  his  steamer  was  aground  for 
a  long  time.  He  is  strongly  suspected  of  disloyalty.  It  took  as 
'many  as  a  half  dozen  small  steamers  to  pull  it  off.  General  Burn- 
side  came  alongside  on  the  Alice  Price,  and  ordered  him  in  irons. 
Once  afloat,  and  our  voyage  was  delightful ;  it  seemed  more  like 
a  pleasure  excursion  than  a  military  expedition.  We  came  to  an- 
chor on  the  12th  inst.,  several  miles  below  Newbern.  The  next 
morning,  the  troops  began  to  land,  many  of  them  in  small  boats. 
The  morning  was  beautiful,  and  the  sight  was  most  magnificent. 
It  reminded  me  of  pictures  of  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the 
British.  The  gun-boats  began  shelling  the  woods  along  the  shores 
of  the  Neuse,  early  in  the  morning.  The  last  of  our  regiment  land- 
ed about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and  before  we  slept,  we 
had  marched  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  The  roads  were  in  an 
exceedingly  bad  state ;  in  some  places  the  mud  was  almost  knee- 
deep.  The  first  object  of  interest  we  passed  was  some  rebel  bar- 
racks, but  recently  deserted  by  a  company  of  Cavalry.  We  reach- 
ed the  railroad  about  dark.  Here  the  rebels  had  erected  extensive 
earthworks.  They  were  incomplete,  however,  and  if  occupied  at 
all,  were  soon  abandoned,  on  our  approach.  During  the  after- 
noon, the  weather  had  become  damp,  and  it  was  now  raining,  but 
on  we  went,  with  commendable  zeal  and  good  spirits,  little  dream- 
ing of  the  journey  we  were  performing.  Quite  late  in  the  eve- 
ning, we  came  up  with  the  main  body  of  troops,  and  bivouaced 
in  a  piece  of  wood  only  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  battle-ground. 
I  am  told  that  a  company  of  cavalry  lay  within  a  few  hundred 
yardrt  of  us  all  night.  I  eat  a  cracker  and  an  orange;  then,  lame 
wet  and  exhausted,  folded  myself  in  a  blanket,  and  slept  until 
morning.  We  were  ordered  to  fall  in,  early  next  morning,  and 
relieve  the  51st  Pennsylvania,  in  dragging  howitzers.  Our  men 
took  hold  of  it  with  a  hearty  good  will.  Soon  after  we  started 
the  tiling  commenced — at  first,  by  only  driving  in  the  enemy's 
picket,  but  soon  after,  the  roar  and  boom  of  musketry  and  artil- 
lery, which  indicated  that  the  action  had  commenced  in  good  ear- 
nest. By  the  time  we  an'ived,  the  firing  had  become  terrific.  The 
right  wing  advanced  with  the  howitzers,  and  planted  them  to 
bear  upon  the  enemy,  under  the  direction  of  the  marines,  who 
worked  the  guns.  Then,  by  order  of  Gen.  Parke,  the  companies 
joined  the  24th  Massachusetts  and  other  regiments,  which  were 
then  under  heavy  fire,  but  soon  after  joined  the  rest  of  us.  The  left 
wing  tiled  to   the  left,  into  a  piece  of  woods  directly  in  front  of 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1163 

the  enemies'  works.  As  we  were  advancing,  a  canon  ball  struck 
just  ahead  of  our  company,  taking  oft"  a  man's  head — a  second  af- 
ter, one  struck  a  few  feet  behind  us,  and  took  off"  a  man's  leg. 
Shortly  after,  Capt.  Lee,  Co.  D,  was  killed,  and  several  of  his  men 
wounded,  by  a  shell.  The  firing  countinued  about  four  or  five 
hours — only  cne  of  (»ur  company  was  wounded.  The  stars  and 
stripes  were  planted  on  the  enemies'  breastwork  about  11^  o'clock^ 
And  then,  Oh  !  such  cheering  and  shouting !  I  shall  never  forget 
it.  It  must  have  penetrated  even  further  than  the  roar  and  din  of 
battle  had,  but  a  few  moments  before.  The  rebels  fled  in  great 
confusion  and  haste ;  in  some  of  their  camps  food  was  still  cook- 
ing, or  spread  upon  the  tables.  They  burnt  the  bridge  command- 
ing the  approach  to  Newberii,  and  set  the  city  on  fire.  Their 
force  must  have  been  about  12.000  men.  All  their  camp  equipage 
baggage,  &c.,  &c ,  was  left.  Their  works  about  Newbern  are  im- 
mense. They  have  been  worked  upon  for  twelve  months.  In 
point  of  numbers  engaged  on  our  side,  and  the  position  of  the  en- 
emy, I  consider  this  battle  second  only  to  Donaldson,  in  the  glo. 
rious  achievements  of  the  war.  Our  killed  and  wounded  were  as 
follows  : — 91  killed,  46.3  wounded.  Of  the  wounded,  some  twenty 
are  mortally  so.  I  know  nothing  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy;  pre. 
sume  it  was  equally  as  heavy.  We  have  taken  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners ;  among  them  are  some  important  persons.  The  rank 
and  file  are  the  most  wretched  looking  set  of  men  I  ever  saw — 
regular  tar  burners — their  clothes  were  very  ragged,  and  of  all 
the  colors  and  styles  you  can  imagine.  Some  carried  old  bits  of 
carpets  for  blankets.  A  large  number  of  the  rebel  killed  were 
shot  through  the  head — showing  the  deadly  aim  of  our  men.  Our 
men,  with  a  few  individual  exceptions,  acted  nobly  in  the  fight.  I 
can  hardly  say  enough  in  praise  of  the  brave  men — they  lay  down 
when  not  firing,  otherwise,  many  would  have  been  killed.  I  am 
told  by  persons  who  have  been  over  the  ground  since  the  action, 
that  the  trees  all  around  the  place  M'e  lay  are  filled  full  of  shot.  I 
am  now  enjoying  the  satisfaction  of  having  done  my  duty,  and 
iciped  out  Bull-Run.  The  country  foi"  miles  around  us  is  almost 
entirely  deserted.  The  boys  were  busy  for  a  day  or  two  in  secur. 
ing  prizes,  &c ,  I  can  assure  you.  One  of  our  men  has  a  splendid 
gold  watch  and  pencil.  I  have  a  splendid,  genuine  secession  flag, 
which  I  would  not  swap  for  all  the  rest.  I  intend  to  send  it  to 
Norfolk,  the  first  opportunity  I  have.  Won't  it  excite  a  sensation 
there,  though  ? — The  men  have  been  allowed  to  go  out  a  foraging 

21 


1164  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

quite  freely.  It  would  amuse  you  to  see  them  come  in.  Some 
will  have  a  pig  or  sheep  slung  over  his  shoulder,  and  some  come 
with  a  mule  or  horse  loaded  down  with  poultry.  Several  splendid 
horses  have  been  brought  in.  I  w^nt  out  with  a  squad,  and 
brought  in  quite  a  fine  carriage,  a  set  of  silver  plated  harnesses, 
two  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes,  twenty-five  lbs.  of  honey,  a  pot  of 
lard,  three  hens,  and  a  splendid  hair  matrass.  I  took  them  all 
from  the  house  of  a  secesh  Captain,  named  Netherby,  I  think. 
Among  other  things  which  have  come  into  our  possession,  is  a 
large  number  of  letters,  which  have  amused  us  very  greatly. 
Some  of  them  are  love  matters,  of  the  most  exquisite  nature.  You 
may  expect  to  see  some  of  them  in  the  Connecticut  papers. 

"The  slaves  here  seem  overjoyed  at  our  success,  and  avow  that 
they  never  shall  call  any  man  master  again.  I  presume  one  hund- 
red of  them  have  come  into  our  camp.  I  visited  Newbern  to-day  ; 
it  is  a  very  pretty  place.  It  looks  more  like  home  than  anything 
I  have  seen  since  I  left  Connecticut.  I  enclose  some  C.  S.  A. 
stamps.  They  may  be  a  curiosity  to  you.  Excuse  my  envelope; 
it  is  secesh  and  the  only  one  I  have. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum. 

To.  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


*'  Head  Quarters  otii  Conn.  Vols,,  ) 
Culpepper  Court  House,  Va.,  Aug.  13th,  1862.  ) 

"Dear  Father: — I  hasten  to  improve  this,  the  first  opportu- 
nity since  the  excitement  and  confusion  of  the  battle  of  Saturday, 
to  drop  you  a  line,  assuring  you  of  my  safety,  as  well  as  that  of 
Ames,  Poor  Alvord  is  missing.  He  was  in  the  charge,  and  was 
last  seen  in  the  woods,  fighting  like  a  good  fellow.  I  think  he  is 
a  prisoner — many  of  our  men  were  taken.  I  was  on  the  field, 
helping  take  care  of  the  wounded  and  bury  the  dead.  I  looked 
along  the  track  of  our  regiment,  but  could  not  find  his  body. 
Our  brigade,  (Crawford's,)  it  is  conceded  by  all,  made  a  more 
desperate  charge  than  has  hitherto  been  recorded  in  the  war. 
Our  regiment  is  all  cut  to  pieces.  Col.  Chapman  is  wounded,  and 
a  prisoner.     Major   Blake   is   dead.     Adjutant   Smith   was   shot 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1165 

through  the  head.  The  Quarter  master  is  wounded,  and  a  prisoner. 
Most  all  of  the  line  officers  are  either  killed,  wounded,  or  prison- 
ers. Lieut.  Daniels  was  shot  through  the  hip.  Lieut.  Button, 
old  Gov.  D.'s  son,  was  killed  instantly.  Co.  A.  lost  twenty-three 
men — went  into  the  battle  with  forty.  I  had  several  very  narrow 
escapes,  A  shell  burst  close  beside  me,  wounding  a  friend  seri- 
ously in  the  head. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Gardner  Stockman" 


"Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  6,  1862. 

"Dear  Friend; — Our  regiment  arrived  here  night  before  last, 
at  midnight.  We  are  bivouacing  on  the  very  identical  spot  upon 
which  the  2d  Conn,  were  encamped.  How  curious  the  comci- 
dence !  and  how  little  I  thought  when  I  left  it,  over  one  year  ago, 
to  advance  into  Va.,  that  after  a  year  of  marching,  voyages,  bat- 
tles, privations,  &c.,  tfec,  I  should  come  back  to  the  old  camp 
ground,  to  begin  anew — for  it  seems  that  our  forces  are  but  little 
advanced,  comparatively,  of  what  they  were  at  that  time.  Still  I 
have  hope  that  all  will  yet  be  well.  We  evacuated  Fredericks- 
burg on  the  31st  of  August,  burning  the  bridge  behind  us.  Our 
regiment  was  a  part  of  the  rear  guard,  and  did  not  arrive  at  Ac- 
quia  Creek,  until- the  morning  of  the  3d.  We  then  embarked,  and 
came  to  Alexandria,  where  we  arrived  the  same  day.  On  the  4th, 
we  marched  from  Alexandria  to  this  place,  arriving  here  on  the 
4th,  at  midnight.  The  rnen  are  all  well  and  in  good  spirits.  Do 
not  know  how  long  we  shall  remain  here;  probably  not  long,  as 
we  are  under  marching  orders.  I  do  not  know  where  we  are 
going.  I  am  still  in  command  of  Co.  K,  alone.  Rod  Freem.'ju  is 
ray  servant,  and  a  most  faithful  fellow  he  is,  too.  He  wishes  to 
be  remembered  to  all  the  friends  in  Woodbury,  I  am  rejoiced  to 
hear  that  the  North  are  at  last  wide  awake.  My  love  to  all. 
Please  write  me  soon.  Direct  to  Washington.  Excuse  blunders. 
Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C,  Barnum.. 

To  P.  M.  Trowbridge." 


1166  HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"Frederick  City,  Md,  Dec.  2d,  1862. 

"  Deak  Sir: — On  my  eturn  from  duty  at  "Monocacy  Junc- 
tion," where  I  waR  sent  ome  d  ys  ago — and  since  Avhich  time  I 
have  received  no  mail — I  found  your  kind  letter  of  November 
20th,  inquiring  about  the  Woodbury  boys.  It  was  necessary  for 
me  to  make  some  inquiry  in  regard  to  the  persons  you  mentioned, 
before  I  could  give  you  the  desired  information.  I  have  lost  no 
time  in  doing  so,  and  proceed  to  give  you  the  result. 

"Albert  Winton,  Myron  Bishop,  Edwin  Bishop,  Henry  M.  Daw- 
son, Richard  Spring,  and  James  Warner,  are  with  the  regiment, 
and  well. 

"  George  McCann  was  wounded  at  Cedar  Mountain — how  se- 
verely I  do  not  know.  The  last  time  I  heard  from  him,  he  was  in 
hospital  in  Alexandria.  I  understood,  at  the  time,  that  his  wounds 
were  in  the  foot,  and  not  serious — probably  his  friends  have  heard 
from  him  before  this  time. 

"  John  Ledger  was  detailed  on  signal  service  some  time  since, 
and  is  now,  probably,  with  the  advance. 

"The  complimentary  manner  in  which  you  speak  of  our  behav- 
ior is  duly  appreciated  by  all  the  boys,  and  we  hope  still  to  merit 
your  approbation.  We  have  tried,  so  far,  to  do  our  duty  manfully, 
and  whether  we  are  permitted  to  remain  in  our  present  compara- 
tively comfortable  quarters,  or  are  ordered  to  our  old  place  in  the 
battle  front,  Woodbury  shall  have  no  occasion  to  complain  of 
HER  boys, 

"  In  regard  to  your  kindly  proffer  of  assistance,  I  would  say, 
that  a  pair  or  two  of  woolen  socks  would  not  come  amiss  to  any  of 
the  boys,  as  they  are  an  article  not  to  be  obtained  here  for  money, 
even  if  we  were  supplied  with  that ;  but,  owing  to  the  dilatori- 
ness  of  the  Paymaster,  neither  "green-backs"  or  postage- 
stamps  are  very  plentiful  just  at  present. 

"  In  behalf  of  the  boys  and  myself,  I  beg  you  to  accept  our 
heartfelt  thanks  for  the  kindly  interest  manifested  in  our  welfare, 
and  assuie  you  that  it  will  not  be  forgotten  when  we  have  the  op- 
portunity to  show  our  appreciation  of  it.  Our  regiment  is  at 
present  quartered  in  the  city  of  Frederick,  and  there  is  a  jjroba- 
Ijility  of  our  remaining  here  for  some  time. 

"  I  am  too  busy  just  now  to  give  you  further  particulars  in  re- 
gard to  our  situation,  but  circumstances  permitting,  (which  must 
always  be  a  consideration  in  a  soldier's  promise,)  I  will  write  our 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1167 

mutual  friend,  Cothren,  to-morrow,  and  lie  will  of  course  give  you 
the  benefit  of  any  information  I  may  be  able  to  furnish  him. 

"  Hoping  that  this  hurried  answer  to  your  kind  letter  may  not 
discourage  you  from  writing  again,  I  remain 
Yours  truly, 

Gardner  Stockman. 
P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq.,  Woodbury,  Conn." 


"Beli.e  Plain,  Dec.  2d,  1862. 

"Mr.  Trowbridge — Dear  Sir : — Your  letter  of  the  18th  was  re- 
ceived one  week  ago,  and,  I  assure  you,  I  was  glad  to  hear  from 
you.  It  was  just  such  a  letter  as  I  like  to  get  now — a  little  sym- 
pathy, a  little  encouragement,  and  a  considerable  news.  I  was 
sorry  to  learn  that  so  many  of  our  Woodbury  boys  are  sick,  but 
do  not  think  it  strange.  I  saw  a  man  to-day  who  left  the  hospital 
at  Harper's  Ferry  last  Tuesday.  He  says  Seth  is  doing  well — that 
my  brother-in-law  from  Waterbury  had  been  to  see  him.  I  had 
learned  from  him  that  he  had  started  to  see  him,  and  would  try  to 
procure  him  a  furlough.  But,  since  Seth  was  at  the  hospital  Fri- 
day, I  conclude  he  did  not  succeed  in  getting  him  one.  I  am 
sorry,  for  I  doubt  if  he  will  be  able  to  do  much  duty  this  winter. 
Our  brigade  was  detached  from  the  division  the  next  day  after 
we  arrived  opposite  Fredericksburg,  aiid  sent  to  this  place,  which 
is  on  Potomac  Creek,  a  small  bay  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  is  about  six  miles  from  Acquia  Creek  and  twelve  from 
Fredericksburg.  Supplies  for  the  army  are  landed  here,  and  we 
act  as  guard,  and  also  unload  the  boats.  I  think  we  shall  stay 
here  a  while  longer,  but  it  is  nothing  certain.  The  army  at  Fred- 
ericksburg seems  to  have  come  to  another  stand  still,  but  I  hope 
Burnside  knows  what  he  is  about.  I  have  considerable  confidence 
in  him,  and  presume  he  has  good  reasons  for  delay.  He  has  been 
down  here  several  times,  and  goes  away  on  the  boat  to  Washing- 
ton, I  think. 

Yours  truly, 

F.  J.  Percy." 


1168  history    of    ancient   woodbukt. 

"  Camp  Opposite  Fredericksburg,  ) 
Wednesday,  Dec.  24th,  1862.  ) 

'■  Mr.  Trowbridge — Dear  Sir : — I  have  received  two  very  wel- 
come letters  from  you  since  I  wrote  you  last.  One  I  received  on 
Monday,  and  as  we  were  changing  our  camp  that  day,  and  yester- 
day we  were  fixing  our  tents  and  on  extra  duty,  I  could  not  find 
time  to  answer  it  until  to  day.  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  you, 
as  I  always  am,  for  you  write  such  cheering  news,  and  show  such 
a  spirit  of  confidence  in  God  to  support  our  arms,  that  it  does  me 
good,  especially  after  getting  defeated,  as  we  did  in  the  battle  at 
Fredericksburg. 

Our  army  suffered  terribly  in  that  battle  and  did  not  accomplish 
a  great  deal  after  all.  The  papers  try  to  smooth  it  over  now,  but 
I  tell  you  it  was  manslaughter  in  earnest.  Our  men  were  mown 
down  in  heaps,  and  many  a  home  is  now  left  desolate,  and  many 
a  heart  left  broken  and  sad  to  mourn  for  loved  ones  now  moulder- 
ing in  a  soldier's  grave. 

"  Perhaps  it  was  best  to  attack  them  here,  where  they  were  so 
strongly  fortified  ;  God  only  knows.  But  all  is  for  the  best.  Our 
regiment  was  not  in  immediate  action,  but  we  lay  under  fire,  more 
or  less,  for  four  days  and  nights.  But  one  has  died  from  wounds, 
but  some  were  wounded  slightly  from  stray  bullets  and  shells  that 
burst  in  our  .ranks.  I  came  near  losing  my  head,  but  God  in  his 
mercy  spared  me.  I  wish  I  could  write  you  a  full  detail  of  the 
battle,  but  time  will  not  permit  to-day. 

"  All  the  boys  are  well  and  send  their  best  respects  to  you.  I 
appreciate  your  kindness  to  me  in  the  past,  and  I  pray  God  to  re- 
pay you. 

Yours  truly, 

John  B.  Bunnell. 


"Camp  near  Falmouth,  Va,,  Dec.  21st,  1862. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  : — I  beg  ])ardon  for  not  writing  you  sooner 
after  the  battle,  as,  perhaps,  you  have  been  anxious  as  to  my  safe- 
ty     I  am  well  and  in  good  spirits. 

'■  Onr -regiment  crossed  the  Rappahannoc  to  Fredericksburg  on 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1109 

the  afternoon  of  the  12th  inst.,  and  that  night  bivouaced  in  the 
streets  of  the  city.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  we  were  detailed 
to  support  the  pickets  in  front  of  tlie  3d  division,  whicli  were  sta- 
tioned just  beyond  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  Col.  Stedman  re- 
ported the  regiment  for  that  purpose  to  Col.  Donoho,  10th  N.  H. 
Vols.,  commanding  the  pickets,  at  about  9^  o'clock ;  up  to  this 
time  there  had  been  a  desultory  firing  of  pickets,  although 
Franklin  was,  at  the  time,  hotly  engaged  on  the  left,  but  it  grew 
more  brisk  until  at  about  10  A.  M.,  the  engagement  became  gene- 
ral. The  picket  headquarters  were  at  a  small  house  on  an  emi- 
nence near  the  railroad,  considerably  to  our  heft,  and  within  800 
yards  of  the  rebel  breastworks.  From  this  position  we  could  ob- 
serve every  movement  on  each  side.  We  were  out  of  the  general 
range  of  fire,  and  comparatively  safe,  although,  if  too  much  ex- 
posed, the  zip  of  a  bullet  from  some  sharp  shooter's  rifle  was  sure 
to  remind  us  that,  under  the  circumstances,  "Discretion  was  the 
better  part  of  valor."  One  poor  fellow  was  hit  by  one  of  them, 
and  lost  his  leg  in  consequence.  The  position  of  the  enemy  was 
one  of  great  strength,  not  only  by  nature,  but  by  all  the  appli- 
ances of  military  science. 

"  The  ground  in  rear  of  the  city  forms  a  plateau,  or  open  plain, 
about  a  third  of  a  mile  deep,  and  then  rises  in  a  range  of  hills, 
which  abuts  at  a  deep  ravine  on  the  left.  At  the  foot  of  this  range 
of  hills  runs  a  road  flanked  by  a  stone  wall,  behind  which  the 
sharp-shooters  and  infantry  of  the  enemy  were  posted.  On  the 
crest  of  the  hill  above  were  heavy  intrenchraents,  behind  which 
powerful  cannon  are  planted,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring  an  enfi- 
lading fire  upon  our  troops,  who  must  advance  to  the  attack  over 
the  open  field  in  front,  and  still  behind  these  works  other  lines  of 
infantry  are  concealed. 

"  As  soon  as  our  men  emerged  from  the  city,  they  were  opened 
upon  with  shell,  and  as  they  eame  nearer,  by  the  infantry.  The 
first  to  advance  was  a  portion  of  Couch's  corps,  Hancock's  divis- 
ion, I  think.  The  shell  made  awful  havoc  among  them.  We 
could  see  the  men  fall,  and  flags  go  down  and  come  up  again,  and 
count  the  dead  and  wounded  behind  them,  as  they  swept  on,  by 
dozens.  I  noticed  that  the  enemy  were  careful  of  their  ammuni- 
tion  :  they  would  reserve  their  fire  until  our  men  were  within 
short  range,  and  then  deliver  it  with  terrible  eflTect. 

"  At  about  noon,  the  Irish  brigade  made  an  attempt  to  dislodge 
the  enemy  from  their  breastworks.     It  came  across  the  plain  in 


11 70  UISTORYOP     AXCIENT     WOODBUET. 

splendid  style,  and  charged  upon  the  works  most  gallantly ;  but, 
besides  artillery,  they  were  met  by  two  lines  of  infantry,  one 
above  another,  and  were  repulsed.  They  fell  back  in  some  con- 
fusion, but  were  soon  rallied,  at  a  depression  in  the  ground,  where 
they  held  their  own.  The  first  brigade  of  our  division  were  en- 
gaged about  sunset.  It  was  under  fire  only  about  half  an  hour, 
and  lost  400  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  14th,  there  was  no  gen- 
eral engagement,  but  picket  firing  and  occasional  cannonading 
was  kept  up  all  day.  On  the  morning  of  that  day  it  was  announ- 
ced that  the  9th  army  corps  was  to  charge  upon  the  enemies  works 
in  colunm  by  reginients.  The  11th  was  to  go  in  advance  of  the 
column,  and  do  the  skirmishing.  But  Sunday  passed,  and  no  fight- 
ing took  place ;  why,  I  do  not  know.  I  believe  it  would  have 
been  successful,  although  attended  with  an  immense  loss  of  life. 
On  t1>e  night  of  the  15th,  we  recrossed  the  river,  and  reached  our 
old  camp,  which  had  been  left  standing,  before  midnight. 

"  I  am  rejoiced  to  see  that  the  public  do  not  blame  our  beloved 
General  Burnside.,  for  we  think  that  he  did  everything  that  lay  in 
his  power,  and  that  too,  with  a  vigilance,  piomptness  and  gallant- 
ry, which  reflect  great  honor  upon  him.  It  is  said  that  he  did  not 
want  to  advance  at  the  time  he  did,  and  thought  that  to  do  so 
would  result  only  in  slaughter,  but  was  ordered  to  do  so  by  the 
President.  The  sequel  proved  his  superior  wisdom.  Oh !  when 
will  citizens  learu  to  mind  their  own  business  and  leave  military 
matters  to  military  men  ?  This  has  been  a  drawback  to  our  cause 
ever  since  the  rebellion  commenced.  I  believe  we  should  have 
conquered  the  rebels  ere  this,  if  we  had  had  a  straight  out  and  out 
military  dictator.  For  my  part,  I  am  tired  of  this  useless  sacri- 
fice of  life.  I  feel  a  strong  devotion  to  my  country.  I  am  wil- 
ling to  undergo  any  privation  or  sacrifice,  even  to  that  of  my  life, 
to  establish  its  union  and  maintain  its  honor,  but  I  do  not  like  to 
throw  my  life  away  at  the  caprice,  of  those  who  do  not  under- 
stand the  movements  and  welfare  of  any  army. 

"The  right  grand  division  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  Sumner  this 
A  M.  Our  regiment  was  especially  complimented  by  the  Gen. 
for  its  neatness  and  soldierly  appearance. 

Yours  afi*ectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum." 

To  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  llYl 

"Camp  of  ]  Itii  Conn.  Vols.  } 
Dec.  11th,  1862,  7  o'clock  P.  M-  f 

"  My  Dear  Friend  : — Just  as  I  predicted  last  night,  we  awoke 
this  morning  to,  the  music  of  cannon.  At  precisely  5  o'clock  A.  M- 
the  sullen  boom  of  a  heavy  gun  sounded  out  upon  the  morning 
air,  and  opened  the  ball. 

Our  troops  are  in  Fredericksburg,  and  the  city  is  in  ruins  and 
burning.  At  an  early  hour  this  morning  our  Engineers  commen- 
ced throwing  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the  river  at  a  point  near  the 
city,  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  rebels  from  houses  and  breast- 
works. It  was  found  impossible  to  accomplish  the  work,  as  our 
men  were  picked  off  by, sharp-shooters  as  often  as  they  came  in 
sight.  Consequently,  our  batteries  opened  upon  the  city,  to  dis- 
lodge the  rebels,  and  continued  it,  with  intervals,  until  sundown. 
The  cannonading  has  been  the  most  terrific  and  rapid  I  have  ever 
heard.  It  seemed  to  be,  sometimes,  by  volleys,  which  would  jar 
the  ground  for  miles.  Considerable  difficulty  occurred  in  dislodg- 
ing some  rebel  sharp-shooters  from  rifle-pits  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  as  our  gunners  could  not  depress  their  guns  enough 
to  touch  them.  It  was  accomplished,  however,  by  a  most  daring 
and  heroic  exploit  of  some  fifty  brave  soldiers  of  the  Yth  Mich., 
who  went  .across  on  two  pontoons,  lying  on  their  backs  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  boats,  and  exposing  only  their  hands  in  rowing,  and 
wlio  charged  upon  the  pits  on  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  The 
last  plank  of  the  bridge  was  laid  at  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.  I  pre- 
sume others  will  soon  be  laid.  Our  troops  are  now  passing  over. 
We  have  been  under  orders  all  day,  and  are  now  ordered  to  be 
ready  to  move  early  in  the  morning. 

''  This  is  the  first  instance  of  the  shelling  of  a  city  during  the 
war.  Everybody  is  pleased  with  the  way  in  which  Burnside  con- 
ducts aftairs.  It  seems  as  if  war  was  being  waged  sternly  and  in 
earnest.  I  admire  him,  too,  for  demanding  the  removal  of  Gen. 
Meigs.  I  believe  McClellan's  failures  have  been  occasioned  more 
by  such  blunders,  as  for  instance  the  delay  of  the  pontoon,  tfcc, 
and  his  failure  to  remedy  matters,  than  his  own  incompetency. 
Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum. 

To  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


11V2  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"Camp  11th  Conn.  Vols.,  ) 
0pp.  Fredericksbug,  Va.  ) 

"My  Dear  Friend: — Yours  of  the  28th  inst.  came  to  hand 
this  A.  M.  I  imagine  that  your  mail  facilities  -must  be  rather 
poor,  as  I  have  written  you  at  least  two  letters,  and  one  to  Rod., 
since  the  battle.  I  am  quite  well,  and  very  busy,  as  it  is  now  the 
end  of  the  year,  and  there  are  several  reports  to  be  made  out — 
which  involves  a  good  deal  of  labor. 

"  You  ask  Avhat  I  think  of  being  whipt.  I  confess  we  were. 
We  TThust  try  again  !  I  am  not  disheartened,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, feel  more  like  fighting  and  dying  than  ever.  I  don't  care 
to  live  to  see  my  coiintry  succumb  to  rebels.  I  amire  Gen.  Burn- 
side  most  ardently.  I  love  him.  I  think,  with  a  smaller  force,  he 
would  be  much  more  brilliant  and  successful.  With  his  present 
army  he  nohly  confesses  his  want  of  capacity.  I  am  inclined  to 
the  belief  that  "Little  Mac"  is  the  man. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum. 

To  Philo  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


"  Camp  of  11th  Conn.  Vols.,  ) 
Opposite  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Nov.  27th,  1862.  \ 

My  Dear  Friend  : — It  is  Thanksgiving  in  Conn,  to-day,  and  I 
have  been  thinking  of  you  constantly,  and  I  need  not  say  how 
often  I  have  wished  I  were  with  you  to  enjoy  it.  There  are  so 
many  pleasing  associations  clustering  about  the  day,  that  it  has 
always  seemed  to  me  one  of  the  happiest  of  the  year.  Bright 
visions  of  your  festivities  have  flitted  before  me  to-day,  until  I 
have  almost  imagined  myself  there  in  reality.  And  thus  it  is  I 
often  derive  great  satisfaction  in  the  thought  of  the  happiness  of 
friends  at  home.  You  must  not  imagine,  however,  that  I  am  want- 
ing in  the  comforts  of  life;  on  the  contraiy,  I  have  enjoyed  a 
sumptuous  dinner  to-day,  prepared  by  the  cook  of  our  mess,  and 
at  which  Col.  Harland  (our  Brigadier)  and  Surgeon  Warner  of  the 
16th  were  guests.  I  enjoyed  it,  but  felt  almost  guilty  at  the 
thought,  that  the  men  of  the  regiment  had  notliing  but  hard  crack- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  llVS 

ers  and  "salt  junk,"     The  rank  and  file  are  the  ones  who  make 
the  greatest  sacrifices,  after  all. 

"  Our  array  has  been  lying  here  for  more  than  a  week.  No  one 
knows  when  or  where  it  will  move  next.  The  rebels  are  in  con- 
siderable force  on  the  other  side.  Their  camps  are  plainly  visible 
from  a  point  near  our  camp,  and  the  pickets  of  the  two  armies 
often  converse  with  each  other,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock. 

"  Poor  Rod.  has  been  quite  sick  with  a  fever,  and  has  suffered 
much.  He  is  now  better,  and  I  hope  will  be  M^ell  soon.  If  he  is 
not,  I  shall  try  to  send  him  home  to  recruit. 

"You  wish  me  to  tell  what  position  I  occupy,  &c.  I  am  at 
present  acting  as  Adjutant.  The  Adjutancy  is  a  Staff  appoint- 
ment, and  a  very  desirable  situation.  His  business  is  to  make  all 
reports,  &c.  of  the  regiment,  write,  publish,  and  copy  all  orders, 
attend  to  the  officers'  correspondence,  and  in  the  field  to  form  the 
regiment  and  assist  in  maneuvering  it ;  also,  to  mount  the  guard. 
I  am  entitled  to  a  horse,  and  many  other  privileges,  which  I  could 
not  otherwise  have.  Besides,  I  very  much  enjoy  the  society  with 
which  it  brings  me  in  contact.  Col.  Stedman  has  told  me  that  he 
should  be  pleased  to  have  me  remain  where  I  am,  but,  at  any  time 
I  wish  to  go  in  the  line,  I  can  have  a  captaincy.  My  present  rank 
is  that  of  1st  Lieutenant. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum. 

To  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


"Camp  of  11th  Conn.  Vols.,  Dec.  10th,  1862. 

"My  Dear  Friend: — I  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  4th 
inst.  last  evening.  I  am  surprised  to  know  that  you  have  received 
but  one  letter  from  me  since  the  battle.  I  am  confident  of  having 
written  more. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  that  my  silence  has  occasioned  you  any  anxiety 
on  my  account,  for,  I  assure  you,  my  health  was  never  better  than 
now,  and  although  exposed  to  the  fatigues  and  exposures  of  the 
march  through  Virginia,  I  not  only  survived  it,  but  really  quite 
enjoyed  it.  If  a  person  is  in  good  health,  there  is  always  some- 
thing to  interest  one  on  a  march. 


1174  niSTOBY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"I  am  still  with  the  field  and  staiF,  aud  enjoy  it  very  much,  not 
only  as  it  is  just  in  my  line  of  business,  (writing,)  but  it  brings 
me  into  a  very  refined  circle  of  society,  under  the  influences  of 
which  I  feel  that  I  am  improving.  I  can  give  you  no  definite  direc- 
tions about  the  box  of  which  you  write,  as  it  is  announced  this  af- 
ternoon that  the  troops  will  move  to-morrow  morning,  at  daylight. 
Stirring  scenes  are  ahead.  While  I  write,  the  rumbling  of  wagons, 
&c.,  betokens  preparation  for"  the  coming  contest.  We  may  awake 
to-morrow  morning  to  the  music  of  cannon.  Pontoon  bridges 
have,  I  understand,  been  thrown  across  the  river  at  points  below 
this  place,  and  one  is  being,  or  is  to  be  thrown  across  at  a  point 
near  Falmouth.  Over  these  bridges  I  suppose  the  troops  are  to 
make  a  simultaneous  attempt  to  croSvS.  Of  course  opposition  is 
expected ;  the  battle  may  be  severe  and  critical ;  I  am  inclined  to 
think  it  will.  The  9th  army  corps  are  the  first  to  attempt  a  cross- 
ing at  Falmouth. 

"  This  seems  to  me  a  critical  period.  Great  events  may  be 
hanging  on  the  issues  of  the  next  few  days.  God  grant  that  our 
cause  may  triumph  this  time.  A  good  deal  of  curiosity  is  felt 
here  in  regard  to  the  destination  of  Banks.  I  hope  it  will  be  as 
you  suggest,  to  operate  with  us  in  another  direction. 

"  May  be  you  would  like  to  know  what  my  feelings  are  in  re- 
gard to  the  prospect  of  a  fight.  I  assure  you  they  are  noae  of 
those  ever  described  as  "  spoiling  for  a  fight."  I  would  much 
rather  the  thing  be  accomplished  without  the  shedding  of  a  single 
drop  of  blood,  but  if  it  is  to  be  otherwise,  I  desire  to  meet  it 
squarely,  coolly  and  bravely. 

"The  experiences  of  "  Newberne,"  "South  Mountain,"  and 
"  Antietam,"  have  taught  me  that  there  is  an  awful  reality  to  be 
sternly  met. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Samuel  C.  Barnum. 

To  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq." 


A  few  extracts  from  the  diary  of  Ammi  F.  Hall,  Co.  G.,  Ist  Conn. 
Heavy  Artillery,  are  here  given,  in  lieu  of  a  description  of  the 
Seven  Days  Battles  and  retreat  of  Gen.  McClellan. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  11*75 

"On  the  27th  of  June,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  a  cold 
rain  storm,  we  formed  a  line ;  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges  were 
given  to  each  man,  and  one  days  rations.  We  immediately  start- 
ed on  a  forced  march  to  Hanover.  We  had  gone  twelve  miles, 
when  we  halted  long  enough  for  the  engineers  to  build  a  rough 
bridge  over  a  small  river.  This  being  accomplished,  the  order 
'Double-quick,' was  given,  and  away  we  hastened,  with  our  ac- 
customed vigor,  for  the  scene  of  action,  which  the  booming  can- 
non told  us  had  already  commenced.  On  our  approach  to  the 
battle-field,  we  found  a  part  of  Gen.  Porter's  Division,  which  had 
marched  by  another  road,  and  was  nearly  an  hour  ahead  of  us, 
had  engaged  the  rebels.  Our  regiment  was  immediately  deployed 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  woods  on  the  Hanover  Court  House 
Road,  but  they  retired  on  our  approach.  Then  we  gave  three 
Yankee  cheers,  and  commenced  the  pursuit  on  the  turnpike  to 
Hanover,  when  orders  to  countermarch  were  given,  in  order  to 
repel  an  attack  of  the  enemy  on  our  left  and  rear.  The  advance 
of  the  brigade  was  much  impeded  by  the  artillery  and  ambulance 
trains,  and  the  column  thus  became  broken.  For  a  few  minutes 
all  was  confusion  and  excitement,  and  the  left  became  the  front. 
Our  regiment  was  deployed  and  entered  the  woods  on  the  right, 
to  prolong  the  attacking  line  in  that  direction.  At  this  moment^ 
Col.  Robert  Tyler  sprang  forward  and  said, '  Now  boys,  you  that  are 
not  afraid  of  blood,  follow  me.'  Instantly,  a  line  of  shining  bayo- 
nets were  leveled,  and  we  charged  through  the  woods  like  a  deadly 
avalanch.  The  enemy  were  swept  from  before  us,  and  were  ut- 
terly routed  and  dispersed.  We  took  hundreds  of  prisoners,  and 
the  victory  was  complete.  The  red  sun  sank  below  the  horizon, 
retiring  from  that  scene  of  horror  and  devastation,  as  if  in  sor- 
row for  the  fallen  dead.  The  picture  of  the  cold  and  lifeless  bod. 
ies  of  tb.e  slain  will  ever  remain  a  perpetual  vision.  The  low, 
mournful  ci-ics  of  the  wounded,  an<l  the  i)cnitent  confessions  of 
the  dying  rebels,  as  they  prayed  for  mercy  at  the  hands  of  God, 
will  forever  ring  in  my  ears.  It  was  a  painful  task  to  labor  with 
those  sufterers,  to  hear  their  penitent  confessions,  and  witness 
their  sad  gratitude.  But  the  saddest  thought  of  all  was,  that  af- 
ter all  their  brave  fighting,  they  could  not  have  the  consolation  of  a 
heroic  death  in  the  defence  of  the  right,  but  must  lie  down  in  a  sol- 
dier's grave  with  tlie  brand  of  traitors  upon  their  memories.  Dark- 
ness soon  covered  the  field,  and  the  men  were  so  weary  tliat  many 
sank  down  on  the  field,  unable  to  keep  their  places  in  the  ranks. 


1176  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

When  the  order  '  Rest,' was  given,  each  sought  his  chum,  his 
dearest  friend  and  comrade,  and  they  together  sank  down  upon 
the  cold,  wet,  bloody  gnnind,  without  food,  without  covering,  and 
without  other  shelter  than  the  broad  canopy  of  Heaven  !  Once, 
during  the  night,  I  awoke,  but  only  to  withdraw  my  feet  from  a 
puddle  of  water,  benumbed,  and  nearly  frozen.  In  a  moment,  I 
was  asleep  again,  and  did  not  awake  the  second  time,  till  the  sun 
had  long  been  looking  down  upon  us. 

"Foraging  parties  were  sent  out  in  search  of  food.  They  returned 
at  noon,  with  several  of  the  enemies'  waggons  loaded  with  meal 
and  bacon,  which  was  equally  shared  by  the  whole  regiment.  In 
the  afternoon  we  buried  the  dead.  Twenty-five  North  Carolina 
soldiers  we  buried  in  one  grave.  At  three  o'clock  Gen.  McClel- 
lan  appeared  upon  the  field,  and  was  greeted  with  great  enthu- 
siasm. 

"  On  the  29th  we  went  towards  Ashland,  on  a  reconnoisance, — 
found  the  enemy  in  force,  and  returned  to  camp  at  noon.  At  sun- 
down we  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  camp  at  Old  Church.  The 
night  was  very  dark,  the  road  rough  and  muddy,  and  the  regiment 
was  scattered  along  a  distance  of  six  miles.  I  reached  camp  at 
one  o'clock  in  the  night,  and  sought  my  tent  for  repose. 

"On  the  31st  we  started  fur  Cold  Harbor,  marched  five  miles, 
when  the  order  to  countermarch  was  given.  We  had  nearly 
reached  Old  Church,  when  the  order  to  countermarch  was  again 
given,  and  we  reached  Cold  Harbor  at  twelve  o'clock.  At  one, 
the  constant  roar  of  cannon,  and  the  fierce  rattle  of  musketry, 
told  us  a  terrible  battle  Avas  in  progress.  Orders  came  to  '  fall  in,' 
We  stacked  arms,  and  awaited  further  orders.  The  battle  contin. 
ued  during  the  afternoon,  and  was  renewed  next  day.  Still  nearer 
and  nearer  sounded  the  roar  of  artillery,  bringing  to  our  practiced 
ears  the  sad  and  silent  foreboding  of  defeat.  Between  us  and  the 
combatants  lay  a  dark,  deep,  rapidly  flowing  river.  The  bridge 
had  been  swept  away  by  the  late  freshet.  It  was  madness 
to  attempt  to  cross  it,  and  rush  to  the  rescue  of  our  defeat- 
ed and  retreating  array.  We  did  not  know,  at  the  time,  that  this 
was  the  great  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  which,  recorded  on  the  page  of 
history,  fills  the  hearts  of  loyal  people  with  shame  and  indigna- 
tion On  Monday  morning  we  marched  to  Banes'  Mill,  and  re- 
mained  there  till  the  25th  of  June,  doing  picket  duty  in  the  Chiok- 
ahomany  swamps.  The  pickets  were  in  no  wise  friendly.  A  con- 
tinual fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides,  and  not  an  hour  passed,  in 


HISTORY     OF     AN  (J  IK  NT     WOODBUKY.  1177 

wliich  some  of  our  soldiers  did  not  full  by  the  enemies  bullets. 
We  were  often  compelled  to  stand  in  water  up  to  our  waists,  and 
behind  trees,  to  avoid  the  bullets  of  the  hostile  riflemen.  Al- 
though suffering  from  constant  exposures,  the  bites  of  muscjuitoes 
and  other  poisonous  insects,  in  these  dismal  swamps,  still  we  were 
not  discouraged,  for  we  well  knew  the  value  of  every  incli  of 
ground  we  then  occupied. 

"On  the  13th  of  June,  we  had  a  chase  after  Stuart's  cavalry, 
which  I  shall  not  soon  forget.  It  was  four  in  the  afternoon  when 
we  stai'ted,  leaving  everything  behind  that  would  impede  a  rapid 
march.  At  11  o'clock  we  halted  at  Old  Church,  where  we  slept 
upon  our  arms  for  the  night.  Early  in  the  morning  we  were  on 
their  track.  Baggage  and  Sutler's  wagons  were  left  smoking  all 
along  our  route.  ^Vt  one  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  Tunstall'a 
station.  On  our  approach  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  could 
easily  be  seen  disappearing  over  a  high  hill.  The  schooners  in 
the  river  were  all  ablaze,  and  the  cars  at  the  station  were  on  fire. 
Our  cavalry  advanced  in  rapid  pursuit,  but  the  enemy  succeeded 
in  safely  crossing  the  Chickahommany,  having  gone  entirely 
around  McClellan's  army,  which  event  caused  not  a  little  com- 
ment throughout  the  camps.  We  i-eturned  next  day  to  camp, 
nearly  starved,  and  (juite  disgusted  with  our  long  and  fruitless 
pursuit. 

"  On  June  25th,  we  marched  to  Seven  Pines,  over  the  battle- 
field of  Fair  Oaks,  which  had  not  lost  the  traces  of  the  late  fierce 
conflict.  The  smell  of  human  blood  was  sickening  in  the  ex- 
treme. Unburied  bodies  of  friend  and  foe  lay  in  the  woods  and 
swamps  around  us,  and  from  the  long,  shallow  trenches,  where  a 
portion  of  the  dead  were  buried,  heads,  hands,  and  feet  protruded 
sad  relics  of  hideous  war.  We  immediately  took  position  in  Gen 
Hooker's  division,  with  our  cannon,  150  yards  from  the  enemy's 
picket  line.  It  was  evident  that  more  work  was  near  at  hand. 
Whole  brigades  and  divisions  stood  in  battle  array — horses  in. 
harness,  and  baggage  wagons  loaded,  ready  for  pursuit  or  retreat. 
Here  we  stood  by  our  guns  four  days.  In  one  day  and  night,  the 
enemy,  in  feeble  force,  charged  ten  times  upon  our  battery.  At^ 
uight,  I  stretched  myself  upon  one  of  the  guns,  and  had  a  long, 
sweet  rest.  A  shell  bursting  over  my  heard,  brc^ight  me  to  my 
feel.  This  was  a  signal  for  a  night  attack — m«st  dreaded  — 
most  feared  by  the  soldier.  But  the  rebels  were  drawn  back  to 
their  works,  after  a  short,  but  fierce  conflict.     This  was,  with  us, 


1178  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  commencement  of  the  Seven  Days  Battle.  The  heavy  boom- 
ing of  cannon  on  our  right  told  too  plainly,  that  the  anticipated 
and  dreaded  hour  had  arrived. 

"  Saturday  night — and  the  battle  fiercely  rages.  The  soldiers 
look  around  on  each  other  in  silence  and  solicitude.  Half  an  hour 
later,  we  were  marching  with  all  our  guns  and  baggage,  in  the 
darkness,  and  on  an  unknown  route.  'This,' said  a  comrade  jo- 
cosely, '  do'nt  look  much  like  the  road  to  Richmond,'  as  we  strug- 
gled on  over  stumps  and  holes,  through  swamps,  and  over  sleep- 
ing comrades  by  the  way,  till  we  halted  at  Savage  Station.  We 
stretched  ourselves  upon  the  ground,  and  slept,  for  the  remainder 
of  the  night.  In  the  morning,  a  long,  dull,  heavy  report,  brought 
us  to  our  feet.  Hundreds  of  tons  of  ammunition  were  being  de- 
stroyed. Everything  that  would  burn  was  all  in  flames.  Infantry, 
cavalry,  artillery,  ambulances  and  baggage  wagons,  were  all  hur- 
rying along  at  the  top  of  their  speed.  '  Retreat,'  whispers  one. 
'  Retreat,'  says  another.  '  Retreat,'  sounded  through  the  faltering 
ranks,  and  at  once  the  horrible  truth  flashed  upon  us,  that  Mc- 
Clellan  and  all  his  army  were  in  full  retreat. 

"  We  marched  ten  miles  that  day,  and  halted  at  White  Oak 
swamp,  where  the  various  parts  of  the  regiment  met  together. 
We  placed  our  sixty  siege  heavy  guns  in  line,  fearing  the  pursu- 
ing enemy.  Then  we  had  a  few  hours  in  which  to  rest  our  stif- 
fened limbs.  Most  of  the  men  were  lying  on  the  ground,  sleep- 
ing, eating,  reading  or  writing,  when  the  startling  cry — '  The  reb- 
els are  coming,'  rang  through  the  camp.  A  wild  rush  of  soldiers 
followed,  and  in  twenty  minutes  the  regiment  stood  by  its  guns 
in  battle  line-  No  rebels  appeared,  however,  and  the  men  broke 
ranks  again. 

"On  Monday  morning  we  resumed  our  march  again.  But  be- 
ing somewhat  fatigued,  and  the  trains  being  urged  on  at  an  unu- 
sual speed,  we  had  the  privilege  of  riding  on  the  guns.  The  ex- 
citement grew  more  intense,  and  soon  we  found  ourselves  wliirl- 
ing  through  the  air  for  some  destination  unknown  to  us,  where 
we  could  find  protection.  At  length  we  emerged  from  the  dark 
pine  forests,  into  a  large  field  of  wheat.  Far  oflT  in  the  distance 
flowed  the  James,  rolling  on  in  all  its  majesty,  and  through  its 
murky  waters  plowed  our  gunboats,  the  terror  of  the  rebel  Con- 
federacy. Food,  water,  rest  awaited  us,  as  we  struggled  through 
the  tangled  wheat.  The  order,  *  Halt,'  wa^  given,  and  '  gopher 
like,' we  made  a  fierce  attack  upon  the  wheat  fiell.   I  filled  ray  cap 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1179 

with  wheat,  which  I  boiled,  and,  in  less  than  twenty  rainuteB,  sat 
down  to  a  repast,  which  has  seldom  if  ever,  during  my  soldier  ex- 
perience, been  excelled. 

"  Next  in  the  programme  of  the  Great  Secession  Rebellion,  oc- 
curred the  memorable  battle  of  Malvern  Hill.  Three  hundred 
cannon  in  three  lines  of  battle  hurled  their  deadly  missiles  through 
the  mad  columns  of  the  advancing  foe.  The  long,  fearful,  dread- 
ed yell,  the  wild  shout,  the  roar  of  musketry,  and  the  sharp  clash 
of  glistening  steel,  as  the  columns  surged  to  and  fro  in  the  bloody 
charge,  in  this  battle,  can  never  be  appreciated  except  by  those 
who  heai'd  and  saw  them.  The  rebel  charge  was  terrific,  but  by 
the  aid  of  our  gun-boats,  they  were  driven  back,  and  we  quietly 
settled  down  on  the  banks  of  the  James.  But  we  were  not 
to  remain  here  long.  A  cold,  drizzling  rain  was  descending, 
when,  in  silence  and  thick  darkness,  we  hurried  along  the  river  at 
twelve  o'clock  at  night,  and  halted  at  Harrison's  Landing.  I  was 
very  weary,  and  threw  myself  under  a  gun,  my  knapsack  for  a 
pillow,  and  settled  down  in  the  deep  mud.  The  enemy  also  took 
advantage  of  the  darkness,  and  returned,  disappointed  and  de- 
feated, to  their  capital,  leaving  a  sutficient  force  to  deceive  our 
army,  and    compel  it  to  act  on  the  defensive. 

"  The  Woodbury  boys  represented  in  this  '  Retreat,'  in  our  re- 
giment, were  Walter  Whitlock,  William  H.  Proctor,  Daniel 
Banks  and  myself,  William  Whitlock  and  Perry  Lake,  were  in 
hospital — elsewhere.'  " 

Woodbury  pluck  was  well  displayed  during  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ei'icksburg,  under  Gen.  Burnside  It  became  necessary  to  lay 
pontoon  bridges  across  the  Rappahannock  river,  to  reach  the  city. 
The  boats  had  been  successfully  secured  across  the  river.  Volun- 
teers were  wanted  to  lay  the  plank  upon  them,  so  that  the  sol- 
diers could  cross,  and  a  hundred  volunteers  were  called  for  from 
the  regiment.  Rebel  sharp-shooters  from  rifle-pits  directly  in 
front,  made  it  almost  certain  death  for  men  to  engage  in  this  un- 
dertaking. But,  instantly,  upon  the  call  to  undertake  the  hazar- 
dous enterprize,  four  Woodbury  men  stepped  from  the  ranks  to 
express  their  willingness  to  go,  were  accepted,  and  went  with  the 
one  hundred,  more  than  half  of  whom  never  returned  from  their 
patriotic  hazard,  but  neither  of  the  Woodbury  boys  were  harmed, 
though  150  of  our  cannon,  and  a  greater  number  of  the  rebels 
were  playing  over  their  heads  during  the  time  occupied  in  this 
duty,  and  the  bullets  of  the  sharp-shooters  fell  like  rain  upon  them* 

22 


1180  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Several  times  they  were  obliged  to  desist,  but  they  persevered, 
laid  their  bridge,  and  the  uaion  army  passed  over  to  deadly  com- 
bat. A  more  sublime  picture  than  the  heroic  undertaking  of 
these  brave  men,  could  not  be  portrayed  to  the  apprehensions  of 
the  least  imaginative.  The  names  of  these  heroic  young  men  de- 
serve an  honorable  place  in  history.  They  were  John  E.  Juttle, 
Charles  S,  Buell,  John  Bunnell  and  Charles  Cosier, 

The  soldier's  life  is  one  of  hardship,  suffering,  pain  and  death, 
never  to  be  appreciated  by  the  civilian.  But  it  has  its  bright 
spots,  its  enjoyments,  and  its  ludicrous  incidents.  The  history  of 
a  soldier's  experience  would  not  be  complete,  nor  would  a  history 
of  the  incidents  of  the  war  be  complete,  unless  some  of  these 
were  recounted,  A  few  specimens,  therefore,  of  this  sort  of  ad- 
venture will  be  inserted  here. 

Among  the  early  volunteers  of  1861,  in  the  Rev.  Capt.  William's 
Co.  G.  4th  Conn.  Volunteers,  afterwai-ds  the  Ist  Heavy  Artillery, 
were  Ammi  F.  Hull  and  Walter  Whitlock.  All  through  their 
four  years'  service,  they  were  the  most  intimate  of  friends.  They 
were  always  together  in  camp  or  in  battle.  Hull  tells  the  follow- 
ing incident  in  regard  to  Whitlock,  which  occurred  early  in  1862, 
— before  the  regiment  had  seen  much  service. 

"  One  night  when  the  enemy  were  keeping  up  a  continual  fire 
on  us,  several  of  their  shell  struck  in  our  battery.  No  one  was 
seriously  injured,  but  one  man,  an  intimate  friend  of  mine,  Corpo- 
ral Walter  Whitlock,  got  such  a  fright  as  he  will  never  forget. 
It  was  past  midnight,  cold,  and  dark,  and  we  were  sitting  on  the 
ground,  around  a  large  fire,  trying  to  warm  our  stiffened  limbs, 
when  we  were  suddenly  disturbed  by  the  gruff  command — '  Fall 
in,  G,  Co.  detail ;  Fall  in  I  The  Major  will  come,  and  find  we 
have  done  nothing.  Fall  in  G.'  At  the  last  command  to  fall  in, 
a  large  bomb  shell  came  crashing  through  the  woods,  and  burst 
directly  over  our  heads.  When  all  was  over,  we  arose  from  the 
ground,  which  we  had  been  hugging  pretty  closely,  and  looked 
around  for  our  worthy  corporal.  But  nothing  could  be  seen  of 
him  except  his  head,  rising  above  the  mud  and  water  in  the  creek. 
We  pulled  him  out,  carried  him  to  the  fire,  and  he  soon  recovered 
80  that  he  could  recall  his  last  command  iofall  in.  But  he  never 
would  confess  how  he  came  in  the  creek.  If  he  willingly  chose 
that  for  a  hiding  place,  he  would  be  perfectly  secure  from  harm 
— except  his  head.  But  we  could  not  with  consistency  obey  his 
oom  g  and  to  fall  in  as  he  did.     A  better,  or  a  braver  soldier,  how- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1181 

ever,  never  marched  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  Army,  In  camp, 
in  sieges,  in  battles,  amid  the  ocean's  terrific  storms,  on  long  and 
weary  marches,  he  was  ever  my  firm,  true  and  constant  friend." 

"  One  night,"  says  Corporal  Hull,  "  we  were  on  picket  duty, 
and  captured  a  rebel  spy.  He  was  on  horseback,  and  attempted 
to  run  by  our  picket-post.  But  a  bullet  whistleing  past  his  ears, 
brought  him  to  his  senses,  and  he  wisely  concluded  that  '  discre- 
tion was  the  better  part  of  valor,'  and  exclaimed — '  Now,  Yanks, 
you  uns  won't  kill  me  if  1  halt.,  will  you  ?'  At  that  moment  a 
bullet  in  the  horse's  leg  brought  horse  and  rider  to  the  ground — 
and  there  was  an  end  of  the  parley." 

When  the  Massachusetts  8th  Regiment,  under  command  of 
General  Biitler,  marched  to  the  defence  of  Washington,  after  the 
brutality  practiced  on  the  6th  Massachusetts,  in  Baltimore,  it  will 
be  remembered  it  went  by  water  around  that  city.  At  this  time 
a  "  curious"  phenomenon  occurred.  Some  men  in  the  regiment, 
who  had  fine  voices,  and  there  were  many  such,  had  been  singing, 
with  all  that  delicious  efiect  that  music  at  sea  produces,  several  of 
the  finest  psalms  in  the  liturgy.  The  ocean  softens  and  delicately 
repeats  sound,  and  those  airs  trembled  along  the  almost  unrippled 
surface  of  the  sea.  While  they  were  singing,  the  moon  swung 
clear  into  the  air,  and  round  her  white  disk  were  seen  three  cir- 
cles, clear  and  distinct,  red^  lohite  and  blue !  The  omen  was 
caught  by  common  instinct,  and  a  thousand  cheers  went  up  to  that 
heaven  that  seemed,  in  its  visible  signs,  to  manifest  the  approval 
of  the  cause  in  which  they  who  witnessed  it  were  engaged. 

For  the  first  year  or  two  of  the  war,  there  was  a  peace  party, 
so  called,  in  the  North,  of  considerable  numbers.  An  amusing 
adaptation  of  sacred  poetry,  in  this  connection,  is  told  of  a  good 
old  lady.  She  had  been  for  sometime  listening  to  a  discussion 
between  two  gentlemen  on  this  question  of  peace.  Finally,  one  of 
them,  somewhat  excitedly,  insisted,  that  the  salvation  of  the 
country  depended  upon  the  efforts  of  this  small  peace  party.  The 
old  lady  instantly  held  up  both  hands,  and  exclaimed 

"  Oh  Lord!  on  what  a  slender  thread 
Hangs  everlasting  things  !  " 

While  one  of  our  Woodbury  soldiers  was  serving' in  Arkansas, 
he  was  one  day  doing  picket  duty.  While  thus  engaged,  a  silver- 
haired  old  man,  some  eighty-five  years  of  age,  addressed  him,  and 
desired  to  pass  his  post.     The  soldier  at  once  asked  him  where  he 


1182 


HISTORY     OP    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


was  going.     "  I  am  on  ray  way  to  Heaven,"  solemnly  replied  the 
old  man.     "  Well,"  said  the  soldier,  much  amused,  "  If  you   have 

been  on  your  way  to  Heaven  all  the 
time  till  you  have  reached  your 
present  age,  and  have  got  no  fur- 
ther on  your  journey  than  Arkan- 
sas, you  may  pass  ;  I  would  not  like 
to  hinder  you.  But  I  shall  try  some 
other  route  !  " 

When  the  war  broke  out,  our  en- 
tire people  were  engaged  in  the  arts 
of  peace.  Though  people  of  all  con_ 
[^  ditions  rushed  into  the  military  ser_ 
^  vice,  at  the  call  of  their  country 
they  had  no  knowledge  of  the  arts 
of  war,  nor  the  demands  of  military  discipline.  It  took  conside- 
rable time  for  the  privates  to  learn  that  respect  for  a  superior  offi- 
cer, that  the  exigencies  of  the  service  required.  They  did  not 
readily  see  why  their  neighbor,  who  at  home  was  in  no  wise  their 
superior,  in  wealth,  social  standing,  or  intellectual  acquirements, 
should,  by  merely  having  a  commission,  "  lord  it  "  over  them.  An 
amusing  incident,  illustrating  this  idea,  occurred  in  the  service, 
which  we  will  relate,  omitting  names.  A  Captain,  one  day,  deci- 
dedly under  the  influence  of  intoxicating  liquor,  met  a  private  in 
the  same  condition.  The  captain  ordered  to  him  to  "  halt,"  and, 
endeavoring  in  vain  to  assume  a  firm  position  on  his  feet,  and  to 

talk  with  dignified  severity,  exclaimed,  "Private ,  I'll  giv' 

I'Wfour  o'clock  to  gissober  in." 

"  Cap'n,"  replied  the  soldier,  "  as 
you're  (hie)  a  d — d  sight  drunker  'ni- 
am,  I'll  give  you  t'll  five  (hie)  o'clock 
to  gissober  in." 

Harper's  Magazine  has  a  very  good 
story  on  the  rebel  side,  which  illus- 
trates one  phase  of  our  human  nature. 
"  A  gentleman  who  was  on  the 
Southern  side  during  our  late  little 
misunderstanding,  relates  the  following:  "Roe,"  of  our  company, 
used  to  stammer  fearfully,  and  while  having  a  judicious  admix- 
ture of  prudence  in  his  valor,  was  still  one  of  the  best  and  pluck- 
iest of  all.     One  of  our  guns  had  been  captured  by  the  Yankees, 


HIST  OK  Y      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 


1183 


and  the  order  ctiine  down  to  recapture  it  if  possible.  It  was  a 
fearful  task ;  and  as  we  stood  drawn  up,  awaiting  the  word  to 
.  move  forward  at  the  double-quick,  we  felt  instinctively  that  many 
of  us  would  stay  around  the  spot  where  the  lost  gun  was.  It 
scarcely  seemed  worth  the  price  we  were  about  to  pay,  and  "  Roe" 
seemed  to  be  more  thoroughly  impressed  with  this  idea  than  any 
one  else.  Suddenly  an  idea  entered  his  mind  ;  stepping  out  of 
the  rank^,  he  stutici-el,  wildly,  as  lie  always  did  when  excited  "I 


Kh 


ry^ 


say,  kick-kick-ca)>tain,  1-1-1-let  us  gig-gig-get  up  a  s-s-s-s-subscrip, 
tion  and  pip-pip-p«iy  for  the  cussed  old  gun." 

Long  before  the  middle  of  1862,  it  had  become  apparent  to  both 
government  and  people,  that  the  war  would  assume  enormous  pro- 
portions, and  that  preparations  for  the  defence  of  the  country,  on 
a  far  larger  scale  than  had  heretofore  been  supposed  necessary, 
would  become  imperative.  The  President  made  repeated  calls 
for  additional  troops,  and  the  "note  of  preparation,"  on  a  grander 
scale,  was  sounded  throughout  the  land.  Bounties  for  enlistments 
began  to  be  oifered  by  towns,  and  other  communities,  and  the 
Legislature  made  ample  provision  for  the  families  of  the  soldiers, 
who  were  serving  in  the  Union  armies.  Each  little  town  and 
hamlet  seemed  as  if  actuated  by  one  impulse,  and  steadily  the 
preparations  went  on. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1862,  Woodbury,  in  legal  town  meeting, 
first  took  action  in  the  way  of  granting  bounties  to  the  patriot 
volunteers,  when  the  following  votes  were  passed  without  dissent ; 

"  Voted,  That  pursuant  to  a  statute  law  of  tkis  State,  the  town 
of  Woodbury  will  pay  to  each  new  recruit  from  said  town,  who 
shall  enlist  with  our  recruiting  officers,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  as  soon  as  he  shall  be  mustered  into  the  military  service 
of  the  United  States  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  ranks  of  any  Re- 
giment of  Connecticut  Volunteers." 


1184  HISTORY      OF      ANCIKNT      WOODBURY, 

"  Voted^  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Woodbury  be  au- 
thorized to  borrow,  from  time  to  time,  such  sums  of  money  as 
shall  be  necessary  to  pay  the  soldiers  who  shall  be  recruited  from  ' 
this  town,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding,  in  the  whole,  the  sum  of 
Three  Thousand  dollars,  and  that  he  be  authorized  to  give  a  town 
note  or  notes  for  the  sums  so  borrowed,  at  the  legal  rate  of  inte- 
rest." 

"  Voted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  town  Treasurer  to  pay 
said  soldiers,  so  enlisted,  said  bounty,  upoij  their  being  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  shall  keep  a 
true  record  of  all  soldiers  so  paid  by  him,  that  the  number  receiv 
ing  said  bounty  may  apply  on  our  quota  of  troops  for  the  service 
under  the  last  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States." 

"  Voted,  Tha,t  the  said  Town  Bounty  shall  be  paid  only  to  the 
volunteer,  or  to  his  order,  and  shall  not  be  paid  on  any  factorizing 
or  other  legal  process." 

''  Voted,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  by  this  meet- 
ing to  acquire  and  keep  intelligence  of  the  location  of  all  the  sol- 
diers that  have  gone  or  may  go  to  the  war  from  this  town,  learn 
their  wants,  and  solicit  such  aid,  from  time  to  time,  of  our  citi- 
zens, as  shall  be  necessary." 

The  following  named  gentlemen  were  appointed  said  Committee, 
viz: — William  Cothren,  Philo  M.  Trowbridge,  Calvin  H.  Downs^ 
George  Saxton  and  William  A.  Gordon. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  18C2,  the  following  votes  were  in  like 
manner,  passed  in  legal  town  meeting; — 

"  Voted,  That  whereas  the  late  appropriation  of  this  town  for 
the  encouragement  of  enlistments  into  the  United  States  service 
has  proved  inadequate  to  pay  the  volunteers  which  have  been 
found  necessary  to  fill  our  town  quota  on  the  President's  several 
calls,  not  including  the  last  call  for  nine  month's  militia  men  ;  pur- 
suant to  a  statute  law  of  this  State,  the  town  of  Woodbury  will 
pay  to  each  new  recruit  from  said  town,  or  who  shall  enroll  him- 
self on  the  quota  of  said  town,  both  on  the  deficit  in  our  former 
quotas,  and  in  our  quota  of  the  three  hundred  thousand  nine 
months  men  last  called  for,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  as 
soon  as  he  shall  be  mustered  into  the  militnry  service  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  ranks  of  any  regiment  of 
Connecticut  volunteers." 

"  Voted,  That  an  additional  bounty  of  ten  dollars  shall  be  paid 
to  each  such  recruit,  to  make  him  equal  with  the  first  thirty  re- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1185 

criiits  from   this  State,  who  are  to  receive  said  sura  as  a  bounty 
frora  Charles  G.  Judson,  Esq.,  of  New  York." 

"  Voted,  That  the  tlianks  of  this  town  be  returned  to  Charles 
G.  Judson,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  for  his  very  handsome  gift  of 
three  hundred  dollars  to  encourage  enlistments  in  his  native  town, 
and  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  instructed  to  forward  a  certified  copy 
of  this  vote  to  him,  at  New  York." 

"  Voted  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Woodbury  be  au- 
thorized to  borrow,  from  time  to  time,  such  sums  of  money  as 
shall  be  necessary  to  pay  the  soldiers  who  shall  be  recruited  to 
fill  the  quota  from  this  town,  to  an  amount  in  the  whole  not  ex- 
ceeding the  sum  of  Five  Thousand  dollars,  in  addition  to  the  for- 
mer appropriation  of  Three  Thousand  dollars,  and  also  be  author- 
ized to  give  a  town  note  or  notes  for  the  same." 

"  Voted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  pay  said 
soldiers  said  two  bounties  on  their  being  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States ;  and  he  shall  keep  a  true  record  of  all 
soldiers  so  paid  by  him,  that  the  number  so  paid  may  apply  upon 
our  several  quotas  for  the  service." 

"  Voted,  That  the  Town  Bounties  shall  be  paid  only  to  the  vol- 
unteer, or  to  his  order,  and  shall  not  be  paid  on  any  factorizing, 
or  other  legal  process,  it  being  intended  to  put  the  town  bounty 
on  the  same  footing  as  the  State  bounty." 

"  Voted,  That  the  committee  appointed  at  the  last  special  town 
meeting,  be  authorized  and  requested,  in  addition  to  their  other 
duties,  to  learn  from  time  to  time  the  condition  of  the  families  of 
our  volunteers,  and  relieve  their  wants  by  subscription,  as  shall  to 
them  seem  necessary." 

'•  Voted,  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  town  pay  the  Recruiting 
officer,  or  his  assistant,  the  sum  of  three  dollars  for  each  recruit, 
to  meet  the  expenses  of  transportation  and  recruiting  men  for  our 
quota." 

Previous  to  the  10th  of  September,  1862,  a  draft  had  been  or- 
dered, but  volunteering  had  been  so  active,  under  the  vigorous 
action  of  the  recruiting  committee,  and  the  earnest  patriotism  of 
the  citizens,  that  on  that  date,  but  five  recruits  were  lacking  to 
fill  the  town's  quota  on  all  the  calls  to  that  time.  Two  more  volun- 
teered in  that  meeting,  so  that  it  became  necessary  to  draft  only 
three,  and  the  town  voted  to  pay  them,  on  the  spot,  a  bounty 
sufficient,  with  the  State  bounty,  to  make  the  whole  sum  three 
hundred  dollars,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  votes : — 


1186  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  Voted,  That  whereas  on  the  10th  clay  of  September,  A.  D. 
1862,  there  remained  five  vacancies,  necessary  to  be  filled  to  fill  all 
the  quotas  of  Woodbury  under  all  the  calls  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States  for  military  service  to  that  date,  and  whereas 
the  said  town  of  Woodbury  desires  to  be  generous  with  its  sol- 
diers, and  whereas,  at  a  large  meeting  of  the  inactive  militia  of 
said  town,  on  said  10th  day  of  September,  1862,  it  was  immedi- 
ately recommended  that  the  said  town  of  Woodbury  pay  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  50-100  dollars  bounty,  in  addition 
to  the  present  bounty  of  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars,  to  every 
volunteer,  and  drafted  men,  who  volunteered  or  was  drafted  on 
said  10th  day  of  September,  1862,  or  who  shall  hereafter  volun- 
teer or  be  drafted,  or  become  a  substitute  for  any  drafted  man,  to 
count  on  all  the  quotas  yet  ordered  by  the  Governor  or  President 
of  the  United  States,  up  to  said  10th  day  of  September,  1862,  till 
said  quotas  are  full,  after  all  requisitions  are  made  up,  making, 
with  State  bounty  for  nine  months,  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars to  each  man  who  volunteers,  or  is  drafted,  sufficient  to  fill  our 
quota  to  said  date.  And  this  bounty  is  given  under  the  conside- 
ration, that  it  shall  be  paid  only  to  the  soldier  himself,  or  to  his 
order,  and  shall  not  be  paid  or  given  on  any  factorizing  or  other 
legal  process  whatsoever,  the  intent  of  this  vote,  like  the  prece- 
ding bounty  votes  of  this  town  being,  to  present  the  town  gift  to 
the  soldier  himself,  or  to  whom  he  shall  direct,  and  to  no  other 
person — placing  the  town  bounty  on  the  same  footing  as  the  State 
bounties  by  statute  are  placed — said  bounty  to  be  paid  as  soon  as 
the  said  men  shall  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  the  drafted  men  and  substitutes  be  paid  three 
hundred  dollars,  instead  of  the  sum  herein  named." 

'*  Voted,  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Woodbury  be  au- 
thorized to  borrow  an  amount  of  money  sufficient  to  pay  the 
bounties  under  this,  the  last  vote. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  in  October, 
the  action  of  the  special  meeting  held  in  September  was  ratified, 
with  additions,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  action : — 

"  Voted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  of  this  town 
to  pay  the  volunteers  who  have  enlisted  for  nine  months,  under 
the  last  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  300,000 
men,  and  who  have  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be  credited  to  this 


HISTOliY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1187 

town's  quota  of  seventy-four  men,  the  sum  of  one  lumclred  aiid 
ten  dollars;  when  they  shall  have  been  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  as  private  soldiers." 

"  Voted,  That  an  additional  bounty  of  one  hundred  sixty-seven 
50-100  dollars  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer  to  Elisha  Tattle,  who  en- 
listed on  the  10th  day  of  September,  18G2,  when  the  afoi'esaid 
bounty  of  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  shall  be  due  him,  on  being 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service." 

"  Voted,  Tluit  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  pay  the  men  who 
were  drafted  in  this  town  for  nine  months  on  the  10th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  or  to  their  substitutes,  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
dollars  each,  when  they  shall  have  been  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States." 

"  Voted,  That  the  above  named  bounties  be  paid  only  to  the 
volunteers,  or  drafted  men,  or  to  their  order,  and  not  on  any  fac- 
torizing or  other  legal  process,  putting  this  gift  on  the  same  foot- 
ings as  the  State  and  United  States  bounties." 

"  Voted,  That  the  Treasurer  of  Woodbury  be  authorized  to 
borrow,  from  time  to  time,  such  sums  of  money  as  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  pay  the  aforesaid  bounties,  and  to  give  a  town  note  or 
notes  therefor,  at  the  legal  rate  of  interest." 

"  Voted,  That  the  record  of  the  last  vote,  previous  to  adjourn- 
ment, ])assed  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  Aug.  r2th,  1862,  be  altered 
and  amended  by  the  Town  Clerk,  by  the  insertion  of  the  word 
'  hereafter,'  in  the  4ih  line  after  the  word  '  recruit.'  " 

The  various  bounty  votes  were  right  in  themselves,  and  were 
beneficial  in  their  eftects.  It  was  right  tliat  those  who  remained  at 
home  should  contribute  of  their  substance  to  assist  those  who 
were  going  to  the  front.  To  say  nothing  of  the  liazards  of  the 
service,  they  were  doing  more,  in  ^  pecuniary  \>omt  o^  view  even, 
than  their  neighbors  at  home.  For  there  was  scarcely  an  enlisted 
man  who  was  not  earning  more  money  at  home  than  the  small 
wages  paid  by  the  government.  So  that  a  good  share  of  praise 
should  be  awarded  to  every  faithful  volunteer,  above  any  conside- 
ration that  could  be  reckoned  to  the  credit  of  the  bounty,  however 
large,  for  the  patriotic  conduct  of  leaving  family  aiul  home,  and 
daring  the  chances  of  perilous  war. 

But  the  volunteers  of  1861  did  not  much  relish  tlie  fact,  that 
the  new  volunteers  were  receivimg  liberal  bounties,  and  praise  on 
every  hand.     The  subjoined  letter  from  Lieut.  Henry  W.  Loomis, 


1188  UISTOKY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

formerly  of  Woodbury,  iu  one  of  its  passages,  gives  utterance  to 
this  feeling : — 

'■Fort  Scott,  Va.,  Oct.  iVth,  1862. 

"  Friend  Cothren  ; — It  has  been  sometime  since  I  received 
your  last  kind  and  very  welcome  letter,  and  I  have  often  proposed 
to  myself  to  answer  it,  but  various  causes  have  hitherto  compelled 
me  to  defer  it  till  now.  Removed  from  the  active  duties  of  the  Held, 
to  the  more  quiet,  though  somewhat  monotonous  routine  of  gar- 
rison life,  we  have  no\y  leisure  for  correspondence,  reading,  &c., 
which  our  boys  are  not  slow  to  improve. 

"The  1st  Connecticut  occupies  the  same  forts  that  they  did  last 
winter,  (Scott,  Richardson  and  Barnard,)  with  the  addition  of 
three  others,  Ward,  Worth  and  Blenker.  These  are  all  in  excel- 
lent condition,  and  the  men  piepared  by  their  Peninsular  cam- 
paign and  recent  drill,  feel  competent  to  defend  them  against 
any  attack  that  may  be  made  upon  them.  Perhaps  it  will  not  be 
uninteresting  to  you  to  know  how  we  fill  out  our  time  here.  Well 
then.  Reveille  at  5  A,  M.,  followed  immediately  by  breakfast, 
which  used  to  mean,  while  on  the  Peninsula,  "  coffee  and  hard 
bread,"  unless  on  the  march,  when  it  was  oftener  poor  water  with 
hard  bread  if  we  could  get  it — now  however  it  means  coffee,  soft 
bread,  and  often  some  substantial  dish  along  with  them,  while  the 
boys  sup]»ly  themselves  with  all  the  luxuries  the  Sutler's  "  Store,''^ 
or  the  markets  of  Alexandria  afford.  After  breakfast  we  have 
Infantry  drill  from  7  to  »,  then  "Guard  Mounting"  at  9,  a  good 
hearty  dinner  at  12,  Heavy  Artillery  drill  from  2  to  3,  Dress  Pa- 
rade at  sundown,  preparatory  to  Avhich,  if  you  should  step  into 
our  quarters,  you  would  see  a  most  vigorous  polishing  of  brasses, 
shoes,  equipments,  &c.,  which  has  won  for  our  Regiment,  the  en- 
viable position  it  holds  for  neatness,  and  clean  guns — in  which 
respect  we  are  the  wonder  of  all  the  new  regiments,  whose  con- 
stant inquiry  how  we  contrive  to  keep  so  clean,  meets  us  on  every 
side.  Roll  call  again  at  8  1-2,  followed  by  '  taps '  a  half  hour  later, 
when  the  lights  are  put  out  and  all  are  expected  to  be  still — so 
passes  day  after  day,  with  the  usual  details  necessary  to  do  the 
labor,  &c.,  incident  to  garrison  life. 

"Many  of  the  men  are  becoming  tired  of  this  sameness,  and 
long  to  be  led  once  more  to  the  front,  preferring  the  active  duties 
of  the  field,  with  the  consequent  excitement,  to  the  easier  life  we 
lead  here.     And  McCIellan,  God  bless  him,  would  not  be  averse  to 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1189 

having  us  again  with  liim  in  the  field.  For  at  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam,  when  reinforcements  were  called  for,  he  exclaimed,  '  would  to 
God  I  had  the  1st  Connecticut  here.' 

"  There  are  one  or  two  things,  friend  Cothren,  we  should  hardly 
have  lieeded  while  in  active  service,  which  now — when  we  have 
so  much  time  for  the  discussion  of  the  varied  scenes  of  the  diifer- 
ent  acts  in  the  drama  of  the  war,  rather  displease  us.  First — The 
enormous  bounties  paid  to  the  new  regiments,  eitlier  to  buy  them, 
or  stir  up  their  patriotism — do  not  know  which.  Second — Tliat 
these  same  new  regiments,  after  having  been  drngged  into  the  field 
by  love  of  money  or  fear  of  a  draft,  should  be  styled  the  cream  of 
the  State,  the  best  men  who  have  left  the  State,  and  other  appel- 
lations equally  flattering  to  them. 

"Now,  we  cannot  see  Avhy  these  new  men  sliould  receive  a 
higher  rate  of  compensation  for  their  services,  tlian  we  who  Iiave 
been  out  tlirough  all  the  previous  campaigns.  If  the  bounties  had 
been  voted  to  all,  old  as  well  as  the  new,  there  would  have  been 
some  show  of  fairness  about  it,  since  we  shall  be  obliged,  those  of 
us  who  ever  go  back,  to  help  pay  these  same  bounties,  which  seem 
to  have  been  given  as  a  reward  for  holding  back  till  fear  that  a 
draft  would  compel  them  to  go.  Nolens^  Volens.  This  seems  to 
us  a  piece  of  injustice,  whether  right  or  not  judge  you.  Again, 
as  to  these  new  regiments  being  called  the  cream  of  the  State,  &c- 
Now  to  me,  this  seems  an  unfortunate  comparison,  for  I  have  al- 
ways been  led  to  look  to  the  top  of  milk  for  the  cream,  and  to  the 
bottom  for  the  dregs.  But  if  the  friends  of  these  new  regiments 
adapt  their  comparison  to  a  different  time,  viz:  the  drawing  of  the 
milk,  and  claim  in  their  favor  the  old  maxim,  the  nearer  the  bot- 
tom the  richer,  I  would  just  suggest  that  when  one  is  so  near  the 
bottom,  the  force  necessary  to  extract  it  would  naturally  drag  in 
much  of  refuse,  which  would  not  only  be  of  no  use,  but  a  positive 

injury  to  the  cream. 

Yours  as  ever, 

II.   W.  LOOMIS. 


While  Woodbury  furnished  volunteers  for  nearly  every  Connec- 
ticut organization,  its  particular  interest  always  centered  in  the 
5th  Regiment,  for  which  it  raised  Company  E,  a  history  of  the 
organization  of  which  has  already  been  given,  and  in  the  19th  Ke- 
giment,  afterwards  changed  to  the  2d  Connecticut  Heavy  Artille- 


1190  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

ly,  to  which  it  contributed  Company  I,  which  Company  was  ever 
the  pet  of  the  town. 

The  Regiment  Avas  a  Litchfield  County  Regiment,  and  had  its 
birth  in  a  County  Mass  Convention,  lield  at  Litchfield,  July  22, 
1862,  at  which  nearly  every  town  was  represented,  and  over  wliich 
Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers,  a  native  of  Woodbury,  presided,  and  made  a 
stirring  and  patriotic  speech.  Inniiediately  after  the  close  of  Gen. 
McClellan's  disastrous  Peninsular  campaign.  President  Lincoln 
called  for  300,000  volunteers.  This  call  was  seconded  by  a  stir- 
ring })roclamation  from  Gov.  Buckingham,  dated  July  3,  1862' 
iirging  the  people  of  Connecticut  to  raise  six  or  more  regiments 
at  once.  In  response  to  these  proclamations  the  County  meeting 
was  held,  and  a  county  regiment  was  resolved  on,  Woodbury  re- 
solved to  raise  one  out  of  the  ten  companies  composing  it.  The 
town,  by  its  bounty  votes,  had  encouraged  the  undertaking,  and 
the  old  war  recruiting  committee  entered  into  the  work  with  a 
vigor  never  before  equaled. 

To  give  added  zeal  and  encouragement  to  the  patriotic  under- 
taking, Charles  G.  Judson,  Esq.,  a  patriotic  merchant  of  the  city 
of  New  York,  a  native  of  Woodl)ury,  oftered  an  additional  bounty 
of  ten  dollars  each  for  tlie  first  thirty  who  should  volunteer  for 
the  honor  of  his  native  town,  in  addition  to  the  national.  State  and 
town  bounties. 

Meanwhile,  the  citizens  generally  encouraged  and  cheered  on 
the  work.  Under  all  these  favorable  influences,  though  the  pros- 
pect "at  the  front"  looked  dismal,  volunteering  proceeded  very 
rapidly,  and  sixty-one  men,  about  one  twenty-fifth  of  the  entire 
population,  were  enrolled  in  a  very  short  time.  Men  of  all  ages, 
from  16  to  61  years  of  age,  volunteered.' 

In  the  early  part  of  these  efforts  at  enlisting,  and  preparing  sol- 
diers for  the  service,  in  pursuance  of  a  call  issued  by  Messrs. 
Charles  H.  Webb  and  Willis  A.  Strong,  Representativs  from 
Woodbury;  Almon  B.  Downs,  Representative  from  Southbury ; 
Henry  J.  Peck,  Representative  from  Bethlem  ;  and  Truman  A. 
Warren,  Senator  from  Watertown  ;  the  people  of  Woodbury  and 
adjacent  towns  met  at  the  Town  Hall  in  Woodbury,  on  Friday 
evening,  the  17th  August,  to  devise  and  adopt  some  plan  of  con 
certed  action  for  raising  men  and  money  in  this  district,  for  the 
war. 

*  Mr  Ira  Thotnas,  sixty-one  years  of  age,  was  seized  with  the  patriotic  fire, 
dyed  his  grey  whiskeisand  enlisted,  appearing  to  be  at  least  twenty  years 
younger. 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIEXT     WOODBURY.  1191 

Tlie  attendance  was  very  large,  and  the  meeting  enthusiastic.  It 
was  organized  by  calling  Hon.  Thomas  Bull  to  the  Chair.  Robert 
Peck  and  Nathaniel  Smith  were  appointed  Secretaries. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Webb,  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the 
Legislature  who  had  issued  the  call,  then  stated  that  it  was  de- 
sirable that  a  Committee  should  be  appointed  by  the  citizens  of 
Woodbury  and  neighborhood,  charged  in  a  special  manner  with 
the  duty  of  enlisting  volunteers,  raising  money,  and  correspond- 
ing with  the  State  authorities,  and  such  organizations  as  are  exei*- 
cising  the  same  functions  in  other  districts.  He  therefore  moved 
that  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  chair  to  confer  to- 
gether and  report  to  the  meeting  the  names  of  five  citizens  to  con- 
stitute that  committee,  which  motion,  being  put,  was  carried,  and 
the  chair  appointed  Daniel  Curtiss,  Henry  Dawson  and  Robert 
Peck,  as  such  committee  of  conference. 

Addresses  were  then  made  by  Abel  Benedict,  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Robinson,  Rev.  Mr.  Silverthorne,  Rev.  John  Churchill,  Messrs.  W, 
Cothren,  James  Huntington,  Nathaniel  Smith  and  Dr.  S.  B.  Fair- 
child,  interspersed  with  songs  from  Messrs.  W.  F.  and  F.  A. 
Walker,  and  W.  A.  Gordon,  assisted  on  .the  raelodeon  by  Miss 
Cornelia  J.  Betts,  the  accomplished  organist  of  St.  Paul's. 

Tlie  committee  of  conference  then  reported  a  list  of  five  names 
to  constitute  a  standing  committee  charged  with  correspondence, 
enlisting  and  the  raising  of  money  for  volunteers.,  which  was  unan- 
imously adopted  by  the  meeting,  as  follows : — Doct.  Chas.  H. 
Webb,  W.  Cothren,  Esq.,  James  Huntington,  Esq.,  Nathaniel 
Smith,  Esq.,  Reuben  J.  Allen,  Esq. 

Whereupon,  after  voting  that  a  town  meeting  be  held  in  Wood- 
bury to  lay  a  tax  to  support  the  fomilies  of  such  as  volunteer  from 
the  town,  the  meeting  adjourned. 

The  Litchfield  County  Regiment  was  soon  nearly  full,  and  our 
company  was  in  daily  expectation  of  being  called  to  enter  camp 
at  Litchfield,  for  instruction  in  the  art  of  war,  and,  perhaps,  to  go 
immediately  to  the  front.  The  ladies  of  the  town  therefore  de- 
cided to  give  them  a  fiirewell  banquet  before  they  should  be  called 
away.  The  following,  from  the  Watcrbury  American,  printed  at 
the  time,  gives  a  brief  account  of  the  proceedings  on  that  inter- 
esting occasion :  — 

"Woodbury. — The  ladies  of  Woodbury,  with  but  a  few  hours 
])revious  notice,  gave  the  volunteers  of  the  town  a  splendid  and 
bounteous  farewell  supper,  at  the  Town  Hall,  last  Thuraday  eve 


1192  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

ning.  Three  tables,  reaching  the  whole  length  of  the  Hall,  were 
loaded  down  with  edibles,  and  many  bushels  more  were  held  in 
reserve.  A  finer  collation  was  never  served  up  in  old  Woodbury. 
The  ladies  excelled  themselves. 

"  At  the  request  of  the  ladies,  W.  Cothren,  Esq.,  presided,  and 
made  a  short  and  touching  address  to  the  soldiers,  and  to  the  cit. 
izens,  who  were  to  remain  behind  and  do  their  duty  in  caring  for 
the  families  of  our  country's  defenders.  The  crowd  was  so  great 
inside  and  outside  of  the  house,  as  well  as  in  the  second  story  of  the 
building,  that  it  became  necessary  to  remove  a  window,  and  the 
President  and  Speakers  were  obliged  to  speak  from  the  window- 
sill.  It  was  estimated  that  more  than  half  of  the  adult  population 
of  the  town,  of  both  sexes,  was  present. 

"After  the  President'^  address,  eloquent  and  patriotic  speeches 
were  made  by  James  Huntington,  Esq.,  Rev.  Mr.  Silverthorn,  Rev, 
Mr.  Churchill,  Deacon  T.  Minor,  and  Mr.  J.  C.  PoUey,  one  of  the 
volunteers  ;  who,  after  alluding  playfully  to  the  fact  that  neither 
he  nor  his  friends  considered  himself  a  public  speaker,  nor  &, 2)oli- 
tician,  but  simply  a  2>olley-citizen,  made  a  feeling  address  to  his 
comrades,  who  were  going  forth  to  the  war  with  him. 

''  The  Woodbury  Quartette  Club  and  String  Band  discoursed 
eloquent  music  during  the  evening,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Wm.  Walker.  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson,  of  the  1st  Church,  who  was 
unable  to  attend  on  account  of  illness,  sent  in  a  kind  note  to  the 
volunteers,  enclosing  thirty  dollars  for  the  war  fund.  The  ladies 
oflered  a  series  of  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted 
by  the  meeting,  with  'three  cheers  and  a  tiger'  by  the  volunteers. 
Thus  passed  the  largest  and  most  enthusiastic  meeting  ever  held 
in  Woodbury,  composed  of  its  own  citizens  alone. 

"  The  following  Resolutions  were  offered  by  the  Ladies  of 
Woodbury,  on  the  occasion  : — 

"  Resolved,  That  in  this  great  emergency  of  our  country,  our 
hearts,  hands  and  voices  shall  unite  in  aiding  the  good  cause  for 
which  our  true-hearted  men  are  struggling,  and  that  though  our 
hearts  shall  beat  tumultuously  as  we  bid  our  dear  ones  'farewell, 
(for  awhile,)  that  they  shall  still  beat  time  to  the  music  of  the  Un- 
ion ;  and  though  our  hands  c?o  tremble,  they  shall  be  firm- when 
they  point  to  the 'Starry  Flag,' and  that  should  our  voices  be 
flint,  they  shall  gather  strength  as  they  cry  '  God  speed  and  God 
bless  the  volunteers.' 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1193 

"  Resolved^  That  while  we  remembei'  those  who  are  departing, 
we  will  not  forget  those  who  remain  behind.  That  the  lame,  the 
halt  and  the  blind  shall  be  tenderly  cared  for,  and  that  we  pledge 
ourselves  to  do  our  utmost  to  clieck  the  alarming  epidemic  which 
has  invaded  these  hitherto  healthy  regions! 

Resolved,  That  to  those  who,  through  real  inability,  or  for  some 
allowable  reason,  cannot  go  forth  to  do  battle  for  their  country, 
we  respectfully  suggest  that  the  Lord  loveth  a  free  giver,  and  that 
their  purses  should  grow  lean  in  the  service  of  such  as  are  leaving 
families,  who  must  depend  upon  Woodbury  for  aid.  Greatest 
favors  thankfully  received.     Postage  Stamjys  a  legal  tender. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  form  ourselves  into  a  Home  Guard,  and 
that  we  will  frown  upon  all  expressions  of  ^Secession  sentiment ; 
that  we  will  hold  ourselves  insulted  by  a  sneer  at  our  Cotmtry, 
her  Flag,  or  against  those  who  are  rising  in  her  defense ;  that  we 
will  comfort  the  afflicted,  care  for  the  infirm,  clothe  the  poor,  send 
our  volunteers  substantial  reminders  of  home,  and,  in  short,  turn 
our  hands  to  whatever  may  be  needful ;  even  to  gathering  the 
crops,  foddering  the  cattle,  or  protecting  ourselves. 

^'■Resolved,  That,  with  a  firm  faith  in  God's  goodness,  and  in 
the  belief  that '  He  doeth  all  things  well,'  we  commit  to  His  care 
and  keeping,  our  Country,  and  these  her  brave  defenders  who 
meet  with  us  to-night ;  that  our  prayers  shall  ever  ascend  in 
their  behalf;  and  that  we  will  petition  that  those  who  wear  His 
armor  may  keep  it  untarnished,  and  that  such  as  are  going  forth 
without,  may,  through  His  grace,  receive  it  ere  long,  burnished, 
and  without  a  fiaw. 

^^  Resolved,  That  to  such  as  are  about  to  leave  us  in  so  holy  a 
cause,  we  offer  our  sympatliy,  respect  and  thanks,  and  that  our  de- 
sire is,  that  in  camp  oi-  battle-field,  when  God,  their  country  and 
their  loved  ones  are  in  their  thoughts,  we,  too,  the  Ladies  of  Wood- 
bury, may  find  a  place  amongst  the  remembered  and  the  loved.''"' 

"At  8  A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  Col.  Wessells  arrived  in  town,  and  or- 
dered our  volunteers  immediately  to  Camp  at  Litchfield,  pursuant 
to  an  order  from  the  Governor  by  telegram.  In  the  space  of  four 
hours,  the  volunteers  were  gathered  from  all  parts  of  our  valley, 
and  mai'ched  into  the  grounds  of  W.  Cothren,  Esq.,  where  a 
bountiful  collation  was  immediately  improvised  by  the  Ladies. 
After  this  part  of  the  proceedings  was  concluded,  earnest  and  ap- 
propriate remarks,  couched  in  tender,  affectionate  and   cheering 


11 94  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

words,  wore  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Woodburj- ,  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Lobdell,of  Warren.  After  prayer  by  Mr.  Robinson,  the  vol- 
unteers filled  the  carriages  provided  for  them,  and  Avere  escorted 
by  many  of  our  citizens  to  camp.  The  sound  of  the  fife  and  drum, 
breaking-  the  stillness  of  the  Sabbath,  was  a  strange  sound  to  the 
ears  of  the  present  generation,  residing  in  our  quiet  old  valley." 

It  was  indeed  a  strange  scene  for  old  Woodbury,  that  was  be- 
held that  bright  and  beautiful  Lord's  day.  Col.  "Wessells  did  not 
send,  but  came  himself  He  had  been  notified  by  a  telegram  from 
Gov,  Buckingham  to  gather  his  regiment  together  at  the  earliest 
moment,  and  all  supposed  that  they  would  be  called  to  the  field  of 
strife  immediately.  Special  prayers  were  offered  in  all  the  church- 
es for  the  success  of  the  cause,  and  the  safetj^  of  the  loved  ones 
so  soon  to  leave  us.  In  all  the  churches,  also,  the  afternoon  ser- 
vice was  omitted,  and  all  assembled  at  the  grounds  of  the  writer, 
to  make  arrangements  for  transporting  the  men  to  Litchfield,  and 
to  see  in  what  way  they  could  cheer  and  speed  on  the  parting 
volunteers.  It  was  indeed  a  strange  scene  for  that  peaceful  Sab- 
bath day — the  hurrying  to  and  fro  to  collect  the  soldiers,  who 
were  scattered  to  their  homes,  not  expecting  a  call  so  sudden  ;  the 
shrill  sound  of  the  fife,  and  the  rattle  of  the  drum,  as  the  sounds 
re-echoed  over  the  silent  hills,  the  tears  of  husbands,  wives,  child- 
ren, now  separating  to  meet  they  knew  not  where — all  filled  the 
mind  with  inexpressible  and  unwonted  emotions.  And  thus  they 
parted  from  our  beautiful  valley,  and  followed  the  path  of  patri- 
otic duty. 

This  was  on  the  24th  of  August,  but,  contrary  to  expectation, 
they  were  not  called  to  leave  Litchfield  for  the  defenses  of  Wash- 
ington, till  Sept.  15th,  1862.  While  at  Litchfield,  the  regiment 
encamped  on  a  hill  east  of  the  village,  and  called  their  camp  But- 
ton, in  memory  of  Lieut.  Henry  M.  Dutton,  who  had  marched 
with  Woodbury's  first  Company,  the  Valley  Reds,  and  gave  up 
his  life  in  the  great  cause  of  his  country,  at  Cedar  Mountain. 

"And  so  the  lOtli  was  encamped.  In  order  to  raise  it,  Litchfield 
County  had  given  up  the  flower  of  her  youth,  the  pride  and  hope 
of  hundreds  of  her  families  ;  and  they  had  by  no  means  enlisted 
to  fight  for  a  superior  class  of  men  at  home.  There  was  no  supe- 
rior class  at  home.  In  moral  qualities,  in  social  worth,  in  every 
civil  relation,  they  were  the  best  that  Connecticut  had  to  give. 
More  than //<i/ of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  regiment  subsequently 


U  I  S  T  O  II  Y      OF     A  N  r  I  E  N^  T      A\'  O  O  H  i;  L    U  Y  ,  1  l'J5 

found  their  way  to  commissions,  and  at  least  a  liiuidred  more 
proved  themselves  not  one  whit  less  competent  oi"  worthy  to  wear 
sash  and  saber,  if  it  had  been  their  fortune.  It  was  the  intelligent 
obedience,  the  soldierly  bearing,  the  self  respect,  the  faithfulness, 
the  wounds  and  blood  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the  lyth  Infantry, 
afterward  the  2d  Artillery,  that  averted  defeat  or  secured  victory 
lor  the  cause  of  the  Union  upon  more  than  one  desperate  held, 
and  tiiat  purchased  stars  for  in»M'e  than  one  pair  of  shoulders. 

The  raising,  fitting  out,  and  niaiching  of  the  regiments  to  the 
several  positions  assigned  them  in  the  Held,  were  substantially 
alike,  and  the  history  of  one  is  tlie  history  of  all.  W't,  they 
possess  a  thrilling  interest  U)  every  thoughti'ul  mind  in  the  land. 
The  writer  therefore  believes  that  he  cannot  tlevote  a  few  pages 
of  this  work  to  a  better  use,  than  by  giving  an  account  of  the 
march  to  Washington  of  our  County  regiment,  containing  in  its 
ranks  the  last  full  company  raised  by  tlie  town  during  tlie  rebel- 
lion, substantially  as  related  to  him  l»y  one  of  the  Field  otHcers 
of  the  regiment. ' 

"On  the  11th  Sept.,  1S(52,  the  lOth  Jiegimenl  of  Volunteers, 
containing  eight  hundred  and  eighty-nine  men,  in  the  undress  uni- 
form of  U.  S.  soldiers,  were  drawn  up  by  e(>m[»aiiies,  each  in  its 
own  street,  in  Camp  Dutton,  Litchfield,  Conn.  JJesides  these, 
many  hundred,  men,  women  and  children,  thronged  thither,  not 
however  attracted,  as  usual,  by  the  stirring  scenes  of  military 
duty — the  flutter  of  flags,  screaming  of  fifes,  rattle  of  drums,  ring- 
ing orders  quickly  repeated,  and  the  swift  evolutions  of  the  drill, 
sights  and  sounds  hitherto  so  unaccustomed  to  eye  and  ear  in  this 
[)eaceful  land — but  evincing,  by  the  deep  soletnnity  of  their  de- 
meanor, a  graver  purpose  than  mere  curiosity.  The  s[)ectators 
mostly  gather  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Adjutant's  tent,  on  the  Field 
and  Staff  street.  There,  a  slight,  young  West  Point  officer,  weal- 
ing the  single  bars  of  a  1st  Lieutenant,  and  holding  in  his  hand  a 
statute-book,  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  liegimcntal  ofKcers,  closely 
watched  by  all.  At  a  word  from  the  Colonel,  an  ordei'ly  de[)arts 
with  a  message,  and  a  moment  after  Company  A  is  seen  advancing- 
At  the  moment  its  center  is  opposite  the  Lieutenant,  it  halts,  fronts, 
dresses,  and  from  a  roll  in  his  possession  that  officer  calls  the 
names  on  his  list.     Finding  the  proper  number  present  for  duty, 

*  Lieut.  Colonel  Niitliatiiel  Smith,  of  Woodbury,  who  went  out  as  Major  of  the 
Regiment. 

23 


HOC  HIS  r  O  1!  V      < »  F      A  NCI  K  X  I'     W  ()  O  IJ  B  U  K  Y  . 

:it  a  given  signal,  each  man  removes  liis  cap,  and  stands  with  right 
liaiul  uplifted,  while  the  Lieutenant  (|uietly,  but  distinctly,  reads  the 
'•ath  of  service  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and  closes  the 
hook.  Caps  are  rei)lace<l,  hands  lowered,  the  command  from  the 
Captain,  Company  A,  right-face,  forward  and  file  left,  march.  Tiiat 
is  all. 

"Yet  in  this  short  ceremony,  as  it  continues  through  company 
after  company,  is  that  which  none  can  witness  without  profoun<l 
reflection,  dee}>  emotion  ! 

"These  men  were  not  educated  from  youth  to  look  on  the  sol- 
diers,' as  the  only  maidy  occupation.  Vet,  what  nation  of  war- 
riors, by  birth,  tradition,  occupation,  ever  dared  to  trust  the  fidel- 
ity of  ranks  mustered  with  such  sim])lc  forms. 

"Among  the  Romans,  not  to  be  a  soldier  was  not  to  be  a  man. 
Yet  the  legionary  took  the  vow  of  fidelity  in  the  [)resence  of  bleed- 
ing victims,  sacrificial  incense,  and  as  a  i)art  of  the  solemn  wor- 
ship of  the  sacred  standaid.  Even  the  poor  gladiators  about  to 
slaughtei'  each  other  in  tlie  mimic  contest  of  the  Arena,  or  the 
lake,  first  moved  by  in  front  of  the  imperial  throne,  to  receive  from 
the  divinity  thereon  a  consecrating  nod  in  return  for  their  sad 
salutation,  '  Ctesar  I   we  who  are  about  to  die,  salute  thee.' 

"Yet  in  the  Roman  ceremonial  was  involved  not  one  tithe  the 
change  which  this  short,  military  form  wrought  in  these  citizens 
of  our  laud.  A  moment  ago,  and  these  men  were  protected  in  life 
and  limb,  as  well  as  restrained  from  acts  involving  death,  by  the 
awful  sanctions  of  vigilant  laws.  The  oath  is  taken,  and  now  the 
same  government  commands  and  obliges  them  to  suHer  mutilation 
and  death,  or  else  inflict  them.  Hitherto,  theii's  has  been  unre- 
strained liberty  to  go  and  come  at  will.  JSfow,  the  attempt  to  do 
so  would  involve  imprisonment,  o'r  loss  of  life.  They  have  always 
sought  hapj»iness  in  such  manner  as  they  preferred.  Now  at  the 
the  choice  of  anotlicr,  weariness,  hunger,  thirst,  disease,  discom- 
fort, awful  labor,  scenes  of  horror  untold,  must  be  their  experi- 
ence. Always,  as  citizens,  they  have  exercised  control  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  nation,  as  participants  in  the  sovereign  authority.  No 
one  njight  command  more  than  tliey.  So  now,  in  a  moment,  this 
imperial  rigjit  is  laid  aside,  and  instant  obcidicnu'c,  without  ques- 
tion or  hesitation,  even  to  the  laying  down  oJ"  life,  at  the  orders 
of  authorities  whom  they  have  not  chosen,  is  duty  not  to  be 
avoided. 

"  These  are  but  a  few  of  many  changehi  that  might  be  euume- 


n  1  s  T  o  n  V    ( »  F    A  N  < :  I  K  v  1'    \v  o  o  T)  n  I'  i;  ■\' .  1 1 97 

rated,  known,  foreseen  by  the  men  who  came  so  sadly,  rouipany 
after  company,  and  took  the  vow  of  service,  no  one  shrinking  from 
the  irrevocable  step  !  Nor  does  the  Government  feel  that  any  cere- 
mony is  necessary  to  impress  on  their  Tiiinds  a  sense  of  the  sol- 
emn duty  undertaken.  Where  hearts  are  already  consecrated, 
words  are  of  small  moment.  The  work  is  done  in  the  will.  These 
nine  hundred  are  here  because  the  Liberty  and  the  land  ihe}'^  love 
are  in  danger,  and  they  are  impelled  by  irresistable  impulse  to  fly 
to  the  rescue.  Only  as  soldiers  can  they  help,  and  the  oath  which 
was  made  a  sticrament  lo  the  Ronian,  thai  the  fear  of  sacrilege 
might  bind  him,  may  safely  be  a  mere  uplifting  oi'the  hand,  when 
but  a  mark  of  admission  to  a  covc(<m1  duty,  a>;  in  the  case  of  these 
nobler  hearts  and  purer  souls. 

"But,  though  short  and  simple,  considered  as  the  cousummatin<x 
act  of  self-dedication  to  the  service  of  mankind — is  there,  can  there 
l)c — among  the  vicissitudes  oi"  human  life,  a  scene  more  gloriously 
sublime  than  this?  Surely  not,  if  wc  except  the  one  where  man 
proclaims  his  rejtentance  toward,  and  trust  in  God.  And  even 
there  we  naay  recall,  that  the  same  authoritative  voice  that  said, 
Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  with  all  thy 
soul,  with  all  thy  mind  and  with  all  thy  strength,  did  not  separate 
I'rom  it  the  woids,  'and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself 

"That  day,  then,  the  11th  ol"  Sc)>t.,  1862,  which  witnessed  the 
mustering  oi'  the  19th  Connecticut,  should  it  not,  as  year  after 
year  it  recurs,  be  fragrant  with  memories  of  their  patriotism  and 
devotion  ?  Shall  not  all  generations  hold  the  so<l  on  which  the 
sons  of  Litchfield  County  devoted  themselves  to  Liberty,  as  con- 
secrated ground?  And  the  mighty  hill  on  whose  summit,  with 
uplifted  hands  they  offered  the  sacritice  of  their  lives  for  their 
countrymen,  shall  it  not  thenceforth  and  forever  be  deemed  a  high 
and  holy  altar? 

"Muster  over,  the  four  succeeding  days  (how  swiftly  they  past), 
aside  froin  drill,  were  one  continuous  liidding  good  bye.  Yet 
the  morning  of  the  16th  Sept.  found  thousands  gathered  in  and 
around  the  canjp,  for  a  last  and  then  a  final,  and  yet  another  fare- 
well. In  the  tents  and  in  the  streets,  what  swarming  of  the  lov- 
ing that  were  to  remain  aiOTUid  the  departing  loved  ones !  1  saw 
not  a  few  pale  faces  wearing  a  forced  smile,  that  promised  tears 
to  come — young  hearts  beating  high  with  excitement  and  hope — 
grey  heads  sad  with  forebodings! 

"Suddenly,  from  the  Adjutant's  tent  comes  the  signal  ot  prepa- 


119S  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      AV  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y . 

ration.     Ou  all  sides  a  hurried  parting,  last  kisses  of  wives,  moth- 
ers, sweethearts.    The  fathers  or  brothers  hands  grasped  firmly  for 
an  instant,  on  all  sides  earnest  recpiests  to  write — write  as  soon  as 
you  get  to — write  daily — write  everything  as  it  happens  at  home 
— don't  forget    to   write.  —God  Idess   you — Don't  fear  for  me — 
Don't  forget  me — He  a  good  boy — Hark!  the   stern   command, 
'fall   in  C(j.,  etc.' — hurriedly  the   knapsack   is   thrown  on — never 
again  to  be  so  heavy,  especially  after  musket,  bayonet,  ammuni- 
tion, rations,  now  wanting,  are  added — the  roll  calls  resound  from 
every  (jiiarter,  as  the  Adjutant,  our  active  Deming,  swiftly  moves 
down  to  tlie]tarade,  at-comp:inied  with  nuirkers,  right  and  left  gen- 
eral guides,  and  band.     There  is  a  neighing  of  horses  in  the  street 
beyond  the  line  officers  tents,  where  Field  and  Staff  ai"e  mounting. 
The  markers  and  guides  are  set,  defining  the  line,  at  a  signal  from 
Deming.     The  music  strikes  up.     From  all  the  company  streets  is 
lieard  the  cautionary  command,  followed  by  the  emphatic  march  ; 
then  ten  Companies  issue  simultaneously,  swiftly,  from  the   camp, 
moving  hither  and  thither,  for  a  moment  in  seeming,  but  pictur- 
esque confusion.     Suddenly,  order  comes  out  of  chaos,  as  each  one 
drops  into  his  place  in  line;  there  are  successive  orders  of  right 
dress,  left  dress,  front;    then  guides,  post,  and  the  markers  run 
the  guides  and  retire;   to  their  posts   behind  the  line.     The  Lieut. 
Colonel,  who  is  to  command,  appears  in  front,  is  saluted,  salutes 
in    return,    and  draws  his   sword.     At   a  notification  from    him, 
through  the  Adjutant,  a  company  accompanied  by  the  color  ser- 
geants, marches  to  the  Colonel's  tent,  receives  the  beautiful  State 
and  U.  S.  flags,  received  a  few  days  Ijefore  from  the  hands  of  Hon. 
W.  Curtiss  Noyes,  a  gift  from  his  beautiful  wife.     Meantime,  the 
Adjutant  has  taken  his  post  on  the  right,  the    Major  acting  as 
Lieut.  Col.,  in  the  rear  of  the  center  of  the  right  wing,  and  a  death 
like  stillness  i)ervades  the  long,  motionless  line.     What  thoughts 
arc  crowding  those  throbbing  veins  i     Softened  in   the  dreamy 
haze  of  a  sweet  autumnal  day,  the  massive  rock-crowned  hills  and 
lovely  v.alleys  of  the  Switzerland  of  Connecticut,  visible  for  many, 
many  miles,  from  this  lofty  camp  ground,  seem   in  harmony  with 
thoughts  oi"  only  beauty,  peace,  re[)Ose.     Yet   who  in  that  silent 
battalion  does  not  foreknow  full  well  that  to  hundreds  now  stand- 
ing there,  this  must  be  the  last  earthly  view  of  home  and   native 
land  ?     Who  does  not  ask  himself,  '  Is  this  for  me  the  last  ^  '    But 
fife  and  drum  denote  the  coming  of  the  colors.     A  murmur  of  de- 
light accompanies  them,  even  now,  as  they  pass,  and  the  multi- 


H  I  S  T  O  n  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  P,  U  R  Y  .  1199 

tude  notes  tlicir  exquisite  beaul y.  When  nevt,  sonielliinQ-  less 
than  three  years  from  to-day,  tliey  shall  return  1-o  Litchlield,  ihey 
shall  be  blood-stained,  and  their  nialehless  embroidery  shredded 
and  rent  by  shot  and  shell.  On  tlie  lines  llicy  mark  a  thousand 
men  of  Connecticut  are  hereafter  to  slied  their  blood! 

"The  escort  jiasses  in  front  of  the  center,  and  the  colors  come 
forward  and  halt.  The  Colonel  connnands  jireseul  arms,  an*l 
turning  about,  salutes  them.  The  ])aud  executes  three  rolls,,  and 
then  the  color-bearers  take  their  place  in  center  and  front  of  the 
color-guard.  The  escorting  comjiany  moves  swiftly  and  silently 
to  its  vacated  place  in  the  line,  which  it  occu])ies.  The  linal  mo- 
ment has  come.  Col.  Kellogg's  clarion  voice  rings  out,  IJattalioii, 
Kight-F-a-c-e,  Major,  Adjutant,  Sergeant-Major  repealing.  ILearts 
beat  high  along  tliat  line  ;  each  holds  his  breaili  in  anticipation  of 
the  next  order,  which  is  to  open  the  campaigu,  so  nnmientous  t«t 
those  wlio  are  to  obey,  pregnant  with  honor,  wounds,  with  deatli 
to  so  many  in  that  line. — The  drummers  hold  their  sticks  suspend- 
ed, to  strike  exactly  at  the  completion  of  the  (n'der.  Every  ear 
listens  to  catch  the  executory  order,  that  all  may  move  simultane- 
ously. The  Colonel  rides  down  to  the  head  of  the  column,  (we 
are  to  move  by  the  right  fiank,)  and  pausing,  gives  the  prelimi- 
nary command,  '  Column  Fouwaud,'  repeated  as  before.  Then, 
after  a  quick  glance  down  the  line,  to  see  that  all  is  ready,  snajts 
out  th<'  II  A  R  R,  which  is  military  for  '  March  ' ;  instantly,  each  cap- 
tain ret'choes  it  with  energy,  the  drums  and  Hfes  strike  uj) — each 
left  foot  moves  as  though  the  regiment  wei(!  obeying  a  single  im- 
pulse, and  in  beautiful  order  the  lOtli  has  entered  on  that  long 
eventful  march,  whose  last  stej)  shall  be  executed  by  less  than 
300  of  these  eight  hundred  and  eighty-nine. 

"The  niareh  from  camp  to  the  depot  of  the  Naugatnck  Raili'oad, 
accomplished,  the  horses  placed  on  c^irs  ]»rovided  foi-  them,  the 
men  seated  on  the  train,  and  all  in  readiness,  the  bell  rang  its  war- 
ning, the  whistle  gave  m)tic(\  and  amid  the  cheers  of  thousands, 
tlu'  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  roll  of  <b'iuns,  oui'  jourm'y  tow- 
ard Dixie  began,  as  gaily  as  it  drearily  ended.  Each  town,  each 
village  and  hamlet,  gave  us  an  ovation,  dilfering  one  from  another, 
not  in  enthusiasm,  but  in  si/,e  only.  The  whole  liiu'  of  the  road 
seemed  to  wave  and  Hutter  with  iiags.  At  W'aterbiiiy,  Ib-idge- 
port,  Norwalk  and  Stamford,  thousands  assembled  to  bid  us  (iod- 
sj»eed.     Ladies  brttught   refreshments,  or  threw  flowers,  or  waved 


1  200  HISTORY      OF     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     >V  O  O  D  B  t'  K  Y  , 

liiiiulkerchiet's.-  -Trul^,  this  kiml  of  heroism  proverl  quite  a  pleas- 
ant thing. 

"  But  ere  we  arrivetl  in  New  York,  our  eyes  were  a  little  open- 
ed to  the  reality  of  the  change  in  our  circumstances.  We  were 
used  to  riding  in  first-class  carriages,  on  express  trains,  if  we  pre- 
ferred it.  iV^ovr,  however,  "'twas  little  joy,  to  find  "  ourselves 
treated  ^■i^  freigJU !  To  see  free  ])eople  ride  gaily  by,  while  we 
were  switched  off  the  track  to  let.  them  pass — to  wait  an  hour  at 
an  obscure  station,  e.cpres.<ih/  to  clear  the  track  for  an  aecomntoJa- 
tioii  train — truly  ours  were  the  vexatious  cars  !  Slower  and  slow- 
er we  crawled  along,  seeing  the  afternoon  wear  on,  the  sun  go 
down,  and  night  shut  us  in  from  all  gaity,  and  encouragement, 
until,  hungry,  weary,  and  cast  down,  we  landed  in  upper  N".  Y. 
city,  late  in  the  night.  This  kind  of  heroism  proved  not  quite  a 
pleasant  thing. 

"  An  incident,  showing  the  kind  heart  of  Hon.  Wra.  Curtiss 
Noyes,  may  not  be  without  interest  to  some.  On  the  occasion  of 
the  Flag  donation  at  Litchfield,  a  lady  who  was  asked  by  him  if 
there  was  anything  he  could  do  to  assist  herself  or  husband  on 
his  way  to  N.  Y.,  replied,  'Thank  you,  sir,  my  husband  has  his 
military  outfit  complete,  but  should  you  happen  to  see  the  regi- 
ment when  it  passes  through  the  City,  won't  you  say  another 
good-by  to  him  for  me?  '  '  Be  assured  I  shall,  madam  ! '  Avas  his 
answer.  The  regiment,  liad  but  just  descended  from  the  cars,  on 
its  arrival,  and  in  the  darkness  was  slowly  lalling  into  line,  when 
the  officei'  referred  to  was  taken  by  the  hand,  and  the  farewell  by 
proxy,  beautifully  bidden,  as  Mr.  Noyes  had  laughingly  promised. 

"  From  the  cars,  a  slow,  long  march,  through  obscure  streets, 
brought  us  to  a  steamboat  so  small  that  her  decks  were  not  only 
crowded,  but  massed,  witli  our  men.  Soup  and  coffee  were  pro- 
vided, but  the  first,  seeming  made  of  musty  beans,  salt-junk  and 
salt-pork,  salted,  and  the  latter,  of  dried  beans,  without  sugar  or 
milk,  were  scarcely  palatable  to  even  our  almost  famished  stom- 
achs. Nor  could  all  get  even  such  fare.  We  were  fastened  to 
the  dock  in  Jersey  City,  and  the  order  given  to  march  to  the  cars, 
before  much  more  than  half  the  men  could,  owing  to  the  crowded 
state  of  the  decks,  get  access  to  soup  or  coffee. 

"  All  night  long  we  plodded  slowly  on.  Morning,  with  the 
cheerful  sun,  and  the  pleasant  fields  and  orchards  of  New  Jersey, 
brought  also  a  renewal  of  the  greetings,  the  cheers,  and  stirring 
wayside  scenes  of  our  departure  from   Connecticut.     The  recent 


HISTORY      OK     A  N  r  I  E  N  1'     M'  O  O  1)  B  II  K  Y  1  201 

terrible  defeats  of  I'ope,  ()|ieniiit;  as  tliey  lia<1  tlie  way  lor  invasion 
i'ntwi  the  Soiilli,  lia<l  excited  in  these  reoioiis,  as  lial>le  to  svitt'er  iu 
that  ease,  an  interest  in  eaeh  new  l■e^■ilnelll  joiirtieying'  toward 
Dixie,  which  we  were  at  a  h)ss  tomidersland,  i\\\  retleciion  solve<l 
the  problem.  We  received  not  only  the  greetings  ol"  villages  and 
towns,  but  the  schools  rnshed  forth  to  line  the  track  and  cheer. 
Each  isolated  lioiise  sent  its  inmates  to  wave  the  flag,  while  (he 
children  climbed  tlie  fences  to  wave  tlieir  hats  an<l  aprons. 

"  Hence  we  were  cheerlnlly  as  well  as  luingrily  I'eadx  tor  tjie 
kind  weh'ome  of  l'hila<lelphia.  Well  li.as  thai  city  p)-oved  her 
riglit  and  title  to  that  name.  '  IJrotherly  Love."  With  oih-  \oicf 
all  of  Uncle  Sam's  boys  that,  dnring  that  period  of  the  war,  had 
occasion  to  pass  through  that  '  Haven  of  lest  and  delight'  rise  np 
and  pronounce  her  blessed.  There  was  rest  for  the  weary.  There, 
tor  those  who  were  pressed  with  fatigue  and  want  (^f  accustomed 
sleep,  we  found  cool  baths  prepared.  There  were  excjuisite  coftee, 
delicious  tea,  and  food  abundant  and  substantial,  .\fter  an  hour 
or  two  in  that  kindly  place,  the  regiment  came  forth,  cheerful^ 
hopeful,  restored.  City  of  IJrotherly  Love,  thy  name  is  fragi'ant 
in  the  memorv  of  a  half  million  of  men,  who  knew  from  exj»eri- 
ence  what  thou  wert  in  those  days  of  trial  I 

"After  somewhat  o+'  a  march,  a  bi-oad  open  space  was  reached, 
traversed  in  all  directions  by  IJailroad  tracdcs,  with  innumerable 
switches,  aft'oi-ding  no  shelter  from  the  [lelting  rays  of  the 
Sim,  the  '  bovs  '  were  halted,  and  'rest'-ed,  <»n  the  unshaded  side 
of  a  high,  <lead  wall,  belonging  to  the  enclosure  of  s<jme  great 
mannfaetoi-y.  I'\'icing  away  frum  that,  innnediately  in  tlieir  front, 
was  a  long  line  oi'  those  imroofeil  sl.'ittcd  [lens,  which  before  the 
int  rodin-tioii  ot'  laws  against  ciMieltN'  to  animals,  were  used  to 
transport  cattle  and  sheep.  Scattercl  in  confusion  ovei-  the  floor 
of  each,  wei'e  a  (piantity  of  plaidcs.  N^o  ti'ain  of  cars  for  liiiiiKiu 
hi  linjs^  no  engine,  was  visiltle. 

"  Here  we  waited  and  sweltered.  .\1  length,  a  powerful  engine 
eiiiiie  down  the  road,  and  ni:uh'  fast  to  the  cattle  train.  A  con- 
diictor  approached,  and  said  that-  the  t  raiispor1ati(Ui  for  the  regi- 
ment, was  ready.  Where?  Why  this  train!  A  unnnenls  pause. 
But  must  the  men  stand  up?  Oh!  no.  There  are  on  the  bottom 
of  each  car  planks  to  put  iicrn.'is — let  the  ends  rest  on  the  slats  ! 

"  .\s  the  re|>ort  passed,  from  those  that  heard  it,  down  the  line, 
there  were  many  red  faces.  Tt  was  hard  to  !)(>  treated  like,  and  to 
the  tilth  of,  the  beasts!      Ibit  they  perish,  and  so  shall  w f.  was  tlie 


1202  n  I  S  T  O  Tl  Y      OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  P  B  IT  K  Y  . 

coiisoliijg  remark  of  one.  We  shall  have  a  pensive  journey.  Cheer 
up  said  one.  He  who  spills  tlirough  will  have  an  expensive  turn 
out,  said  one — and  look  slatternly,  was  the  reply. 

"  But  the  order  came  that  broke  each  company  by  the  right  to 
the  front,  and  sent  it  to  occupy  il-s  allotted  pens.  No  sooner  had 
the  first  step  of  the  march  been  taken,  than,  simultaneously,  from 
front  to  rear  of  the  battalion,  there  broke  forth  a  chorus  of  roaring 
bulls,  bellowing  oxen,  squeaking  pigs.  There  were  the  Ba-a-ah's 
of  sheep,  the  bleating  of  calves,  and  to  such  like  music  the  19th 
took  up  their  quarters.  The  fun  of  the  thing  almost  made  them 
forget  the  discomfort,  and  even  made  the  mortified  officials  of  the 
Railroad  laugh,  in  spite  of  themselves. 

"I  may  here  state,  that  for  the  rest  of  the  trip  to  Washington 
we  had  covered  cars,  with  permanent  seats, — the  worst  of  our  ac- 
commodations consisting  of  freight  cars  fitted  for  passengers. 

"  Philadelphia  to  Wilmington,  Wilmington  to  llav re-de-Grace, 
thence  to  Baltimore.  Slowly,  tediously,  and  in  the  dark,  we  com- 
menced our  march  across  this  city  by  the  route  so  sadly  known  as 
the  scene  of  the  attack  on  the  6th  Massacliusetts — the  'first  blood 
of  the  war.'  No  incident  served  to  recall  that  day  of  trouble  ami 
slaughter,  save  that  as  we  moved  silently  along,  a  door  was  open- 
ed, and  two  pistol  shots  were  fired  into  the  street  when  we  were 
passing.  As  no  one  was  hit,  the  motive  for  firing  was  never  in- 
quired into.  Indeed,  so  far  as  the  majority  of  the  city  was  con- 
ceriu^d,  its  active  and  kindly  hospitality  rivalled  that  of  Philadel- 
phia. There  was  plenty  of  food  and  refreshments,  provided  by 
the  city.  Nice  dishes  and  tables  with  white  covers,  were  pro- 
vided ;  the  wide,  broad  depot,  affording  shelter,  ventilation,  and 
phmks  for  sleeping  (juarters. 

"liut  the  man  who  exchanges  a  soil  bed  and  regular  hours  for 
sleepless  nights,  and  rest  on  a  board,  feels  the  same  soreness  of 
the  muscles  that  schoolboys  do  after  the  first  winter's  skate.  He 
suffers.  He  must  be  pressed  by  severe  hunger  before  he  can  eat 
with  relish  the  food  which  active  canq)aigning  can  alone  afford, 
and  hence  is  weakened.  Thirst,  too,  torments  him,  for  warm  wa- 
ter was  an  emetic,  an  active  one,  at  home,  aiul  even  coffee  and  tea 
with  no  sugai-  or  milk,  when  he  can  get  them,  do  not  seem  to  his 
delicate  nerves,  cpiite  palatable. 

"Hence,  those  were  a  weary,  and  a  faint  and  parched  assembly, 
that  threw  themselves  on  the  hard  floor  of  the  sheltering  depot  this 
night,  and  felt  that  to  be  '  intolerable  and  not  to  be  endured,'  which 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1 20" 

a  moutli  later,  they  would  joyfully  have  voted  to  be  luxurious  in 
entertainment,  and  palatial  in  accommodation.  Now,  however, 
many  eyes  were  hlood-shot  and  faces  pale.  In  the  sequel  we  shall 
see  this  tirst  journey  resultins^  in  much  serious  sickness, 

"  It  had  been  supposed  that  New  Orleans  was  to  be  the  scene 
of  our  tirst  soldiering.  But,  after  several  hours  delay,  the)  '  chang- 
ed all  that,'  at  Washington,  whither  we  weie  ordered  to  proceed 
and  re)  tort. 

"  Meanwhile,  the  Major  was  left  in  charge  of  the  19th.  No 
guards  had  been  changed  since  leaving  Camp  Dutton,  Hence, 
Lieut.  Botts  (Co.  I)  and  his  guard,  whojiad  been  on  constant  duty, 
were  almost  exhausted.  Perhaps  sotne  sentinel  winked,  or  was 
not  yet  accpiainted  with  all  his  duty.  At  any  rate,  whisky  found 
its  way  into  tlu;  depot,  and  two  men,  afterwards  well  known  for 
generous  and  brave  soldiers  when  sober,  and  very  devils  when 
drunk,  became  raving  from  its  eftects.  The  Major  caused  their 
arrest  by  the  guard,  and  after  confining  them,  the  whole  thing 
was  forgotten. 

''Judge  then  the  surj>rise  of  the  19th,  when,  a  week  or  two  af- 
ter, being  at  Alexandria,  papers  from  home  reached  them,  stating 
that  telegrams  from  Baltimore  brought  intelligence  of  a  formida- 
ble mutiny  having  broken  out  at  tliat  place  in  said  regiment,  which 
was  with  difficulty  quelled,  after  the  serious  injury  of  Col.  Wes- 
sels,  and  mortally  wounding  of  Capt.  TJice.  Any  othcer  or  man, 
who  knew  wliat  manner  of  soldiers  were  called  by  that  name,  can 
testify  that  mutiny  of  a  serious  character  was  never  a  possibility 
'under  these  Hags. 

"  There  was  a  long,  tedious  delay  at  Baltimore.  Then  more  ti'ials 
of  what  it  was  to  journey  as  freight, — which  was  more  tedious 
than  marching,  to  limbs  unused  to  ))lank  cushions  ami  cramped 
seats.  Now  and  then  a  halt  of  an  hour  or  so  at  some  switch  in 
the  woods,  would  give  the  men  a  chance  to  learn  the  task  of  Chin- 
(jua  pins,  to  wonder  at  flying  twigs,  and  see  the  strange,  uncouth 
snails,  the  'Soothsayer,'  the  most  uncouth  of  insects.  Then  the 
train  would  start,  and  on,  on,  on,  toiling  ah)ng,  we  slowly  drew 
near  to  Washington,  and  entered  there  at  nine  at  night — over  six 
hours  to  gain  forty  miles. 

''Oh!  how  well  all  remember  the  barracks  where  the  regiment 
lay  down  by  companies  on  the  floor,  when  fatigue  would  by  this 
time  have  brought  sleej)  with  it,,  spite  of  soi-e  joints,  had  not  the 
tilth  made  sleep  to  most  impossible.     How  horrible  it  was,  is  sutti- 


1  204  HISTORY      OF      V  N  < '  I  R  N  T     W  O  O  I)  B  If  R  Y  , 

cieutly  Hhown  ]»y  the  fad  that  the  men, ,/'«*///  tioiu  hunger,  after 
Mueh  long  fastings,  cotdd  not  swallow  the  food  provided  for  them, 
from  the  nauseous  stench.  A  weary  night  for  beginners  that,  and 
homesick  feelings  began  to  show  themselves,  in  long  faces  and 
silent  broodings. 

"  With  the  hot  morning,  came  directions  to  the  regiment  to  fall 
in,  which  it  did,  loaded  with  its  cumbersome  knapsacks,  such  as 
no  old  cam|iaigner  would  think  of  taking.  Some  choked  down  a 
little  food—  most  were  very  hungry — all  tired.  While  waiting  for 
the  two  Colonels,  who  were  engaged  with  the  war  autiiorities, 
the  Surgeon  reported  over  forty  sick  and  unable  to  continue  the 
march.  It  was  a  poor  look  out  to  leave  sick  men  beliind  in  such  a 
])lace,  but  it  had  to  be.  Sergeant  McKinney  was  detailed  to  take 
charge  of  them,  and  do  the  hesthe  could  for  them,  reporting  t(»the 
regiuKMit  as  soon  as  his  men  were  declared  able  to  march,  or  traus- 
])Ortation  could  be  found.  As  an  instance  of  how  trying  that  place 
was,  Sergt.  McK.  was,  before  the  next  night,  left  in  care  of  more 
than  seventy,  by  conimaudants  of  other  regiments.  No  small  com- 
pliment to  his  observed  efficiency.  Several  of  these  men  were  disa- 
l>led  )>ermanently,  and  it  was  three  days  before  the  remainder  were 
brought  into  camp,  looking,  with  their  officer,  like  ghosts. 

"  At  ten  A.  M.  we  took  up  the  line  of  march,  down  the  road 
that  lea<lK  to  Long  Bridge — destination.  Camp  Chase.  The 
thought  of  green  fields,  tents,  fresh  air,  was  inspiriting.  Down 
the  dusty  road  we  wound  our  serpentine  length,  when,  arrived 
just  where  the  Arsenal  road  crossed  our  route  at  right  angles, 
in  tlie  very  place  of  all  hot  Washinton !  most  miserably  hot  of  all, 
where  the  air  simmered  over  the  unshaded  avenue,  and  the  feet  sank 
above  the  ankles  in  burning  sand,  an  aid  rode  up,  spoke  a  word 
to  Kellogg — now  in  Command — and  battalion  halt — rang  out  from 
the  Lieut,  (yolonel.  We  were  brought  to  a  rest  then  and  there. 
Our  destination  had  been  changed  I  iloui-  after  hour  passed  on. 
Not  till  late  in  the  afternoon  did  w(;  resume  the  march.  Scorched 
and  parched,  the  weary  men,  tliix  time,  were  headed  toward  the 
Arsenal  dock,  placed  on  board  a  go\ernment  ste.amer,  and  just  as 
the  sun  was  setting,  wei'e  landcil  at  the  vxrx\  dock,  in  Alexantlria, 
Va. 

"  Here  again,  wait,  wait,  wait.  Some  commenced  writing  home. 
Some  stretched  out  at  full  length  on  the  sacred  soil,  hard  as  ada- 
mant now.  Some  few  tried  to  amuse  themselves  by  contrabands, 
dancing  against  eacli  other.     The  genious  who  could  ape  lvt'llogg\s 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     W  O  O  P  B  U  R  Y  .  1 205 

voice  SO  perfectly,  several  times  called  out,  Attention  Hattalioii ! 
when  a  general  rush  took  place  tor  the  runk.s,  but  the  men,  soon 
seeing  the  regiment  was  in  other  charge,  ceased  to  be  hoaxed. 
Darkness  came  on — dancing  au<i  writing  ceased — still  w^e  waited. 
The  men  were  getting  a  little  taste  of  n>al  soldiering,  in  a  mild 
form. 

"Finally,  when  it  was  to<»  late  to  see  a  step,  (ien.  Slougli,  Mili- 
ta.iy  Gov.  Alexandria,  Va.,  to  wdiom  the  Colonels  luul  reported 
the  regiment,  as  ordered,  lor  Provost  duty  in  his  department,  de- 
cided where  they  should  camp. 

"March  again,  stuml)ling  painfully  along,  in  the  pitch  darkness, 
for  a  mile  or  so,  till  the  halt  came,  when,  being  wheeled  into  col- 
umn by  companies,  ordered  to  imsliug  knapsack  and  rest,  the  lUth 
knew  that  it  was  in  camp.  Tents  ?  None — nothing  but  bare 
grouml,  Virginia  clay,  wet  by  rains  a  few  days  ago,  trodden  with 
the  deep  foot  prints  of  cattle  and  since  l)aked  by  the  sun  hard  as 
brick.  Rations?  none.  They  had  to  be  brought  down  from 
C^amp  Chase,  ten  miles. 

"  There  was  one  thing,  very  decidedly  a  wonder  even  to  our  some- 
what accustomed  nostrils.  Stench!  Overpowering  perfume  I  J^ah  ! 
whence  coming  none  could  know,  till  morning  disclosed  a  cordon 
of  dead  horses,  surrounding  us  nearly  half  way,  i-eraains  of  Pope's 
disasters,  and  just  rij)e  for  the  Turkey-Buzzards,  Even  those  who 
had  never  seen  the  bird  before,  had  little  curiosity  to  know  fur- 
ther of  them,  though  the  creatures  were  too  stujtidly  blissful  from 
gorging,  to  move  more  than  a  step  or  two  when  approached  I 

"  Wearily,  at  length,  our  active  Quartermaster  came  driving  in- 
to camp.  All  night  long,  with  a  squad  cf  men,  he  had  been  en- 
gaged in  the  heroic  endeavor  to  harness  unbroken  mules  to  our 
regimental  waggons,  and  })ring  the  rations  down.  Patience  and 
jierseverance,  in  which  he  fortunately  excelled,  had  conquered, 
tinally,  but  not,  as  it  was  (lontidentially  whispered  by  some  of  his 
men,  till  he  had  been  [)Ut  through  a  series  of  somersaults  and  in 
\  oluntary  antics,  too  ludicrous  for  this  grave  history  to  note. 

''Moving  a  mile  furthei-  on,  we  took  up  our  permanent  location 
on  Shuter's  hill,  foot  of  King  street,  overlooking  Alexandria,  and 
after  burying  the  dea<l  horses  and  oxen  on  our  j)lot,  (;ommenc<-d 
getting  ready  to  clear  our  camp. 

"Thus  commenced  our  stay  of  nearly  two  years,  two  weary 
years,  in  Alexandria,  a  place  poisonous    to   soul   and   body.     The 


1 200  HISTORY      OF     AXCIENT      WOODBURY. 

morals  of  the  regimeut,  fortunately,  siiflered  little,  but  in  liealtli, 
the  same  could  not  be  said. 

"  At  ten  o'clock  this  morning,  lo !  the  trains  from  Camp  Chase » 
The  rations !  and  one  lieavy  team  after  another,  each  drawn  by 
four  mules,  turned  out  of  the  highway,  and  majestically  formed 
line  by  the  side  of  our  '  camp.'  They  advanced  to  the  '  music  of 
the  mule,' — Who  that  has  ever  heard  their  '•hiujling^  so  strong,  so 
melancholy,  so  energetic,  and  at  the  same  time  so  prolonged  with 
languishing  into  a  steam  engine's  whisper,  can  ever  once  forget  it. 

FALI>  IN  FOR  RATIONS  ! 

"Since  twenty-six  hours  we  have  had  no  rations.  These  were 
uneatable.  The  common  remark  of  th(^  coffee  at  Washington  was. 
'slops  collected  in  the  street  slop  barrels.'  There  was  grease  float- 
ing abundantly  on  its  surfjice.  The  interior,  those  that  drank, 
looked  not  at,  but  tasted  less,  if  tliey  conld  help  it  !  Food !  there 
is  but  one  word  for  it — it  stanl:  Now  here  were  0)(r  own  rations 
and  all  were  greatly  relieved. 

To  expedite  matters,  the  authorities  sent  down  hams  packed  in 
barrels,  and  already  boiled, — })acked  full,  each  barrel — and  neatly 
headed  up.  A  few  boxes  of  hard-tack  were  also  forth  coming — 
three  crackers  to  a  man. 

"  So  there  was  a  speedy  unloading  of  ham  casks.  The  hoops 
of  the  heads  were  knocked  upwards,  and  off ;  when,  lo  !  the  heads 
rose  up,  when  no  longer  held  in  place  by  the  hoops,  of  themselves. 
'  .Tings,  an't  they  full ! '  says  a  hungry  fellow  near  by,  with  de- 
light. 

"  A  lid  is  lifted  off,  when,  .as  McCauley  sings  : — 

"  Was  nono  who  would  be  foreinoat. 
To  lead  suih  dire  attack  ? 
For  those  behind  j)ressed  foremost, 
Aud  tliose  before  cried  baek," 

'"Packed  in  sawdust!'  suggests  one,  mounted  on  a  wheel 
overlooking  others  heads.  No!  'Even  measure,  full,  pressed 
down,  and  running  over,^  says  another — *  Alive  again,'  said  an- 
other. 

''  There  were  those  wlio  were  sickened  at  the  endeavor  to  eat 
this.  Think  of  those  used  to  wholesome  food  but  four  days  be- 
fore, becoming  so  famished  as  to  roll  those  hams  out  of  their  casks, 
and  dissect  the  same  to  secure  for  their  own  use  such  ])ortion  as 


IIISTOIJY     OK     AXtlENT     W(^>OI)BUi;Y  1207 

was  not  yet  penetrated  with  the  foul  vermin,  that  seemed  a  seeth- 
ing mass. 

On  our  camp  at  ShuterV  liill  was  a  gently  incHued  side-liill,  rising 
surticienlly  al)ove  the  plains  of  Alexandria,  to  he  free  from  mala- 
rious fogs,  and  faeing  the  place  of  duty  and  drill.  The  drilling 
took  place  on  a  wide  plain  once  a  meadow,  one  hundred  paces  to 
our  front.  In  about  a  month's  constant  work,  it  hecame  as  good 
an  exercise  grouiul  as  need  he,  in  most  kinds  of  weather.  No 
])lace  trodtlen,  or  driven  on  in  tliat  part  of  Virginia,  is  other  than 
intolerably  dusty,  or  equally  muddy,  as  the  weather  approached 
extremes.  Almost  all  the  knolls  and  intervening  ravines  '  south 
of  the  Potomac,'  have  clay  on  the  surface  varying  from  eight  to 
twenty-five  feet  in  depth.  Under  this  lies  a  bed  or  strata  of  vary- 
ing thickness,  say  one  foot  to  5  feet,  of  something  resembling  red 
gravel  mixed  with  pebbles,  the  whole  so  far  fuzed  that  the  gravel 
has  been  viholly  melted.  After  this,  suppose  the  pasty  result  of 
the  melting  process  to  have  been  hardened  gradually,  around  and 
inclosing  the  pebbles  so  slowly  as  not  to  crack  in  the  }>rocess,  and 
you  have  an  approach  to  an  idea  of  what  Arlington  Heights  and 
the  rear  of  Alexandria  are  in  respect  to  soil.  Kain  cannot  j)ene- 
ttate  the  conglomerate,  and  be  carried  oti".  Conscquntly,  the 
clay  above,  after  long  rains,  becomes  complete  mortar,  when  work- 
ed up  by  any  disturbing  agency.  No  ventilation  reaches  it  from 
V)elow,  therefore  when  dried  it  is  as  hard  as  a  brick.  When  frosts 
come  on  in  the  fall  hard  enough  to  freeze  from  two  to  five  inches 
of  surface,  the  contraction  causes  the  surface  to  crack,  the 
crack  |)enetrating  below  the  frozen  surface,  the  vapor  rises  through 
it,  and  congeals  at  the  surface,  on  the  lips  of  the  fissure,  and,  as 
the  ices  form,  builds  a  little,  or  rather,  a  thin  wall  on  each  side, 
exactly  paiallel,  or  coinciding,  ami  some  times  six  to  eight  inches 
high.  Sometimes  this  efflorescence  is  extremely  beautiful — in  fact 
(juite  fairy-like,  when  enclosing,  for  many  acres,  little  patches  of 
irregular  shape ;  from  some  little  '  keep,'  six  inches  on  a  side,  to 
some  large  fortress,  containing  four  square  yards. 

"This  is  a  curious  instance  of  nature  forming  icicles  /loliilln'j 
iipioards. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  those  who  have  seen  nothing  of  this  kind 
to  believe  how  stifling  the  dust  is,  even  in  winter,  or  how  impas- 
sable to  man  or  beast,  except  for  the  few  first  passing  over  a  place, 
this  Virginia  soil  becomes. 


1208  H  1  S  T  O  K,  V      <  I  K     A  N  ( ■  I  E  N  i      \V  O  O  D  B  V  11  Y  . 

"  Such  V)eiug  the  location  oi'  the  caiii]»  aud  its  soil,  it  will  he 
seen  tliat  our  position  as  to  health,  would  l)c  very  j^reatly  modi- 
fied by  these  several  facts. 

"  It  was  almost  impossible  to  maintain  a  camp  anywhere 
without  great  labor  aud  constant,  intelligent  policeing.  The  water 
everywhere  would  be  almost  surface  water,  without  filtra- 
tion through  the  lower  strata.  On  the  plateau  V)ack  of  our  camp, 
and  draining  through  it,  some  fifty  acres  of  land  were  occupied 
by  the  Convalescent  Cajnp,  which  was  without  draii\age,  sinks, 
cleanly  tents,  or  orderly  arrangements  of  any  kind,  l)ut  were  filled 
with  universal  filth,  l^ack  of  our  camp,  and  draining  through  it, 
were  scores  of  disused  sinks,  which,  when  it  rained,  discharged 
their  overrtow  through  the  drains  of  our  streets.  The  burial 
ground  of  the  Convalescent  Carap,  in  which  from  one  to  ten  were 
buried  daily,  was  not  more  than  ten  rods  from  our  camp  streets, 
and  sloj)ed  into  thein.  Such  water,  therefore,  as  could  ]»e  obtained 
here,  could  be  but  poison.  A  stream  draining  a  long  highway, 
both  sides  of  which  were  strewn  with  decomposing  dead  animals, 
flowed  within  a  stone's  throw  of  us.  Another  similar  stream 
crossed  the  valley,  on  the  banks  of  which  there  were  never  less  than 
from  .50  to  100  dead  horses,  and  a  slaughter-house  besides — a  mass 
of  seeking  corru})tion  emptying  into  it.  Directly  north  was  an 
immense  cattle  yard,  ca}»able  of  holding  3,000  head  of  cattle,  and 
this  di'ained  into  that  stream.  South  of  Kings  street  was  a  like 
government  slaughter-yard,  all  the  ofial  oi'  wliich  was  discharged 
into  the  stream.  A  small  well  of  water  near  this  stream,  after  all 
its  accumulation  of  filth,  furnished  the  best  drink  the  camj)  af- 
Jbrded. 

It  is  to  this  day  difticult  t<>  see  why  the  government  shouM 
send  soldiers  into  such  a  '  charnel-house  of  death  '  as  this,  especi- 
ally when  there  were  better  places  but  a  little  way  off,  and  the 
duty  to  which  they  were  appointed  could  be  done  just  as  well, 
with  only  a  little  more  marciiing.  It  cannot  be  thought  strange 
that  the  men  almost  immediately  began  to  sicken  and  die,  and  the 
flower  of  Litchfield  County  to  be  sent  back,  to  be  tenderly  buried 
among  their  kindred  at  home.  To  be  sure,  if  it  was  necessary 
that  some  should  die  then  and  there,  that  the  country  might  live, 
some  might  think  that  it  was  better  thus  to  die  by  disease,  and  be 
caved  for,  aud  buried  in  !i  Christian  way,  than  to  die  by  the  bullet 
or  the  shell,  or  the  bayonet,  amid  the  din  and  smoke  of  battle,  aud 
be  hastily  burie«l  by  eomradcs   in  the  sliallow  ditch,  and   in  the 


1 1   I  s  r  « »  IJ  Y       «  K       A   \  <    1   B  N  '!•       W  ( I  ( •  I  •  l;  I     P.  Y  .  I  '_'<'!) 

military  dress  in  wlucli  Uicy  I'oiight,  iiucottlueci,  Lnistiui;  only  in  ;i 
soldier's  God,  yet  it  h:is  always  seemed  to  the  heroic  sonl,  in  all 
ai^os,  wliicli  devoted  itself  to  its  country,  that  it  was  better  to  die 
fiufhting"  nobly  in  the  crash  of  Vtattle,  and  make  ri;turn  of  the  do- 
in<(s  of  a  life  devoted  to  duty  to  the  Great  Author  of  all,  without 
the  accompaniment  of  funeral  rites,  and  the  pageants  of  magnili- 
ccnt  sorrow. 

"•Alexandria,  under  martial  law  ever  since  the  V)reakini>;  out  ol 
the  war,  had  sutiered  unspeakable  things  from  the  troops  on  duty 
in  her  streets,  or  (juartered  in  her  environs,  anil  the  Alexandrians 
h;nl  come  to  regard  a  soldier  as  a  scoundrel,  always  and  every- 
where. Hut  the  10th  Connecticut  had  not  l)een  a  week  in  Vir- 
ginia before  tlie  self-respecting  good  behavior  of  its  men  became 
ihe  general  tbeuic,  and  the  authorities  were  petitioned  by  the  cit- 
izens— nearly  all  of  whom  were  rebels — not  to  lemove  that  regi- 
ment from  Alexandria. 

"  Ou  the  2'2d  of  Sciitember,  a  detail  of  live  oHicers  and  seventy- 
men  relieved  the  patrol  of  the  SSd  Massachusetts  in  Alexandria, 
and  the  same  was  daily  furnished  during  the  remainder  of  1862. 
It  was  the  duty  of  the  patrol  to  move  about  the  city  in  small 
^<|uads,  or  stand  guard  at  theatres  and  certain  other  places,  and 
arrest  all  soldiers  who  could  not  ju'oduce  passes,  or  who  were  in 
mischief,  and  bring  them  to  the  Provost  Marshal's  oHice,  whence 
they  were  usually  escorted  to  the  '  Slave-Pen  '  in  Duke  Street, — a 
horrible  den,  with  the  following  sign  in  large  letters  over  the 
door:  '  Price  &  Inirch,  Dealers  in  Slaves.' 

"From  the  soft  beds  and  regular  habits  of  ('oiinecticul  homes, 
tt)  the  hard  ground,  severe  duties,  irregular  sleep,  bad  food  ;in<l 
worse  water  of  a  Virginia  camp,  was  a  change  that  coukl  not  be 
made  without  loss  of  health  and  life.  ]\[easles  and  Mumps  began 
to  prevail  ;  Uheumatism  made  the  men  lame,  Ghronir  Diarrhu-;! 
weakened  them,  TyphcKl  Fever  fired  their  blood,  and  Jaundice 
jiainted  their  skins  and  eye-balls  yellower  than  salfron.  Two  hos- 
pital tents  were  soon  filled  to  overflowing,  and  an  African  Church 
near  by  was  ap})ro})riated  as  a  llegimental  Hospiial  ;  while  the 
'  Sick  Call  '  brought  to  the  Surgeon's  cpiarters  a  daily  increasing 
crowd,  who  desired   medical   treatment   or  an  excuse  f'roni   duty." 

It  was  not  wonderful  thai,  with  the  niulti[ilied  sic.knes.s  in  cani)*, 
and  with  the  ability  which  every  citizen  soldier  possessed  of  wri- 


'  VailU'  Hist,  of  2d  Conn.  H.  Art.  Voluntecre. 


1210  II  I  S  T  O  11  Y    O  F      ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  U  U  K  Y  . 

ting  home  his  cotnphiitits,  more  or  less  just,  th;it  charges  should 
be  made  against  the  othcers, — or  soTiiebodi/.  Such  complaints 
were  made,  and  by  recjiiest  of  Colonel  Wessells,  Gov.  Bucking- 
ham appointed  a  Committee  to  examine  into  the  condition  of  the 
camp. 

"  Six  days  thereafter,  Dr.  8.  T.  Salisbury,  of  Plymouth,  arrived 
at  regimental  head<|uarters,  with  credentials  from  the  Governor. 
Colonel  Kellogg  requested  him  to  scrutinize  closely.  '  There  are 
our  jurors,' said  he,  pointing  to  the  men.  'Enter  their  (puirter.s 
and  question  them.  We  will  abide  by  tlieir  decision.'  Dr.  Salis- 
bury, upon  his  return  to  Connecticut,  made  a  report  which  exon- 
erated the  officers  from  blame,  lie  said  that  no  New  Englan«l 
village  could  surpass  the  canq)  in  neatness,  and  that  everything 
possible  was  being  done  for  the  welfare  of  the  men.  He  found 
the  wives  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Kellogg  and  Major  Smith  devo- 
tedly assisting  in  the  care  ot  the  sick;  and  General  Slough  inform- 
ed him  that  the  19th  Connecticut  was  the  best  conducted  regiment 
in  all  that  region."  * 

The  regiment  was  now  located,  for  the  balance  of  the  year,  and 
a  few  incidents  of  life  in  camp  will  be  a<lded,  mainly,  as  kindly 
furnished  the  author  from  the  "  Diary  "  kept  by  the  accomplished 
wife  of  Lieut,  Col.  Smith,  then  Major  of  the  regiment.  Moved 
by  a  patriotic  impulse  to  do  what  she  could  to  care  for  the  sol- 
diers in  the  hospital,  where  they  so  much  needed  the  kindly  atten- 
tions of  woman,  she  had  joined  her  husband  in  camp,  early  after 
the  regiment  had  been  permanently  located,  and  her  praise  was  on 
the  lips  of  all  our  sick  soldiers, 

"Nov.  3d,  1862.  Last  night  we  had  the  first  death  in  the  regi- 
ment, and  it  has  made  us  all  sad.  I  have  been  up  to  the  tent 
where  the  body  lies,  previous  to  embalming,  lie  looks  ])cacefully 
at  rest,  and  my  tears  fall  more  for  his  friends  than  for  him.  He 
was  a  young  Lyman,  from  Goshen,  and  only  about  1 8  years  of 
age.  They  report  another  death  this  morning.  We  hope  Gen. 
Slough  will  see  the  bad  result  of  giving  this  regiment  such  hard 
work  to  perform,  and  will,  in  a  measure,  release  the  strain  upon 
the  poor  fellows,  who  have  been  on  duty  ten  days  and  nights  in 
succession. 

"  This   regiou  is   lurroughed  with  graves.     Fairfax  Seminary — 

,      '  Vkills'  Hist. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1211 

now  a  hospital,  and  a  most  beautiful  building — is  just  opposite  us, 
beyond  a  ravine.  Abnost  everywhere  around,  a  little  apart  from 
the  road,  I  can  see  the  tell-tale  mounds,  without  headmarks,  where 
some  poor  fellow  has  been  tucked  away.  Oh !  horrid,  horrid 
War  !  In  the  old  burial  grounds,  in  amongst  many  a  family  group, 
one  sees  a  nameless  grave,  new  made,  shallow  dug,  in  which  some 
Northern  soldier  has  been  laid.  But  how  long  will  his  bones  re- 
main there  untouched  ?  Will  they  not,  at  a  later  day,  be  rudely 
ejected  to  make  room  for  some  returning,  rightful  owner  ?  Will 
they  not  be  scornfully  thrown  aside  as  the  remains  of  a  "Cursed 
Yankee."  I  cannot  bear  to  think  that  the  time  may  come  when 
unhallowed  revenge  shall  be  taken  upon  the  dead,  and  our  best 
Northern  blood  have  served  only  to  enrich  this  vile,  Virginia  soil. 
The  first  death  that  occurred  in  our  Woodbury  Company  I, 
was  that  of  Corporal  John  L.  White,  on  the  13th  of  November, 
1862,  and  the  second,  that  of  James  C.  Policy,  on  the  19th.  The 
sickness  and  death  of  the  latter,  is  thus  alluded  to  in  Mrs.  Smith's 
Diary : — 

"  Alexandria,  Dec.  5,  1862, 

*'  Two  days  before  I  was  taken  sick,  Mr.  Policy  came  to  see  me. 
looking  so  well ; — but  while  I  was  in  bed,  he  sickened,  and  I  found 
him,  when  I  got  out,  in  hospital,  sick  with  typhoid  fever.  He  was 
very  glad  to  see  me.  I  talked  with  him  awhile,  and  urged  him  to 
eat.  The  difficulty  with  this  fever,  in  the  commencement  is,  the 
absolute  loathing  one  has  for  food.  Mr.  Policy  said  he  could  eat,  if 
I  would  make  him  some  chicken  tea.  So  I  sent  all  over  town  for  a 
chicken,  and  finally,  the  servant  returned  with  a  nice,  tender  one. 
I  made  it  into  an  absolute  jelly,  thickened  it  with  isinglass,  and 
took  it  over  just  at  tea-time.  Tt  was  early  morning  when  I  had 
promised  it  to  him,  and  he  had  refused  all  food  till  I  came.  Hav- 
ing but  one  hand,  I  could  not  feed  him,  but  the  nurse  did,  and  he 
smacked  his  lijts  and  said,  '  Oh,  splendid,  I  can  eat  it  all.'  But  he 
soon  wanted  to  rest,  and  then  insisted  it  should  be  put  under  his 
bed,  for  fear  some  one  should  get  it.  And  so,  for  several  days  I 
visited  him,  carrying  him  almost  all  he  eat,  and  standing  by  him. 
I  counted  so  many  swallows  at  a  time,  for  he  would  always  eat  for 
nie,  and  always  knew  me,  till  the  last.  Two  days  before  he  died, 
I  went  over  to  see  him,  and  my  heart  sunk.  There  was  that  fatal 
drop  of  jaw,  and   that  look  of  the  eye,  as  if  it  were  piercing  dist- 

24 


1212  II  I  S  T  rt  R  V      C*  F      A  X  C  I  E  V  T     W  C>  C>  D  H  U  R  V  . 

ance.  1  hnve  learned,  alas!  to  know  the  death-mark,  unerringly  ! 
It  did  not  seem  as  if  we  could  let  him  die — he  was  so  patient — 
every  one  was  interested  in  him.  All  the  officers  and  men  and 
nurses,  clung  to  the  idea  that  he  would  rally,  and  so  we  all  hoped. 
But  he  was  sinking  beyond  our  reach.  I  asked  him  if  I  should 
not  write  to  his  fhmily.  He  said  yes.  I  asked  him  what  I  should 
write.  The  fever  was  very  high  upon  him  then,  and,  as  I  fanned 
the  flies  oft^  his  thee  and  pushed  his  hair  away,  he  looked  up  in  my 
face,  wanderingly.  It  was  but  for  a  moment,  and  then  he  smiled, 
and  said  : — "  Oh,  Mrs.  Smith,  write  to  my  family  as  you  think 
best  for  them  and  me.  Your  judgment  will  judge  for  me  bet- 
ter than  my  judgment  could  judge."  That  night  I  got  Mrs  Kel- 
logg to  write  to  Mrs.  Policy,  at  my  dictation,  but  ray  letter  must 
have  been  preceded  by  the  sad  telegram  of  his  death.  The  night 
before  ho  died,  I  took  him  eggs,  beat  up  in  whiskey  and  sugar* 
and  though  he  did  not  want  to  take  it,  he  did,  when  I  asked  hitn 
to  take  it  for  his  family.  It  was  very  strong,  and  he  looked  at 
me  with  a  smile,  and  said,  "  Is  this  food  ?"  I  took  his  poor,  liot 
hand  in  my  cool  one,  and  held  it  for  a  few  moments,  said  a  few- 
words  of  cheer  and  comfoi't  from  a  Source  which  he  knew  well, 
and  left  him,  feeling  in  my  heart,  that  ere  dawn  he  would  be  at 
rest.  About  six  o'clock,  the  same  morning,  he  prayed  in  a  strong, 
clear  voice,  so  that  they  heard  him  all  over  the  hospital,  and  in  a 
few  moments,  without  a  struggle,  he  had  gone  home  !  They  seiit 
rae  word  as  soon  as  I  was  up,  and  geting  some  white  chrvsanthn- 
raous,  and  beautiful  box,  from  a  neighbor,  I  made  a  cross  and  bou- 
quet, and  when  he  >vas  ready,  they  came  for  me  to  place  them 
upon  his  body.  He  looked  so  calm,  and  so  utterly  at  peace,  that, 
except  for  his  wife  and  little  children,  I  had  no  tears.  We  placed 
the  cross  in  his  hands,  and  the  bouquet  on  his  feet,  and  then  he 
was  slowly  borne  away  to  the  town,  to  be  embalmed,  the  Masons 
bearing  all  the  expense." 

A  few  days  later  is  recorded  the  following  picture  of  the  Con- 
valescent ("amp,  which  was  at  tiiat  time  a  disgrace  to  humanity 
and  a  shame  to  the  nation,  that  was  pouring  forth  its  treasures, 
like  water,  to  sustain  the  war! 

"  It  is  fearfully  cold  to-ilay.  Wo  have  had  quite  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow,  and  the  wind  bloM's  piercingly.  It  was  a  bitter  night, 
though  we  were  perfectly  comfortable  ;  but  we  lay  awake  a  long 
while,  thinking  of  the   poor  convalescents  above  us,  and  of  our 


HIST  O  It  V     O  F      A  \  <:  [  K  N  T      W  t>  O  I )  B  U  R  Y  .  1213 

brave-fellows  at  the  trout.  There  must  be  ;i  \ast  amount  of  suf- 
fering among  them,  for  they  have  nothing  hut  shelter  tents  and  a 
blanket  to  protect  them  against  the  blast.  There  is  one  poor 
•cripple  in  the  Convalescent  Camp,  who  comes  on  crutches  up  the 
hill,  and  while  hanging  on  one,  he  works  away  at  the  old  stumps, 
from  which  he  gets  a  few  miserable  splinters.  Day  before  yester- 
day I  saw  a  thin,  shadowy  man,  with  a  remnant  of  an  ;i50  blanket, 
painfully  gleaning  chips  into  it,  where  others  strongei'^.  or  smarter 
than  he,  had  chopped  up  whole  trees.  I  said  to;' .'him,  '  are  you 
going  to  have  a  good  tire  ?  '  '  Yes  'm,'  said  he,  and  his  teeth  chat- 
tered.— '  I  am  so  ver;/  cold.'  A  mile,  and  even  two  miles  out,  you 
may  see  exhausted  beings  staggering  home  with  armsfuU  of 
twiggs,  and  this  luorning  the  guard  found,  on  the  edge  of  our 
camp,  above,  a  man  clinging  to  a  precious  faggot,  but  dead  ! — fro- 
zen to  death  !  His  tire  on  earth  was  never  lighted.  His  own 
lamp  of  life  went  out  in  the  effort.  But  Heaven  grant  that  that 
poor  sufferer  shall  be  among  the  'comforted  '  hereafter.  I  cannot 
express  too  strongly  my  horror  of  the  institution  called  the  Con- 
valescent Camp.  Men  who  have  been  sent  from  the  hospitals  to 
join  their  regiments,  have  been  left  to  rot  in  this  camp,  where 
din,  disease  and  lice,  abound !  They  are  allowed  to  freeze  to 
death,  while  fat  secessionists  have  Union  guards  to  protect  their 
trees  and  fences !  As  I  write,  the  sun  is  setting,  and  in  the  dread 
of  a  long  and  freezing  night,  men  almost  frenzied  with  cold,  are 
working  away  at  old  roots  on  the  hill.  So  far  they  have  respect- 
ed the  wooden  head-boards  of  the  grave-yard,  but  the  bits  they 
are  painfully  cutting  are  covered  with  frozen  snow,  and  I  have 
seen  them  look  longingly  at  the  seasoned  pine  over  the  graves.  I 
have  no  right  to  carry  them  some  sticks  from  here.  The  whole 
Convalescent  Camp  would  be  down  upon  us;  but,  as  I  sit  here  by 
a  warm  lire,,  with  a  heart  aching  for  those  poor  fellows,  that  satne 
heart  keeps  up  a  refiroachful  refrain — '  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  not 
done  it  unto  others  ye  have  not  done  it  unto  me.' — Oh,  you  at 
home  with  warm  houses  and  bright  lights  and  glowing  fires, 
think,  this  fearful  weather,  of  those  who  have  nothing  but  a  frail 
canvass  Vjetween  them  and  the  freezing  night  air." 

The  foiiowiiig  is  a  graceful  tribute  to  Colonel  Kellogg  : 

"  Colonel   Kellogg,  though   very   r<>>/(//i,  is   one  of  the   softest 
hearted  men  I  ever   saw.     He  is  a  great   traveler,  and  a  man  of 


1214  H  ]  S  1  O  H  Y      O  F     A  H  ('  ]  E  >;  'J      >\'  i)  O  I)  h  V  K  Y  . 

wonderful  information,  while   his  powers  of  description  are  rare. 

His  men  are  attached  to  him,  and  respect 
him,  and  those  who  see  him  as  I  do,, 
kind-hearted,  full  of  sympathy  for  the 
sick,  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes  at  the 
sight  of  suffering  he  cannot  alleviate, 
know,  that  in  spite  of  rough  words  and 
looks,  he  is  a  good  man,  as  well  as  a  strict 
disciplinarian  and  soldier. 

"  Again  at  the  hospital.  I  fear  we 
have  two  more  doomed  ones  in  there. 
One  man,  who  is  deranged,  requested  yesterday,  that  if  be  died, 
his  body  should  be  sent  home.  That  is  the  last  cry  of  all  these 
poor  fellows.  Send  me  home!  Don't  bury  me  in  this  horrid 
land  of  traitors  and  secession  !  Send  me  home  to  the  old  grave- 
yard, with  its  mossy  stones  and  its  drooping  trees,  the  resting 
place  of  generations  of  ancestors  and  remembered  loved  ones — 
Send  me  home !     Send  me  home !  " 

"Dec.  22,  1862.  I  did  not  sleep  much  last  night,  from  some 
reason  or  other.  But  the  nights  do  not  seem  long.  Every  two 
hours  the  relief  comes  along,  and  I  hear  the  challenge  and  the 
change  of  sentinels — then,  at  midnight,  the  grand  rounds.  Then 
T  can  hear  variously  tuned  snores,  and  oh  !  the  coughs !  The  va- 
riety and  the  number  are  astonishing.  There  is  the  surface  rack, 
and  the  cavernous — the  throaty  gag  and  the  wrenching — the  la- 
bored and  the  catarrhal,  the  near,  the  distant,  and  the  dreary,  dry 
cough,  which  tells  that  consumption  is  nigh  at  hand.  Sometimes, 
too,  I  have  heard  from  the  street  tents  the  home-sick  out-cry  of 
some  poor  fellow,  who  has  been  the  motJier-hoy  at  home,  and  bitter 
cold  nights  I  could  have  shed  tears,  too,  for  '  those  I  l^ft  behind 
me.'  Alas  !  alas  !  for  a  soldier's  life.  The  old  song  that  it  is  full 
of  joy,  may  do  well  enough  for  the  *  piping  times  of  peace,'  but 
in  dnys  of  war,  and  intestine  war  too,  the  song  is  a  mocking  lie." 

The  next  extract  from  the  *  diary,'  which  will  be  given,  is  the 
touching  account  of  the  sickness  and  death  of  Corporal,  or  rather 
2d  Lieut.  Frederick  Whitlock.  Though  in  chronological  order 
this  would  belong  in  the  place  allotted  to  the  events  of  the  early 
days  of  1863,  yet  in  the  grouping  of  incidents,  it  comes  in  more 
p'-dperly  here. 


HIST  O  R  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  0  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1215 

"Whitlock  was  always,  though  younger  in  years,  one  of  the  au- 
thor's most  considerate,  firm,  and  faithful  friends.  Indeed,  that 
was  his  nature.  He  was  true,  genial  and 
faithful  to  all.  His  countenance  and  his  life 
were  ever  sunny.  It  is  with  a  full  heart 
that  the  writer  records  his  virtues  on  this 
mc^raorial  page. 

As  has  been  seen,  innncdiately  after  the 
disastrous  battles  of  the  "  Seven  Days  in  the 
Wilderness,"  under  the  leadership  of  Mc- 
Clellan,  the  President  cilled  for  300,000  vol- 
unteers. As  an  inducement  to  earnest  recrtiiting,  Gov.  Bucking- 
ham ordered,  that  every  suitable  candidate  who  should  enlist  forty 
men,  should  receive  a  2d  Lieutenant's  Comniission.  Under  this 
provision,  Whitlock  procured  enlistment  papers  from  the  Adjutant 
General,  and  opened  a  recruiting  office  in  Woodbury.  But  learn- 
ing that  Mr.  Eli  Sperry,  who  afterwards  became  Captain  of  our  Co. 
T,  had  also  obtained  papers  for  the  same  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
conxuiission,  which  bore  date  a  day  or  two  earlier,  and  believing 
that  it  would  be  highly  detrimental  to  the  cause  of  enlistments,  if 
two  opposing  offices  should  be  kept  open  in  our  small,  rural  com- 
munity, with  a  most  praise  worthy  patriotism  he  closed  his  office, 
returned  his  papers,  repaired  to  New  Haven,  enlisted  the  15th  of 
August,  1862,  and  was  mustered  in  as  a  private,  in  Co.  F,  of  the 
20lh  regiment.  He  was  very  soon  promoted  Corporal  and  Ser- 
geant, for  faithful  service.  But  his  ambition  led  him  to  undertake 
to  do  too  much.  The  20th  regiment  was  called  upon  to  do  heavy 
■marching,  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  and  being  determined  to  do 
the  work  of  the  strongest,  he  fell  sick,  and  was  sent  to  Trinity 
General  Hospital,  at  Washington.  The  writer  had  been  in  recent 
correspondence  with  him.  Whitlock  knew  that  he  expected  to 
visit  the  camps  in  a  few  days,  and  had  arranged  for  a  meeting. 
He  had  important  matters  which  he  said  he  wished  to  submit  to 
him,  expressing  the  greatest  solicitude  to  see  him.  The  writer  de- 
sired, on  his  part,  to  see  him,  and  accomplish  his  wishes,  if  possible. 
He  accordingly  went  to  Washington,  but  on  account  of  a  general  or' 
der,  promulgated  the  very  day  of  his  arrival,  he  was  unable  to 
get  a  pass  to  go  any  further  than  the  '*  Defences  of  Washington  and 
Alexandria."  Whitlock,  meanwhile,  was  with  his  regiment  at  Fair- 
fax Couit-House.  It  turned  out  in  the  sequel,  that  he  was  carried 
through  Alexandria,  sick,  to  Washington,  the  very  day  the  writer 


1216  71  f  S  T  O  K  Y      OF     ANCIENT      W  O  0  D  B  IT  E  Y  . 

was  tliere,  seeking  a  pass  to  go  to  him.  After  a  visit  to  the  sol- 
diers in  the  camp,  he  returned  to  Washington,  and  was  there 
till  the  day  Whitlock  died,  almost  within  a  stone's  throw  of  him, 
but  was  unaware  of  his  presence  in  the  city,  and  returned  home 
in  ignorance  of  it.  The  writer  has  never  ceased  to  regret,  that 
while  each  sought  the  other  with  such  perseverance,  they  could 
not  have  met,  and  that  the  poor  sufferer's  dying  hours  could  not 
have  been  soothed  by  his  life-long  friend.  It  would  have  been  a 
great  privilege  to  have  been  permitted  to  do  something  to  allevi- 
ate the  pains  of  such  a  friend,  while  passing  "  over  the  dark  river." 
But  the  secret  he  so  much  desired  to  impart  died  with  him.  We 
may  fondly  hope  that  so  gieat,  so  kind,  so  good  a  heart,  has  found 
noblei"  employment  beyond  the  portals  of  death. 

There  was  another  sad  circumstance  in  his  death  at  this  time. 
He  had  so  well  fulfilled  his  duties  as  a  soldier,  that  Gov.  Bucking- 
ham granted  him  a  commission  as  2d  Lieutenant,  and  the  commis- 
sion reached  him  while  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  too  late  for  him 
to  know  that  his  ambition  had  been  gratified,  and  his  merit  reward- 
ed. He  died  Jan.  24,  1863.  His  body  was  embalmed,  sent  to 
New  York,  and  buried  in  Greenwood  Cemetery. 

Tavo  extracts  from  Mrs.  Smith's  "diary  "  follow: — 

"Fred.  WurrLOCK. — 6th  Jan.,  186.3.  I  have  been  much  amused 
to-day,  by  the  account  that  Lieut.  Col.  Wooster,  of  the  20th  C 
v.,  has  given  us  of  Corporal  Whitlock.  He  says  he  is  all  energy 
and  spunk,  determined  to  keep  up  with  the  biggest  and  burliest 
soldiers,  and  die  game,  if  he  dies  at  all.  The  regiment  has  been, 
from  the  outset,  exposed  to  all  the  inclemency  of  the  weather^ 
never  having  remained  stationary  in  any  ony  one  place  long  enough 
to  make  themselves  comfortable,  and  unprovided  with  other  than 
the  shelter  tent.  They  have  been  continually  on  long,  forced 
marches,  sometimes  for  several  days  together,  and  Fred,  has  reso- 
lutely kept  up  with  the  best  of  them,  refusing  to  lighten  his  knap- 
sack or  even  to  put  his  baggage  into  one  Jof  the  regimental  wagons, 
as  the  Colonel  told  him  to  do.  He  seems  to  be  a  great  favorite 
and  a  good  soldier.  Colenel  Wooster  spoke  of  him  with  great 
friendliness  and  kindness." 

"January  25th,  1863. 

"  My  heart  aches  with  bitter  pain  and  my  eyes  overflow.  Poor 
Fred.  Whitlock  is  dead — dead  in  the  hospital  at  Washington,  and 


n  1  S  T  O  li  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  ^>  J  >  !!  U  R  Y  .  1217 

no  one  to  cave  tor  iiis  boJy,  or  couitiinnicuLe  with  bis  friends  but 
myself!  The  hist  time  I  saw  him,  he,  my  husband  and  myself  ex- 
clianged  good-byes  at  Soutbbury  ;  Fi'ed.,  full  of  enthusiasm  and 
military  zeal.  The  next  I  heard  of  lum  was  through  Lieut.  Ool. 
Wooster,  of  the  20th  C.  V.  Day  before  yesterday  I  received  a 
large  envelope,  franke'l  by  a  member  of  Congress,  and  addressed 
to  me  at  Fort  Barnard.  The  note  enclosed  proved  to  be  from 
Fred.,  telling  me  he  had  been  taken  to  Trinity  General  Hospital, 
at  Washington,  sick  with  bilious  fever,  and  asking  me  to  send 
word  to  WaHer,  (his  brother,  of  the  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery.) 
He  wrote  me  that  he  was  in  need  of  clothes,  and  to  ask  Walter  to 
bring  some  for  him.  Fort  Barnard,  where  Walter  is,  is  liiree 
miles  from  here,  and  it  was  impossible  to  send  that  night.  I  sent 
for  Dr.  Lawton,  who  was  previously  surgeon  of  the  ^Oth,  and  the 
one  who  examined  and  passed  Fred.,  and  who,  supposing  at  that 
time  he  should  remain  in  the  20th,  could  discharge  Fred,  later,  if 
he  felt  unable  to  continue  I  Most  fortunately,  the  doctor  was  going 
to  Washington  in  the  morning,  (yesterday,)  and  I  gave  him  Fred's 
address,  and  a  note  for  him,  and  he  promised  to  go  and  see  him. 
The  weather  was  such  that  I  could  not  get  out,  as  we  have  no  con- 
veyance here  now,  except  our  feet,  or  I  should  have  gone  with  Dr. 
Lawton  myself,  and  seen  what  I  could  do.  Just  as  we  were  pre- 
paring to  send  our  Orderly  to  Fort  Barnard,  Walter  came  in,  and 
I  told  him  about  Fred.,  and  that  he  had  better  return  immediately, 
and  spend  the  afternoon  in  getting  a  pass  for  Washington — a  long 
job  now,  as  it  has  to  go  through  so  many  hands  before  completion. 
Last  evening  Dr.  Lawton  returned,  with  the  most  unexpected  in- 
formation, that  he  found  Fred,  in  the  Dead  Plouse ! — the  poor  fel- 
low had  died  that  morning!  They  told  the  doctor  that  he  had  been 
brought  there  on  the  18th,  and  had  been  unconscious  almost  ever 
since  he  had  been  there,  only  rallying  long  enough  to  ask  to  have 
one  letter  written  to  a  lady.  He  died  easily  and  unconscio'.isly, 
but  the  doctor  tells  me  he  was  so  emaciated,  he  should  not  have 
known  him.  His  letter  was  dated  the  19th,  a»d  I  did  not  receive 
it  till  the  23d.  Had  it  been  simply  stamped,  I  should,  probably, 
have  got  it  in  season  to  have  gone  to  Washington.  I  cannot  con- 
ceive the  cause  of  its  delay.  At  day-light  this  morning,  we  sent 
an  Orderly  over  to  Walter  with  a  note  from  me,  telling  him  the 
sad  news,  and  hurrying  him  to  Washington.  Dr.  Lawton  told 
them  at  the  Hospital  not  to  bury  poor  Fred,  to  day,  but  to  wait 


1218  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     M'  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

until  they  heard  from  me.  I  telegraphed  to  his  brother,  Duncan, 
last  night,  and  have  also  requested  that  Fred,  be  kept  above 
ground  until  to-morrow.  At  eleven  this  morning,  poor  Walter, 
pale,  with  his  eyes  swollen  by  weeping,  came  and  told  me  he  had 
been  waiting  since  early  morning  to  get  his  pass  signed'  by  Gen. 
Tyler,  who  was  asleep  and  no  one  dared  to  wake  him !  Poor  fel- 
low !  his  spirit  seemed  utterly  broken,  and  in  his  utter  loneliness 
I  deeply  sympathized  with  him.  The  sisterly  sympathy  did  him 
good,  and  he  left  mCvieeling  a  little  more  courage  and  strength. 
I  have  written  to  his  sister,  Eliza,  and  told  the  story  as  gently  as 
I  could,  but  I  could  not  modify  the  dispatch,  which  stated  "  Your 
brother  Fred,  is  dead.  Have  ordered  embalming — come  immedi- 
ately." How  little  did  I  ever  suppose  that  Avhen  the  last  came,  I 
should  be  the  means  of  saving  the  '  Little  Corporal '  from  a  Hos- 
pital grave,  and  be  the  only  link  between  him  and  his  friends  at 
home.  Oh  !  if  I  could  have  received  his  last  letter  soon  enough 
for  me  to  have  gone  to  him,  that  I  might  have  gathered  some  final 
words  for  his  mother,  his  sister,  and  brothers — some  last  thoughts 
for  his  '  loved  ones  at  home !'  When  Walter  reached  the  Hospi- 
tal, he  found  that  the  body  had  just  been  carried  away  to  the  '  Sol- 
dier Rest,'  about  five  miles  from  Washington,  and  the  poor  fellow 
started  ;ifter  it.  He  reached  there  just  five  minutes  sooner  than 
the  hearse,  and  was  enabled  to  take  his  brother's  remains  back 
with  him,  and  commit  them  to  the  care  of  the  embaimer,  who 
would  forward  them  to  New  York. 


"Hauvey  H.  Fox's  Death. — Feb.  1st,  1863.  I  went  over  this 
morning  to  the  hospital,  and  was  shocked  at  findiug  Harvey  H. 
Fox  at  death's  door.  I  had  seen  him  on  guard  two  days  before, 
and  spoken  to  him,  and  thought  then,  the  man  looked  miserably. 
When  he  saw  me  come  up  to  his  bedside,  he  held  out  his  hand, 
and  the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  I  saw  the  same  fatal  symp- 
toms that  I  have  learned  to  know  so  well,  and,  even  then,  I  felt 
that  no  earthly  power  could  avail  anything.  Oh  !  all  of  you  at 
home!  Can  you  imagine  what  it  is  to  see  so  many  lying  down  to 
die — to  bid  so  many  good-bye  ! 

Feb.  4th. — Poor  Fox  died  tiiis  morning.  I  went  over  as  early 
as  I  could,  but  he  was  dead  before  I  reached  the  Hospital.     He 


HISTOItY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1219 

knew  he  must  die,  and  did  not  murmur,  but  he  did  mourn  that 
his  wife  could  not  come  to  him.  He  looks  very  cahn,  and  died 
very  quietly.  The  touch  of  the  mighty  Angel  of  Death  has  mod- 
ified and  ameliorated  the  harsh  lines  of  his  face,  and  his  poor,  be- 
reaved wife  and  family  will  have  a  last  look  at  his  still,  manful 
countenance,  when  the  body,  which  his  company  have  had  embalm- 
ed, reaches  Woodbury." 

These  sad  recitals  give  us  mournful,  but  li .  mg  pictures  of  the  sad 
scenes  of  sickness  and  death,  on  the  malarious  "  old  Camp  Ground  " 
at  Alexandria. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1862,  the  regiment  had  a  specimen  of 
the  emotions  they  would  experience  on  their  first  call  to  battle, 
and  that  sort  of  contest  most  dreaded  by  soldiersi — a  night  attack, 
when  one  is  not  sure  of  distinguishing  friend  from  foe.  It  is  fully 
described  in  the  following  extract: — 

"Alexandria,  Dec.  20,  1862. 

"  Last  evening,  about  six  o'clock,  Colonel  Kellogg  came  into 
say  that  Capt.  Rice,  who  commanded  our  pickets  and  patrol  in 
town,  had  sent  word  that  the  Stuart  cavalry  were  within  seven  or 
eight  miles  of  us,  and  evidently  about  to  make  a  raid  into  this 
immense  depot  of  army  stores.  If  true,  the  19th  would  be  called 
into  action — if  not  true,  it  would  do  no  harm  to  be  found  watch, 
ing.  My  husband  immediately  told  me  that  I  must  go  over  to  the 
tavern,  and  Mrs.  Colonel  Kellogg  received  like  orders.  Without 
waiting  for  any  thing  but  to  gather  one  or  two  precious  objects, 
bidding  our  husbands  a  God-speed,  and  a  good-night,  we  left  the 
camp.  We  considered  the  reports  exaggerated,  and  did  not  feel 
very  great  apprehension  of  an  attack,  but  we  heard  so  much  worse 
things  at  the  secession  tavern,  that  we  got  thoroughly  alarmed. 
The  family  is  kind,  and' likes  th«  trust-worthy,  geyitlemanly  »o\- 
diers  of  the  19th,  and  we  knew  we  were  safe  enough  there  for 
the  present,  though  had  we  had  time,  we  should  have  gone  up 
to  Washington.  As  it  was,  however,  the  Colonel  and  Major  felt 
a  sense  of  comfort  in  our  location,  and  v}e  were  glad  to  be  near 
them.  About  ten  o'clock  we  retired — five  of  us  in  one  room — Mrs. 
Kell'jgg's  little  boy,  and  the  daughters  of  the  house — Union  and 
rebel — making  common  cause,  and  utterly  forgetting  differences, 
or  dislikes.  Mrs.  Kellogg  and  I  took  a  bed  near  a  window  overlook- 
ing the  road,  and  part  of  our  camp,  and  while  we  talked,  the  rest 


1220  HISTORY     OF     A  N  0  1  E  N  T    W  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

all  fell  soundly  asleep,  and  absolute  stillness  came  over  all  sur- 
roundings. Aliout  eleven  o'clock,  our  listening  ears  were  struck 
by  a  stealthy,  but  steady  and  stern  tramp,  and,  springing  to  the 
window,  we  saw  the  19th  drawing  up  in  battle  line  just  across  the 
road,  to  the  right !  They  were  going  to  tight,  then,  our  brave 
boys!  (-iroing  out  under  the  bright  moonlight  to  risk  their  lives 
for  their  country  I  3Iarching  out  to  meet  an  enemy  8,000  strong. 
It  was  to  be  the  same  old  story  of  a  few  sent  against  the  many — 
of  sacrifice,  blood-shed,  and,  probable  defeat.  We  knew  by  the 
splendid,  silent  niarch  of  our  men  with  their  glittering  muskets, 
that  the  enemy  would  nieet  with  no  timid,  or  straggling  foe,  but 
as  Colonel  Kellogg  said,  that  '  the  19th  would  make  some  pretty 
bad  sores  heXove  it  got  through!'  Still,  our  position  was  one  of 
agony,  for  beneath  our  window  stretched  that  glittering  line,  and 
we  could  hear  the  dear,  well-known  voices  of  our  husbands,  ring- 
ing their  commands  through  the  clear  moonlight  air.  Promptly, 
silently,  grimly  di<i  our  noble  regiment  stand  ready  for  whatever 
might  be  its  fate,  and  still  the  child  and  the  two  girls  slept  placidly 
on,  and  one  of  the  kittens,  a  favorite  of  mine,  stole  up  into  my 
lap,  purring  cozily.  By  this  time  I  was  up  and  dressed,  and  as 
the  moonlight  brightened,  and  the  shadows  deepened,  every  stump 
on  Shuter's  Hill,  and  every  break  in  the  ground  filled  our  straining 
eyes  with  pictures  of  approaching  rebels,  or  friends  and  reenforce- 
ments.  Presently,  the  19th  marched  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and 
the  men  lay  down  upon  their  arms.  Then,  later  they  returned  to 
camp,  and,  on  their  arms  again  lay  down.  But  not  for  a  long 
time.  Five  mounted  soldiers  dashed  into  camp,  and  in  two  min- 
utes the  Adjutant's  cry  of  'Fall  in  '  was  heard,  and  in  a  moment 
more,  the  men  turned  out,  formed,  and  without  a  word,  without 
bugle-note  or  drum-beat,  they  marched  down  the  road,  and  we 
saw  our  husbands  and  our  regiment  disappear  in  the  moonlit  dis- 
tance. Then,  for  a  moment — only  for  a  niomeni — we  broke  down. 
And  still  the  little  boy  slept  peacefully,  the  girls  were  quiet,  and 
pussy  purred  cosily  on  my  knee. 

Then,  in  the  camp  of  the  IsrJd  New  York,  ail  was  stir,  bustle, 
and  confusion.  They  received  notification  at  the  same  time  our 
regiment  did,  but  with  their  usual  green,  unsoldierly  performances, 
they  drummed,  and  tooted,  and  shouted,  and  beat  the  long-roll  of 
alarm,  so  familiar  to  me  in  the  French  '  rappel,'  of  insurrectionary 
memory.  Four  hours  later  than  the  19th,  they  marched  by  the 
house  in  full  rig — officers  all  m«)unted — every  one  of  ours  afoot  — 


HISTORY      OF     AX  C  I  E  N  T    W  -)  O  D  B  T  R  Y  .  1221 

riaQS  flying',  baofgage-wagons,  with  three  *lays  rations,  two  ambu" 
lances,  the  medical  staff,  flrnnis,  fifes,  bugles  and  all  I  Between  time's 
about  150  men — all  that  remained  of  the  1st  District  of  Colum- 
bia, the  oldest  volunteer  regiment  in  the  service,  had  gone  quietly 
by,  and  then  all  settled  into  loneliness  and  quiet,  only  interrupted 
by  the  rapid  gallop  of  an  orderly,  the  low  rumble  of  an  ambu- 
lance, or  the  hurry  and  rush  of  the  loaded  trains,  conveying  all 
the  rolling  stock,  and  movable  government  property  to  Washing- 
ton, or  the  distant  cries  of  vast  droves  of  cattle  being  driven  from 
just  below  our  camp  over  to  Long  Bridge.  Meantime,  the  forts 
kept  up  vivid  signals,  and,  at  times,  the  glare  from  Fort  Ells- 
worth, reddened  our  faces,  and  crimsoned  the  moonlight  on  the 
floor.  And  the  two  girls  slept,  and  the  child  breathed  heavily, 
and  kitty  purred  happily,  and  the  two  wives  listened  and  waited, 
counting  hour  after  hour,  rejoicing  as  each  moment  passed, 
that  no  sound  of  fight  reached  us.  And  all  through  the  night,  in 
the  chill  night  air,  our  regiment  stood  in  battle  line  across  the 
road,  with  the  1st  Dist.  of  Columbia  on  the  left,  and  the  153d 
New  York  on  the  right,  the  forts  but  poorly  manned,  and  with  no 
short-range  guns,  stretching  along  towards  Washington.  The 
Rebels  came  within  four  miles  of  them,  but  the  night  was  so 
bright,  and  their  opponents  awake,  they  retired  toward  Fairfax, 
and  the  threatened  rebel  raid  was  choked  off  for  once, 

"The  Colonel  and  Major  wore  delighted  with  the  readiness  and 
pluck  of  the  men,  and  the  excitement  has  done  the  men  good. 
They  feel  a  confidence  in  themselves,  and  in  their  officers.  Not  a 
man  fell  back,  or  faltered.  And  I  must  mention,  that  what  with 
the  sick,  the  men  detained  in  town,  and  at  Parole  Camp,  they  did 
not  muster  quite  500  strong,  but  many  a  complainer,  and  several 
but  lately  from  the  Hospital,  turned  out  with  the  rest,  and  ran 
their  chances  of  life  and  death.  Alexandria  rings,  to-day,  with 
praises  of  the  19th — Union  and  llebel  alike.  For  the  rebels  dread 
a  raid  of  their  own  army,  terribly,  and  pin  their  f^aith  to  the  19th, 
as  a  protection." 


"  Alexandria,  Va.,  Jan.  12th,  1803. 

"Farewell  to  the  camp  on  Shuter's  Hill !     Good-bye  to  our  old 
home,  in  this  pest-house  of  the  'Sacred  soil !  '     The  men  have  suf- 


1222  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     WOODBURY. 

fered  and  died,  and  are  sickeniag  and  dying  still,  but  we  hope 
change  of  air  will  bring  them  up,  and  restore  to  us  many  who  are 
now  in  the  hospital.  Yet  there  is  a  kind  of  horae-sick  feeling 
comes  across  me,  as  I  look  over  the  well-known  ground,  and  see 
nothing  but  the  remnants  of  our  various  al^odes  The  signal  for 
striking  tents  was  given  at  daylight,  and  at  the  drum-beat,  down, 
<lown  went  the  canvass  city,  and  lay  prone  upon  the  ground. 
Then  the  streets,  which  every  day  have  been  military  and  quiet, 
were  like  suddenly  disturbed  ant-hills,  perfectly  swarming  with 
life  and  excitement.  Then  the  fun  and  the  frolic  began,  and  the 
ladies  stood  upon  the  hill-top,  and  laughed  till  we  were  tired,  at 
the  performanaes  of  the  men.  They  had  rat  chases  to  their  hearts 
content.  Such  well-fed  fellows  as  plunged  out  from  beneath  tent- 
floors,  to  meet  a  sudden  death,  I  have  seldom  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing.  Officers  and  men,  darkies  and  citizens — one  and  all — 
joined  in  the  race,  and  hundreds  of  the  horrid  vermin  lie  this 
morning  upon  the  deserted  ground,  testifying  to  their  struggles 
and  death.  What  a  scene  the  home  of  the  19th  presents!  The 
neat,  well-ordered  streets  are  almost  obliterated  by  rubbish  and 
remnants.  Old  boots,  cast-off  caps,  mateless  stockings,  burnt-out 
stoves,  bristle-less  blacking-brushes,  old  papers,  broken  boxes 
smashed  bottles,  fag-ends  of  ropes,  bits  of  leather,  rusty  iron — 
every  conceivable  thing  once  useful  and  desirable,  now  become,  asi 
everything  else  becomes — rubbish.  Yesterday,  when  the  wagons 
were  being  packed,  the  camp  swarmed  with  camp-followers,  eager- 
eyed,  and  light-fingered,  grabbing  right  and  left,  and  stowing  into 
dirty  bags,  everything  they  could  scrape  together.  They  rushed 
past  sentinels  with  bayonets,  defied  captains,  insulted  guards,  and 
boldly  plied  their  plundering  trade  directly  under  the  noses  of  the 
military  authorities.  Even  the  officers  caught  the  stealing  mania, 
and  robbed  each  other,  relentlessly.  Capt.  Williams  fought  val- 
iantly for  his  dry-goods  and  groceries,  and  finally  succeeded  in  re- 
taining his  bedstead  and  mess-chest,  by  setting  on  the  one,  and 
putting  his  feet  on  the  other.  When  he  heard  us  laughing  at  his 
mishaps,  he  shook  a  broom  at  us,  :ind  just  at  that  nioment  the  Ad- 
jutant rode  up,  seized  it,  and  made  off  with  it  in  triumph.  Then 
the  captain  lowered  his  head  over  the  remnants  of  his  posses- 
sions, and — did  not  weep! 

"The  regiment  moved  up  the  Leesburg  Pike,  passed  Fairfax 
Seminary,  and  encamped  among  the  stumps,  a  few  rods  from  the 
abbatis  of  Fort  Worth.     The  liability  of  ;in  immediate  call  to  the 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOOOHURT.  122.5 

front  was  now  so  far  diminished  that  there  was  a  very  noticeable 
relaxation  of  military  rigor.  Dress  Parade,  Guard  Mounting,  and 
Camp  Guard,  were  for  some  days  the  only  disciplinary  duties  re- 
quired, and  great  was  the  enjoyment  afforded  by  the  respite. 
Stumps  were  to  be  cleared  away,  and  ditching  and  draining  done 
for  a  camp  and  parade  ground ;  and  the  change  from  constant 
duty  under  arms  to  chopping,  grubbing,  and  digging  fresh  earth, 
was  extremely  grateful  and  beneiicial.  True,  the  month  of  Janu- 
ary witnessed  a  greater  mortality  than  any  other  of  the  entire 
twenty  months  passed  in  the  '  defenses ; '  but  it  was  the  result  of 
disease  previously  contracted. 

'*  Fort  Worth  was  a  little  earthwork  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  rear  of  Fairfax  Seminary,  overlooking  the  broad  valley  of  Hunt- 
ing Creek,  and  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railway,  and  mount- 
ing some  twenty-four  guns  of  all  kinds — Rodman,  Parrott,  Whit- 
worth,  8-inch  Howitzers,  and  iron  and  Coehorn  mortars.  Here 
began  our  artilleri/  service;  and  for  many  months  the  19th,  al- 
though an  infantry  regiment,  performed  garrison  duty  in  this  and 
half  a  dozen  other  forts  and  redoubts  in  the  vicinity, — thereby 
attaining  a  proficiency  in  artillery  that  eventually  won  the  '  red,' 
and  would  doubtless  have  "been  effective  at  the  front,  if  such  ser- 
vice had  ever  been  required  of  us.     But  it  was  not  so  to  be." 

Thus  have  we  gone  through  with  the  principal  events  of  the  year 
in  which  Woodbury,  and  its  sons  had  a  part,  and  have  shown  that 
they  performed  it  faithfully  and  well.  We  have  recounted  some 
of  the  events  of  a  year  of  gigantic  preparation,  fierce  and  destruc- 
tive battles,  of  desperate  defeats  to  our  arms,  and  of  more  glorious 
victories  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  country. 
The  year  1862  closes  with  the  hope,  but  not  the  certainty  of  a 
better  record  in  future. 

1863. — Our  account  of  the  military  events  of  1862,  in  which  the 
soldiers  of  Woodbury  were  interested,  closed  with  the  removal  of 
the  camp  of  the  19th  Conn.  Vols.,  from  the  pestilent  locality  at 
the  head  of  King  street,  to  the  heights  near  Fairfax  Seminary. 
Here,  and  in  the  vicinity,  the  regiment  remained  in  the  defenses, 
during  this  year,  and  till  May,  1864.  There  is  little  of  incident 
to  record  of  this  regiment  during  this  time.  They  simply  entered 
into  the  monotony  of  garrison  life. 

"  During  the  entire  season,  the  19th  was  called  upon  for  nothing 
more  laborious  than  drilling,  target  practice,  stockade  building  in 


1224  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y      O  F     A  N  C  I  K  X  T     M'  O  O  i>  JJ  L'  K  V. 

Alexandria,  picking  blackberries,  drinking  a  quarter  of  a  gill  of 
whiskey  and  quinine  at  Reveille  and  Retreat,  and  drawing  pay 
from  Major  Ladd  every  tw<»  months.  Yet  a  good  many  seemed 
to  be  in  all  sorts  of  attiiction,  and  were  constantly  complaining, 
because  they  could  not  go  to  tlia  front.  A  year  later,  when  the 
soldiers  of  the  19th  were  staggering  along  the  Pamunkey,  with 
heav}  loads  and  blistered  feet,  or  throwing  up  breastworks  with 
their  coftee  pots  all  night,  under  tire  in  front  of  Petersburg,  they 
looked  back  to  the  defenses  of  Washington  as  to  a  lost  Elysium, 
and  fervently  longed  to  regain  those  blissful  seats.  Oh  Happi- 
ness I  why  is  it  that  men  never  recognize  thy  features  until  thou 
art  far  away  "i  " 

lii  the  early  spring,  a  political  incident  engaged  the  earnest  at- 
tention and  discussion  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment. 
The  two  political  parties  had  made  their  nominations,  in  accord- 
ance with  their  se\  eral  views,  and  on  account  of  the  indecisive 
re&uk  of  the  war  as  waged  in  1862,  those  who  had  originally  been 
"peace  men,"  wnth  considerable  accessions,  came  to  the  front,  and 
there  was  a  vigorous  campaign. 

"On  or  about  the  28th  of  March,  Colonel  Aiken,  of  Connecti- 
cut, visited  camp,  and  spent  an  hour  or  more  with  Colonel  VVes- 
sells  and  Major  Smith,  at  the  quartet's  of  the  latter.  Shortly  after- 
ward, it  became  known  that  leaves  of  absence  were  to  be  granted 
to  ten  officers,  and  furloughs  to  ninety  men,  for  nine  days— or  un- 
til after  the  Connecticut  election  ;  and  each  Company  commander 
was  reqested  to  select  ten  from  his  Company  for  this  purpose,  and 
to  furnish  a  list  of  their  names,  to  be  forwarded  to  Washington, 
and  embodied  in  an  order.  Some  of  the  Captains  were  war  dem- 
ocrats, some  republicans,  and  some  of  no  politics, — but  all  of  them 
professed  to  select  those  for  furloughs  who  had  the  best  reasons 
for  going  home,  without  regard  to  politics.  The  order  shortly 
came,  and  the  ten  officers  and  ninety  men  left,  for  Connecticut."  ' 

However  it  may  have  been  with  other  companies,  the  division 
was  made  equal  between  the  two  parties  in  the  number  furlough- 
ed  to  Woodbury,  if  we  regard  party  divisions  as  they  existed 
when  the  company  marched  from  our  town.  But  it  is  the  impres- 
sion of  the  writer,  that  such  was  the  love  of  Woodbury  soldiers 


'  Vaills'  19tli  Regiment. 


H  1  S  T  O  K  Y      O  F      A  N  C  I  B  X  T      W  V>  O  I>  1!  V  K  V. 


1225 


for  Governor  Bucking'hain.  and  such  their  warm  approval  of  his 
earnest  efforts  in  the  l»ehalf  ot"  the  Union,  and  such  his  kind,  con- 
siderate and  paternal  care  for  the  interest  and  welfare  of  all  the 
soldiers,  that  he  received  tlieir  every  vote. 

An  incident  occurred  at  our  election,  which  occasioned  a  rao. 
mentary  ripple  u{)on  the  usually  quiet  surface  of  our  society. 
When  Company  I  was  organized,  a  desperate  shirk,  and  so  far  as 
he  knew  how  to  be,  a  disloyal  man,  whose  name  is  withheld  for 
fear  he  will  attain  more  notoriety  than  he  deserves,  enlisted  in  the 
Company,  to  claim  the  bounties.  Immediately  after  arriving  in 
Virginia,  he  began  to  shirk  duty,  and  finally  was  enabled,  by  /iif< 
representations,  to  get  into  the  hospital  at  Alexandria.  The  wri- 
ter called  on  him  there,  as  he  did  on  all  the  Woodl)ury  soldiers, 
whereever  he  could  find  thera,  in  Jan.,  1862.  He  found  him  in 
bed,  partaking  of  rations,  and  with  a  pile  V)ig  enough  for  three 
men.  This  man  immediately  besouglit  him,  with  tears,  to  inter- 
cede for  his  release,  with  the  authorities.  This  was  accordingly 
done,  and  when  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  hospital  was  asked 
why  this  soldier  should  not  be  discharged,  he  instantly  replied, 
that  "there  was  no  reason  in  the  world  why  he  should  not  be  dis- 
charged. He  was,"  he  said,  ''  a  d — d  shirk,  and  knave,  who  had 
enlisted  to  get  the  bounties  ;  that  he  never  had  done  and  never 
would  do  the  Government  any  service,  and  he  would  procure  his 
discharge."  He  was  discharged,  and  voted  at  this  election.  When 
the  ten  soldiers  came  up  t(<  vote,  he  reviled  them,  as  "  Lincoln 
hirelings,"  who  had  V»een  sent  home  to  vote  for  Gov,  Buckingham. 
At  the  same  time  apparently  suspecting  that  this  insult  would  be 
resented,  he  drew  a   silver-mounted,  six-bari'eled  revolver,  which 


1226  IIISTOKY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

had  been  loaned  him  by  a  peace  man,  and  presented  it.  Not 
knowing  with  what  intent  the  weapon  was  drawn,  Sergeant  M. 
D.  Smith  cried  out,  "  Fall  in,  Co.  I."  The  "  Woodbury  boys  "  as 
instantly  obeyed,  and  a  "  double  quick  "  was  made  f«r  the  revolver. 
The  coward  fired,  but  Mr.  Alexander  Oordon,  who  was  standing 
near,  knocked  the  muzzle  down,  and  the  weapon  was  discharged 
within  an  ace  of  his  foot.  The  ''squad"  took  the  weapon,  and 
Sheriff  Minor  took  the  miscreant  into  custody.  When  the  nine 
days  furlough  expired,  the  "  Woodbury  nine  "  mounted  the  stage 
in  front  of  the  Post-office,  and  departed  for  the  "  defenses,"  ex- 
hibiting the  revolver,  and  promising  to  use  the  weapon  at  the  front. 
And  it  did  do  good  execution  against  the  rebels  at  a  later  day. 

Several  calls  for  volunteers  and  drafts  were  ordered  by  the  Pres- 
ident in  1863.  Woodbury,  as  usual,  was  in  the  forefront  of  re- 
cruiting and  raising  bounties.     It  passed  the  following  votes  : — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  six  thousand  four  hundred  dollars^ 
or  80  much  of  said  sum  as  may  be  necessary,  be,  and  the  same  is 
hereby  appropriated  from  the  Treasury  of  this  town,  for  the  fol- 
lowing purposes,  viz :  Two  Hundred  Dollars  thereof  to  be  paid 
into  the  hands  of  a  Committee,  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
for  the  benefit  of  each  person  drafted  from  this  town,  who  shall 
not  be  exempt  under  any  of  the  provisions  of  said  law,  and  who 
shall  be  liable  to  answer  to  the  said  draft,  under  any  of  the  pro- 
visions of  said  law  ;  said  Committee  to  procure  substitutes  for 
each  and  all  such  drafted  men ;  whenever  each  one  so  drafted 
shall  furnish  to  said  Committee  the  amount  in  cash  over  and  above 
the  $200,  necessary  to  furnish  a  substitute,  not  exceeding  $300  in 
the  whole.  Provided,  that  if  substitutes  cannot  be  had  by  said 
Committee  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  *300  each,  that  in  that  case 
said  Committee  pay  over  said  $200  furnished  by  the  town  to  each 
of  such  drafted  men  as  are  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  himself,  and  also  to  him  who  has  not,  and  who  does  not  re- 
fuse to  accept  a  substitute,  when  to  be  had  for  a  sum  not  exceed- 
ing $300. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  authorized  to  borrow  the  said  sum  of  $6,400,  or  such  part 
thereof  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  necessary,  and  make  their 
order  on  the  town  therefor;  and  the  Selectmen  are  hereby  appointed 
to  disburse  said  money  or  such  pari  thereof  to  said  Committee 
as  shall  be  necessary  to  carry  out  tlie  foregoing  resolution. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1227 

.  '■'■  Hesolved^  That  the  aforesaid  bounties,  or  monies,  in  tlie  hands 
of  said  Committee,  be  paid  to  the  drafted  man  himself,  or  liis  sub- 
stitute, or  their  order,  who  is  entitled  to  the  same;  and  not  on 
any  factorizing  or  other  legal  process. 

*'  Voted,  That  said  Committee  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  res- 
olutions to  procure  substitutes,  shall  consist  of  two,  and  Daniel 
Curtiss  and  Robert  Peck  were  appointed  said  Committee." 

Dec.  \2th,  '63,  Tovyn  Meetimj. 

"  Yoted.^  That  E.  B.  Martin,  recruiting  officer  of  the  town,  be  au- 
thorized, at  the  expense  of  the  town,  to  employ  one  or  moi'e  agents 
to  assist  him  in  obtaining  volunteers  to  apply  on  the  quota  of  tliis 
town  under  the  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for 
300,000  men. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  of  this  town  be  directed  to  draw 
such  order  or  orders  on  the  Treasury  of  this  town,  to  carry  out 
such  provisions  of  the  foregoing  vote  as  shall  be  allovvcd  by  a 
Committee  hereafter  to  be  appointed. 

"  Voted,  That  Daniel  Curtiss,  Robert  Peck  and  Truman  Minor, 
be  a  Committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the  recruiting  officers  and 
bequests  above  named,  and  to  allow  such  bills,  at  their  discretion, 
as  they  shall  judge  to  be  necessary  to  obtain  volunteers  to  fill  our 
quota,  and  deliver  all  such  bills  as  are  allowed  by  them,  to  the 
Selectmen." 

Under  these  votes,  recruiting  went  on  rapidly,  as  it  did  under 
every  other  call,  and  the  town  nobly  fulfilled  its  duty,  under  the 
constitution  and  laws. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  the  Govornor  called  for  colored  volim- 
teers  for  tlie  29th  Regiment,  and  the  colored  men  of  our  town  came 
forward  with  great  alacrity.  More  than  half  of  the  able-bodied 
men,  almost  immediately  enlisted,  and  did  good  service.  At  the 
collapse  of  the  Rebellion,  two  companies  of  that  Regiment  which 
contained  Woodbury  colored  men,  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  infontry  which  entered  Richmond. 

There  was  no  duty  devolved  upon  the  army  dui-ing  the  war 
sad,  brave,  or  glorious,  in  which  the  Woodbury  soldiers  did  not 
take  a  part.  One  of  the  saddest  duties  which  a  soldier  can  be 
called  to  perform  is,  to  shoot  a  comrade.  Yet  the  stern  exigen- 
cies of  the   service  sometimes  required  this.     A  description  of  a 

25 


1228  HISTOKT     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

single  case  of  execution  in  the  8th  Connecticut,  at  which  some  of 
our  Woodbury  boys  assisted,  will  suffice : — 

"  Camp  near  Portsmouth,  December,  1863. 

"Dear  Friend  and  Editor: — Having  a  few  leisure  moments, 
I  propose  to  give  you  an  outline  of  an  incident  wliich  occurred  in 
our  regiment  yesterday.  You  are  aware  that  there  has  been  an 
addition  made  to  our  regiment  in  the  shape  of  conscripts.  Quite 
a  number  of  them  have  deserted,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to 
have  an  example  made  of  some  of  them,  to  put  a  stop  to  it* 
Therefore,  two  of  them  who  had  deserted  twice  and  were  caught 
again,  were  sentenced  to  be  shot,  and  the  sentence  was  carried  out 
yesterday.  At  9  A,  M.,  the  regiments  of  this  brigade  were  form- 
ed on  their  respective  parade  grounds,  and  marched  to  an  open 
field  near  Fort  Reno. 

"A  hollow  square  was  then  fornied,  and  the  men  rested  on 
their  guns,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  prisoners,  with  their  escort. 
At  half-past  nine  the  funeral  escort  started  from  the  brigade  head- 
quarters, the  band  playing  a  dirge.  The  band  was  followed  by  a 
detail  of  eight  men,  carrying  the  coffins  on  stretchers,  followed  by 
a  section  of  th    Provost  Guard. 

"Next  came  two  carriages  containing  the  prisoners  and  their  spir- 
itual advisers.  The  procession  was  closed  by  a  section  of  the  Pro- 
vost Guard.  As  the  escort  entered  the  square,  a  solemn  silence 
prevailed.  After  the  escort  had  marched  around  the  square,  the 
prisoners  were  taken  out  of  the  carriages  and  led  up  in  front  of 
the  detail  that  were  to  execute  them.  After  the  priests  (for  they 
were  Ctholics)  had  shrived  them,  they  were  made  to  kneel  in  front 
of  their  coffins,  and  bandages  put  over  their  eyes.  Soon  the  fatal 
order  was  given  to  fire,  and  their  souls  passed  into  eternity.  It 
was  an  impressive  scene,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  be  a 
solemn  warning  to  those  that  would  desert  their  country's  cause." 

The  year  of  18G3  was  a  year  of  substantial  victories  for  the 
cause  of  the  Union.  Everywhere  the  men  of  the  North  an- 
swered the  full  demands  of  duty,  and  our  little  town  was  rep- 
resented on  the  greater,  glorious  battle-fields.  Wherever  deeds 
of  valor,  or  courage  were  to  be  done,  they  were  to  be  found. 
Space  permits  a  reference  to  only  one,  the  sternest  of  battles, 
which  saved  the  nation's  life,  and  in  which  they  participated.  It 
was  the  glorious  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  Gen.  Lee,  for  once, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1229 

ventured  to  invade  our  free  soil,  and  tried  to  bring  us  to  all  the 
horrors  of  invasion,  which  tiie  "sacred  soil"  had  so  long  suflered, 
in  the  effort  of  the  government  to  restore  its  rightful  authority 
over  the  the  entire  territory  of  the  nation. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  3d — the  last  and  great  day  of  the  bat- 
tle,— Gen  Geary,  who  had  marched  from  the  center  to  the  right 
during  the  previous  night,  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  at  early 
dawn.  However,  he  soon  succeeded  in  driving  him  back,  and  in 
ousting  liim  from  that  part  of  the  field,  which  he  had  won  the 
day  before.  The  battle  then  surged  along  this  part  of  the  line, 
with  great  fury.  The  enemy  being  uniformly  repulsed,  till  11  A. 
M.,  whea  it  ceased,  and  over  the  whole  field  everything  was  omi- 
nously silent  for  two  hours.  The  soldiers  ate  their  dinners  and 
rested,  pondering  what  the  issue  might  be.  At  1  P.  M.  two  sig. 
nal  guns,  from  the  Rebel  line,  broke  the  silence,  and  were  at  once 
followed  by  the  roar  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-live  cannon, 
massed  in  position  against  our  left  center.  Our  own  batteres  res- 
ponded, and  for  over  two  hours  there  was  the  grandest  artillery 
prelude  ever  heard  on  this  continent.  Shot  and  shell  rushed, 
whistled,  shrieked  and  moaned,  and  the  very  air  seemed  alive  with 
the  flying  projectiles.  At  length  our  guns  ceased  to  reply,  and 
the  artillery  roar  slackened.  Then  followed  the  grand  assault  of 
the  rebels.  In  it  was  one  half  of  their  whole  army.  On  they 
came,  with  a  heavy  line  of  skirmishers  in  front,  and  two  complete 
lines  of  battle.  They  were  received  principally  by  the  second 
corps,  which  behaved  with  magnificent  courage.  Reenforcements 
were  rapidly  sent  to  its  support,  and  all  our  available  artillery  was 
converged  upon  the  advancing  enemy.  Their  first  line  seemed  to 
sink  in  the  earth,  but  with' the  madness  of  desperation  on  they 
rushed. 

"  Now  they  had  reached  our  guns,  and  were  in  the  act  of  turn- 
ing them  against  us,  when  a  determined  charge  recovered  them. 
For  several  hours,  division  after  division  was  hurled  against  the 
firm  and  solid  lines  of  our  army,  only  to  be  dashed  back  with 
slaughter  and  confusion.  Finally,  the  sullen  roar  of  battle  rolled 
oft'  to  the  southwest,  and  the  enemy  withdrew,  repulsed  and  de- 
feated. 

"Thus  closed  the  terrible  battle  of  Gettysburgh.  The  pride 
and  power  of  the  Rebel  invasion  were  thorougiily  broken  by 
the  invincible  valor  and  obstinate  bravery  of  the  hard-marched 
veterans  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac." 


1230  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

1864.  The  year  opened  with  increased  preparation  and  hope. 
The  idea  that  this  was  to  be  a  short  war,  had  long  since  been 
abandoned,  and  the  certainty  that  it  would  be  a  long,  costly,  and 
bloody  one,  had  become  a  moral  certainty.  But  the  intention 
of  the  government  to  defend  itself,  and  bring  the  war  to  a  suc- 
cessful close,  had  never  been  more  determined. 

The  lOlh  Connecticut  was,  by  an  order  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, issued  on  the  23d  of  November,  1863,  changed  into  the  2d 
Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery,  to  the  general  joy  of  the  men,  and 
they  thenceforth  added  artillery  tactics  to  their  course  of  instruc- 
tion. But  they  were  destined  never  to  fight  as  artillery.  The 
only  benefit  to  them  was,  the  increase  of  their  number  up  to 
eighteen  hundred  men,  the  full  complement  of  an  artillery  regi- 
ment. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1864,  General  Grant,  who  had  been  sig- 
nally successful  in  the  campaigns  of  the  west,  was  appointed 
Lieut.  General,  and  made  commander  in  chief  of  all  the  armies  of 
the  United  States.  He  established  his  head-quarters  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac — the  army  of  so  many  sad  disasters.  From 
the  beginning  of  the  wai',  till  now,  it  had  been  deemed  necessary, 
by  the  successive  commanders,  to  keep  a  large  number  of  troops 
in  the  defenses  of  Washington.  Grant  reversed  all  this.  ■  When 
he  wanted  soldiers  for  his  campaigns,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  take 
them  from  the  defenses  of  the  capital,  or  anywhere  else  where  he 
could  find  them,  nor  was  he  particular  from  which  arm  of  the  ser- 
vice he  took  them. 

On  the  iTth  of  May,  1864,  an  order  arrived  for  the  regiment 
to  march  at  once  for  the  head-quarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, with  five  days  rations.  They  reached  their  destination  on 
the  20th,  and  were  assigned  to  the  2d  Brigade,  1st  Divis- 
ion, Sixth  Corps.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  21st,  ''began  that 
long  and  terrible  series  of  marches,  which  were  continued  almost 
without  a  breathing  spell,  until  the  1st  of  June,  when  the  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor  began. 

On  the  27th,  Col.  Upton  called  on  Col.  Kellogg,  and  said  : — 

" '  Colonel,  let  your  men  know  that  ^ve  are  to  have  a  march  to- 
night, so  that  they  may  get  as  much  rest  as  possible.  We  shall 
probably  be  witliin  fifteen  miles  of  Richmond  to-morrow^  morning.' 
At  eight  o'clock  the  column  was  again  in  motion,  on  the  road  fol- 
lowing the  left  bank  of  the  Pamunkey;  and  oh!  what  language 
will  convey  to  those  who  were  not  there,  the  least  idea  of  the 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1231 

murderons  cruelty  ia  that  march?  We  had  ah-eady  suffered  al  1 
that  flesh  and  blood  seemed  able  to  bear,  on  the  road  from  Spott- 
sylvania  to  the  North  Anna,  and  the  future  had  in  store  for  us 
many  other  marches  that  were  grievous  beyond  expression  ;  but  I 
am  persuaded  that  if  all  the  regiment  were  to  be  summoned — the 
living  and  the  dead — and  notified  tliat  all  their  marches  except  07ie 
must  be  pei-formed  over  again,  and  that  they  might  choose  which 
one  should  be  omitted,  the  almost  unanimous  cry  would  be,  'De- 
liver us  from  the  accursed  night  march  along  the  Pamunkey  !  '  In 
darkness  and  silence,  hour  after  hour,  without  a  rest  of  more  than 
five  minutes  at  a  time,  the  corps  was  hurled  along  that  sandy  road. 
Thei'e  was  no  danger  that  the  head  of  the  column  would  lose  its 
way,  for  a  large  body  of  cavalry  had  preceded  ns  a  day  or  two 
before,  and  dead  horses  lined  the  road  throughout,  at  intervals 
averaging  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  sickening  all  the 
motionless  air.  Ten  o'clock, — eleven  o'clock, — midnight, — two 
o'clock,— four  o'clock, — the  darkness  began  to  f;ide  before  the  in- 
flowing tides  of  the  morning  light,  but  still  the  jaded  men  moved 
on.  Captain  Burnham,  with  stockings  and  rags  bound  upon  his 
blistered  feet  like  sandals,  (his  boots  having  been  used  up  and 
thrown  away,)  hobbled  painfully  along  beside  his  men,  whose  feet, 
like  those  of  all  the  rest,  were  in  the  same  condition." 

This  regiment  had  been  in  service  about  twenty-two  months, 
and  were  now  about  to  receive  their  first  baptism  of  fire  and  blood 
— an  event  that  was  to  carry  death  and  decimation  into  its  ranks 
with  scarcely  a  parallel  during  the  whole  war.  The  battle  receiv- 
ed the  name  of  Cold  Harbor.  And  what  was  this  place? — three 
or  four  unpainled  houses  east  of  a  sparce  pine- wood,  common  in 
Virginia.  Lieut.  Vaill,  who  was  the  Adjutant  of  the  regiment, 
and  present  at  the  battle,  has  so  eloquently  described  it,  that  nearly 
his  whole  description  is  inserted  here.* 

"Just  at  the  left  of  the  spot  where  we  had  stacked  our  musk- 
ets, was  a  hollow,  basin-like  spot,  containing  about  an  acre  of  land' 
and  a  few  pine  and  chestnut  trees,  and  well  protected  on  the  front 
by  a  curved  line  of  breastworks,  which  were  thrown  up  during 
McClellan's  campaign,  two  years  before,  or  else  had  been  erected 
by  Sheridan's  Cavalry.  In  tliis  hollow  the  three  battalions  of  our 
regiment  were  massed,  about  two  or  three  o'clock,  preparatory  to 

'  This  battle  was  fought  about  ten  inilea  North  of  Richmond. 


1232  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

a  charge,  which  had  been  ordered  by  General  Meade  to  take  place 
at  five.  By  this  time  the  field  pieces  of  the  1st  Division  had  taken 
position  directly  in  our  rear,  while  the  rebels  had  batteries  directly 
in  our  front ;  and  for  a  long  time  the  solid  shot  flew  back  and  forth 
between  them,  right  above  our  heads,  lopping  off  twigs,  lirabs» 
and  even  large  branches,  which  came  crashing  down  among  the 
ranks.  Said  Colonel  Kellogg  to  the  1st  Battalion,  '  Now,  men, 
when  you  have  the  order  to  move,  go  in  steady,  keep  cool,  keep 
still  until  I  give  the  order  to  charge,  and  then  go  arms  a-port, 
with  a  yell.  Don't  a  man  of  you  fire  a  shot  until  we  are  within 
the  enemy's  breastworks.  I  shall  be  with  you.'  Even  all  this, 
added  to  a  constantly  increasing  picket  fire,  and  ominous  signs  on 
every  hand,  could  not  excite  the  men  to  any  great  degree  of  inte- 
rest in  what  was  going  on.  Their  stupor  was  of  a  kind  that  none 
can  describe,  and  none  but  soldiers  can  understand.  In  proof  of 
this,  only  one  incident  need  be  mentioned.  Corporal  William  A. 
Hosford,  then  of  Company  E,  heard  the  foregoing  instructions 
given  by  Colonel  Kellogg,  and  yet  was  waked  out  of  a  soimcl  sleep 
when  the  moment  came  to  move  forward. 

"  Colonel  Upton,  the  Brigade  Commander,  was  in  almost  con- 
stant conference  with  Colonel  Kellogg,  giving  him  instructions 
how  and  when  to  proceed,  surveying  the  ground,  and  anxiously, 
but  quietly  watching  this  new  regiment,  which,  although  it  now 
constituted  more  than  half  his  command,  he  had  never  seen  in  ac- 
tion. The  aiTangement  of  companies  and  battalions  was  the  same 
that  had  been  established  in  the  defenses,  upon  the  change  from 
Infantry  to  Artillery.  The  following  diagram  will  show  the  for- 
mation at  Cold  Harder : 

FRONT. 

EIUST    BATTALION — MAJOR    HUBBARD. 

A  B  K  E 

Left. II II II Right 

Wadhams.        Lewis.  Speyicer.        /SA'i)iner. 

SECOND     BATTALION MA.TOR    RICE. 

L  C  H  G 


Deane.  Fe7in.  Berry.  Gold. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1233 

THIRD    BATTALION MAJOR    ELLS. 

M  D  I  F 


3farsh.       ITosford.     Bwnhani.         Jo7ies. 

At  five  o'clock, — or  it  might  have  been  somewhat  later,  —the 
three  battalions  were  moved  just  in  front  of  the  curved  breast- 
work, where  they  remained  for  two  or  three  minutes,  still  closed- 
iu-mass.  Knaj)sacks  were  left  behind  the  breatworks.  Pine 
woods, — or  rather  a  few  tall  pine  trees,  not  numerous  enough  to 
hide  our  movements — extended  about  ten  rods  to  the  front,  and 
then  came  an  open  field.  Colonel  Kellogg,  having  instructed 
Majors  Rice  and  Ells  to  follow  at  intervals  of  one  hundred  paces 
placed  himself  in  front,  and  gave  the  command,  'F'orward! 
Guide  Center!  March  !  '  The  first  battalion,  with  the  colors  in 
the  center,  moved  directly  forward  through  the  scattering  woods, 
crossed  the  open  field  at  a  double-quick,  and  entered  another  pine- 
wood,  of  younger  and  thicker  growth,  where  it  came  upon  the 
first  line  of  rifle-pits,  w^iich  was  abandoned  at  its  approach.  Pas- 
sing this  line,  the  battalion  moved  on  over  sloping  ground  until  it 
reached  a  small,  open  hollow,  within  Jiftteen  or  twenty  yards  of 
the  enemy's  main  line  of  breastworks.  Tliere  had  been  a  thick 
growth  of  pine  sprouts  and  saplings  on  this  ground,  but  the  reb- 
els had  cut  them,  probably  that  very  day,  and  had  arranged  them 
so  as  to  form  a  very  effective  abbatis, — thereby  clearing  the  spot, 
and  thus  enabling  them  to  see  our  movements.  Up  to  this  point 
there  had  been  no  tiring  sufficient  to  confuse  or  check  the  battal- 
ion ;  but  here  the  rebel  musketry  opened.  The  commander  of  the 
rebel  battalion  directly  in  our  front,  whoever  he  was,  had  his  men 
under  excellent  control,  and  his  fire  was  iield  until  our  line  had 
reached  the  abbattis,  and  then  systematically  delivered — first  by 
his  rear  rank,  and  then  by  his  front  rank.  A  sheet  of  flame,  sud- 
den as  lightning,  red  as  blood,  and  so  near  that  it  seemed  to  singe 
the  men's  faces,  burst  along  the  rebel  breastwork;  and  the  ground 
and  trees  close  behind  our  line  were  ploughed  and  riddled  with  a 
thousand  balls  that  just  missed  the  heads  of  the  men.  The  bat- 
talion dropped  flat  on  the  ground,  and  the  second  volley,  like  the 
first,  nearly  all  went  over.  Several  men  were  struck,  but  not  a 
large  number.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  if  there  had  been  no 
other  than  this  fro?it  fire,  the  rebel  breastworks  would  have  been 


1234 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 


ours,  notwithstnnding  the  pine  boughs.  But  at  that  moment  a 
long  Hue  of  rebels  on  our  left,  extending  all  the  way  to  the  Rich- 
mond road,  having  notliing  in  their  own  front  to  engage  tlieir  at- 
tention,* and  having  unobstructed  range  on  the 'battalion,  opened 
a  fire  which  no  human  valor  could  witstand,  and  which  no  pen  can 
adequately  d<3scribe.  °  The  appended  list  of  casualties  tells  the 
story.  It  was  the  work  of  almost  a  single  minute.  The  air  was 
filled  with  sulphurous  smoke,  and  the  shrieks  and  howls  of  more 
than  two  hundred  and  fifty  mangled  men  rose  above  the  yells  of 
triumphant  rebels  and  the  roar  of  their  musketry.  About  Face! 
shouted  Colonel  Kellogg, — but  it  was  his  last  command.  He  had 
already  been  struck  in  the  arm,  and  the  words  had  scarcely  passed 
his  lips,  when  another  shot  pierced  his  head,  and  he  fell  dead  upon 
the  interlacing  pine  boughs.  Wild,  and  blind  with  wounds* 
bruises,  noise,  smoke,  and  conflicting  oixlers,  the  men  staggered 
in  every  direction,  some  of  them  falling  upon  the  very  top  of  the 
rebel  parapet,  where  they  were  complety  riddled  with  bullets, — 
others  wandering  oif  into  the  woods  on  the  right  and  front,  to 
find  their  way  to  death  by  starvation  at  Andersonville,  or  never 
to  be  heard  from  again.  LIE  DOWN!  said  a  voice  that  rose 
above  the  horrible  din.  It  was  the  voice  of  Colonel  Upton,  whose 
large  bay  horse   was  dancing  with  a  bullet  in  his  bowels.     The 


"  ^  The  rest  of  the  brigade,  i.  e.,  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  and  Sixty- 
fifth  New  York,  Ninety  fifth  Pennsylvania,  and  Fifth  Maine,  were  formed  in 
three  lines  immediately  on  our  left,  and  advanced  when  we  did.  But  tliey  re- 
ceived a  heavy  fire  and  advanced  but  part  of  the  way.  Indeed,  the  first  battal- 
ion of  our  regiment  went  up  to  the  enemy's  breastwork  alone.  Our  right  was 
nobody's  left,  and  our  left  nobody's  right." 

'  It  has  been  related  to  the 
writer  of  this  history,  that  just 
before  this  murderous  fire  from  the 
left,  a  rebel  soldier  rushed  among 
our  men  under  pretence  of  surrender- 
ing, and  the  moment  he  was  within 
our  lines,  he  br;uidished  a  torch, 
which  disclosed  the  position  of  our 
men.  Then  ihe  murderous  fire  in- 
stantly came,  and  the  traitorous  spy 
was  instantly  shot  by  one  of  our  men. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIEKT     WOOUBUKY.  1235 

rebels  in  front  now  fired  as  fast  as  they  could  load,  and  those  of 
our  men  who  were  not  wounded,  having  worked  their  way  back  a 
few  yards  into  the  woods,  began  to  reply  with  energy.  But  the 
wounds  showed  that  nine-tenths  of  our  casualties  were  inflicted 
by  that  unopposed  fire  on  the  left  flank.  The  second  battalion 
followed  the  first,  according  to  instructions,  crossed  the  open  field 
under  a  scattering  fire,  and  having  moved  through  the  woods  un- 
til within  perhaps  seventy-five  yards  of  the  first  battalion,  was 
confronted  by  Colonel  Upton  with  the  command  Lie  down!  Lie 
DOW?f ! — which  was  obeyed  with  the  utmost  alacrity.  Major  Ells 
was  wounded  very  soon  after  the  third  battalion  commenced  to 
follow,  and  his  command  devolved  upon  Captain  Jones.  Upon 
reaching  the  woods,  this  battalion  also  had  orders  to  lie  down. 
The  rebel  fire  came  through  the  woods  from  all  parts  of  the  line, 
and  most  of  the  losses  in  these  two  battalions  occurred  Avhile  lying 
here.  '  Put  up  your  saber,  said  Colonel  Upton  to  a  young  officer, 
'  I  never  draw  mine  until  we  get  into  closer  quarters  than  this. 
Seethe  Johnnies!  See  the  Johnnies!  Boyf,  well  have  these 
fellows  yet! '  said  he,  pointing  to  the  front,  where  a  long  string 
of  them  came  running  through  the  lines  towards  us.  They  were 
the  very  men  who  had  delivered  the  first  two  volleys  in  our  front, 
and  (there  being  a  lull  in  the  firing  at  the  moment)  they  came 
tumbling  over  thebreatwork  in  a  crowd,  within  two  or  three  rods 
of  where  Kellogg's  body  lay.  We  had  too  much  on  hand  just 
then  to  run  after  safely  bagged  prisoners,  and  when  they  got  to 
the  rear  of  the  3d  Division  (who,  by  the  way,  having  at  first  ad- 
vanced on  our  right,  had  broken  and  run  to  the  rear,  through  our 
first  battalion  as  it  was  charging,  and  wei'e  consequently  in  a  con" 
venient  position  to  make  the  '  capture,')  put  a  guard  over  them 
and  triumphantly  marched  them  to  army  lieadquarters ;  and  in 
due  time  General  Meade  issued  an  order  complimenting  the  Third 
Division  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  i'ov  having  captured  between 
three  and  four  hundred  prisoners,  which  they  never  captured  at 
all. '  The  lines  now  became  very  much  mixed.  Those  of  the 
1st  battalion  who  were  not  killed  or  wounded,  gradually  crawled  or 

"  *  Every  surviving  man  of  the  Second  Connecticut  Artil'ery  will  bear  witness 
that  the  Ninth  New  York  Artillery,  (which  belonged  in  the  the  Third  Division,) 
came  pell  mell  through  our  regiment  toward  the  rear  as  we  were  charging, — and 
that  the  capture  of  these  prisoners  was  made  by  our  regiment  alone.  Colonel 
Upton,  who  saw  the  whole  of  it,  said  that  the  matter  should  be  rectified,  and  the 
credit  given  to  the  Second  Connecticut.     But  it  never  was." 


1236  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

worked  to  the  rear;  and  the  woods  began  to  grow  dark,  either 
with  night,  or  smoke,  or  both.  The  news  of  Kellogg's  death 
quickly  found  its  way  every  where.  The  companies  were  formed 
and  brought  up  to  the  breastwork  one  by  one,  and  the  line  ex- 
tended toward  the  left.  As  Lieut.  Cleveland  was  moving  in  with 
the  last  company,  a  squad  of  rebels  rose  directly  in  front,  fired  a 
volley  very  wildly,  and  dropped.  The  fire  was  vigorously  return- 
ed, and  the  enemy  soon  vacated  the  breastwork  in  our  immediate 
front,  and  crept  off  tlirough  the  darknesss.  Thousands  and  thou- 
sands of  bullets  '•zipped''  back  and  forth  over  the  bodies  of  the 
slain — now  striking  the  trees,  high  up,  with  a  '  spwo?,' and  now 
piercing  the  ground  under  feet.  Upton  stood  behind  a  tree  in 
the  extreme  front,  and  for  a  long  time  fired  muskts  as  fast  as  the 
men  could  load  and  hand  them  to  him.  Some  sudden  movement 
caused  a  panic,  and  they  started  to  flee,  when  he  cried  out  with  a 
voice  that  no  man  who  heard  it  will  ever  forget, — Men  of  Con- 
necticut, stand  by  me  !  We  MUST  hold  this  line  !  '  It  brought 
them  back,  and  the  line  was  held.  Firing  was  kept  up  all  night 
long,  by  a  few  men  at  a  time,  to  let  the  enemy  know  that  we  were 
there  and  awake,  and  thus  to  deter  them  from  attempting  to  re- 
take the  line,  which  they  could  easily  have  done.  Major  Hub- 
bard sent  word  twice  to  Colonel  Upton,  that  if  the  enemy  should 
attempt  to  return,  he  could  not  possibly  hold  it.  Upton's  reply 
was,  '  He  niuit  hold  it.  If  they  come  there,  catch  them  on  your 
bayonets,  and  pitch  them  over  your  heads.'  At  the  first  ray  of 
dawn  it  was  strengthened  and  occupied  by  skirmishers  ;  and  du- 
ring our  stay  at  Cold  Harbor,  which  lasted  until  midnight  of 
June  12th,  it  remained  our  front  line; — the  rebel  front  line  being 
about  thirty-five  rods  distant,  and  parallel  with  it. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  2d,  the  wounded  who  still  remained 
were  got  off  to  the  rear,  and  taken  to  the  Division  Hospital,  some 
two  miles  back.  Many  of  them  had  lain  all  night,  with  shattered 
bones,  or  weak  with  loss  of  blood,  calling  vainly  for  help,  or  water, 
or  death.  Some  of  them  lay  in  positions  so  exposed  to  the  ene- 
my's fire  that  they  could  not  be  reached  until  the  breastworks  had 
been  built  up  and  strengthened  at  certain  points,  nor  even  then 
without  much  ingenuity  and  much  danger;  but  at  length  they 
were  all  removed.  When  it  could  be  done  with  safety,  the  dead 
were  buried  during  the  day.  Most  of  the  bodies,  however,  could 
not  be  reached  until  night,  and  were  then  gathered  and  buried 
under  cover  of  the  darkness. 


HISTOEY      OF     ANCIENT     WOOPBURY.  123V 

"On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  regiment  was  again  moved  for- 
ward, under  the  personal  command  of  Colonel  Upton,  from  the 
same  spot  whence  the  fatal  charge  had  been  made  thirty-six  hours 
before;  but  this  time  we  proceeded  by  a  circuitous  route,  which 
kept  us  tolerably  well  protected.  Several,  however,  were  killed 
and  wounded  during  this  movement,  and  after  we  had  taken  po- 
sition.- The  line  was  pushed  to  the  left,  considerably  nearer  the 
Richmond  road  than  we  had  been  before,  and  there  speedily  cov- 
ered by  breastworks.  This,  I  presume,  was  our  part  of  the  move- 
ment of  June  3d,  which  the  larger  histories  regard  as  the  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor.  Perhaps  it  was.  It  has  always  seemed,  how- 
ever, to  the  survivors  of  the  3d  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery, 
(Upton's  Brigade,  Russell's  Division,  Wright's  Corps,)  that  the 
affiiir  of  June  1st  was  entitled  to  more  than  the  two  or  three  lines 
of  bare  mention  with  which  it  is  tossed  off  in  Greeley's  American 
Conflict,  Deming's  Life  of  Grant,  and  probably  every  other  of  the 
more  important  and  comprehensive  histories  of  the  war." 

Capt.  Walter  Burnham,  who  was  at  the  date  of  this  battle  cap- 
tain of  our  Woodbury  Co.  I,  in  a  letter  to  Adjutant  Vaill,  gives 
some  additional  incidents  of  it. » 

"New  Preston,  Conn.,  Aug.  10,  1868. 

"Friend  Vaill; — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  will 
give  you  my  recollections  of  Cold  Harbor,  beginning  at  the  time 
when  we,  (the  3d  Battalion,)  were  ordered  to  lie  down  among  the 
pines. 

"  Shortly  after  Colonel  Upton  left,  a  young  Lieutenant  came 
into  our  midst  (from  what  direction  I  know  not,)  and  shouted- 
'Now's  the  time — I'll  lead  you,'  and  I,  on  the  impulse  of  the  mo-» 
ment  jumped  up,  and  shouted  'forward,'  when  about  half  of  Co.  I, 
and  a  few  men  from  PI  and  C  Cos.,  sprang  forward  and  into  the 
Johnnies'  breastworks.  The  thought  that  I  was  a  little  rash  and 
fast  in  giving  the  order,  came  too  late — and  as  most  of  my  men 
had  obeyed  the  order,  I  could  do  no  less  than  follow ;  which  I 
did,  and  found  it  to  be  a  safe  place,  compared  with  the  knoll,  al- 
though not  as  comfortable  as  it  might  have  been  under  difi'erent 
circumstances,  there  being  some  12  or  14  inches  of  water  in  the 

*  Capt.  Buinham  was  seriously  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  did  ncit  again  re- 
join his  regiment,  but  was  breveted  Major  for  gallant  conduct  in  battle. 


1238  HISTORY    OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

ditch  from  which  the  Johnnies  had  taken  the  dirt  to  cover  their 
breastworks,  besides  a  great  number  of  wounded  men  (Johnnies) 
just  over  the  line  of  works, — some  groaning,  some  crying  for 
water,  others  calling  upon  some  one  to  shoot  them  on  the  spot 
and  end  their  misery-  I  distinctly  recollect  one  little  fellow  from 
a  Georgia  Regiment,  who  was  severely  wounded,  evidently  while 
attempting  to  come  in  a  prisoner,  as  he  lay  on  the  north  side  of 
the  breastwork.  His  cries  were  terrible  and  heart  rending,  during 
the  entire  night:  '  Why  did  ray  parents  drive  me  into  this  cruel 
war?  why  could  not  I  have  staid  at  home?  Oh!  father,  mother, 
shall  I  ever  see  you  again  ?  water,  water,  water :  will  some  one 
shoot  me?  kill  me  quick,  I  cannot  endure  this,  &c.,  &c,  and  even 
under  this  call  it  was  quite  late  in  the  night  before  this  young 
man  was  supplied  with  water,  when  lying  perhaps  not  more  than 
twenty  feet  off,  and  this  to  the  rear  of  our  line  ;  but  so  continu- 
ous was  tlie  firing,  no  man  dared  to  leave  the  protection  he  then 
had.  By  morning  a  great  number  had  died,  and  we  supposed  a 
great  many  had  been  removed  during  the  night,  as  we  heard  foot- 
steps very  distinctly  during  the  entire  night.  Now  under  this 
excitement  three-fourths  of  the  men  went  to  sleep  and  slept  as 
soundly  as  would  have  been  possible  under  far  more  favorable  cir- 
cumstances. I  myself  took  ray  turn  with  two  other  raen  of  my 
company,  to  watch  what  we  supposed  to  be  a  Johnny  with  musket 
in  hand,  just  over  the  opposite  side  of  the  breastwork,  whom  we 
thought  to  be  waiting,  or  rather  soliciting  an  opportunity  to  pick 
some  of  us  off.  We  watched  him  till  daylight,  and  found  him  still 
sitting  by  the  side  of  a  tree  holding  his  musket  between  his  knees, 
but  dead;  was  severely  wounded  and  died  during  the  night. 
Just  at  the  left  of  this  man,  we  found  a  Lieut,  Colonel  severely 
wounded,  but  full  of  pluck  and  vim  ;  wouldn't  tell  his  name,  where 
he  was  wounded,  what  regiment,  what  he  wanted,  and  when  taken 
back  to  the  hospital,  refused  to  take  water  from  the  nurses ;  don't 
know  whether  he  lived  or  died.  By  the  way,  shortly  after  we 
had  gone  into  the  Johnnies'  line  ot  works,  the  10th  Vermont  came 
and  re-formed  directly  in  rear  of  where  we  were,  and  left  the  field. 
This  to  me  seemed  a  little  strange,  as  it  looked  as  though  we  were 
to  vacate.  Shortly  after,  some  one  appeared  from  the  swamp  in 
front  of  us.  We  challenged  him,  and  found  him  to  be  from  the 
10th  Vermont.  He  proved  to  be  a  Sergeant,  a  tall,  strapping  six- 
footer,  courageous,  brave,  full  of  pluck  and  daring.  I  felt  quite 
satisfied  to  have  him  remain,  as  during  the  heavy  firing,  occasion- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1239 

ally,  some  man  would  show  a  disposition  to  make  to  the  rear, 
when  this  fellow's  musket  would  come  to  a  shoulder,  with  the  re- 
mark that  he  would  blow  the  first  man's  brains  out  who  attempted 
to  leave  that  ditch.  The  result  was,  most  of  us  staid  until  morn" 
ing.  About  daylight  we  missed  the  Sergeant,  and  shortly  after  dis- 
covered liim  rifling  the  pockets  of  our  own  dead  men.  He  was  ar" 
rested  and  sent  to  the  Provo's.  He  was  a  brave,  courageous  fel- 
low, nevei'theless.  Vaill,  do  you  recollect  the  second  morning 
after  the  fight,  during  a  season  of  shelling,  the  fact  of  your  sitting 
at  the  foot  of  a  chestnut  tree  and  a  solid  shot  or  shell  going 
through  the  body  of  the  tree  a  few  feet  above  your  head ;  also  the 
shelling  Ave  received  when  we  were  marching  down  the  ravine,  a 
little  to  the  right  and  front  of  the  line.  I  always  supposed  I  had 
a  narrow  escape.  A  shell  exploded  just  at  the  right  of  the  line,  as 
we  were  moving  by  the  flank,  killed  I  think  a  man  from  D  com. 
pany,  just  at  our  rear.  A  piece  of  the  same  shell  struck  the  top 
ear  of  my  canteen,  thereby  entailing  a  loss  of  a  canteen  of  water 
— which  I  had  been  at  some  trouble  to  obtain.  You  know  that 
water  didn't  come  by  pipe  into  the  back  kitchen  in  those  days; 
nevertheless,  I  did  not  feel  like  complaining.'' 


Corpora]  (afterward  Quartermaster  Sergeant)  Benjamin  Well- 
man,  of  Company  I,  gives  the  following  history  of  his  experience 
at  Cold  Harbor; — 

"  I  was  wounded  in  the  left  cheek,  the  ball  passing  through  un- 
der the  left  ear,  Avhile  the  3d  Battalion  was  advancing.  This 
brought  me  down,  and  I  was  soon  so  weak  that  I  could  not  get 
up,  Abont  two  hours  afterward,  while  lying  here,  I  was  again 
struck  in  the  back.  Sometime  in  the  night  there  were  two  John- 
nies came  up  to  me  belonging  to  a  North  Carolina  regiment;  one 
of  them  gave  me  water,  and  the  other  said,  'You  will  be  taken 
care  of  soon  ; ' — meaning,  probably,  that  I  would  be  taken  prison- 
er. Soon  after  this,  there  were  about  a  hundred  came  along, 
marching  in  column.  Some  of  them  stepped  on  me.  Sometime 
afterward,  a  Colonel  of  a  New  York  regiment  came  up  and  gave 
me  a  little  '  Comiuissary,'  which  did  me  a  great  deal  of  good.  He 
said  we  had  taken  five  hundred  ju'isoners,  and  told  me  to  keep  uj) 
courage.     In  the  morning,  I  was  taken  to  the   field  Hospital,  and 


1240  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

on  the  third  was  put  into  a  government  wagon,  with  several  oth- 
ers, and  carried  to  White  House  Landing.  I  returned  to  the  re- 
giment on  the  26th  of  December." 

The  regiment  remained  at  Cold  Harbor  till  the  12th  of  June, 
being  almost  every  moment  under  fire  from  the  1st  to  the  12th, 
and  men  were  being  constantly  picked  off.  Isaac  Briggs,  of  our 
company,  was  wounded  in  the  foot  as  he  lay  in  his  tent,  reading, 
of  which  wound  he  subsequently  died. 

At  midnight,  on  the  12th,  the  I'eginient  started  on  a  rapid  march 
for  Petersburgh,  where  it  arrived  on  the  19th,  and  engaged  in 
digging  trenches  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy. 

"This  was"  says  Vaill,  "  the  most  intolerable  position  the 
regiment  was  ever  required  to  hold.  We  had  seen  a  deadlier 
spot  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  others  awaited  us  in  the  future; 
but  they  were  agonies  that  did  not  last.  Here,  however,  we 
had  to  stay, — hour  after  hour,  from  before  dawn  until  after 
dark,  and  that,  too,  where  we  could  not  move  a  rod  without  ex- 
treme danger.  The  enemy's  frot  line  was  parallel  with  ours,  just 
across  the  wheat  field;  then  they  had  numerous  sharp-shooters, 
who  were  familiar  with  every  acre  of  ground,  perched  in  tall  trees 
on  both  our  flanks ;  then  they  had  artillery  posted  everyiohere. 
No  man  could  cast  his  eyes  over  the  parapet,  or  expose  himself 
ten  feet  in  rear  of  the  trench,  without  drawing  fire.  And  yet 
they  did  expose  themselves  ;  for  where  there  are  even  chances  of 
being  missed  or  hit,  soldiers  will  take  the  chances  rather  than  lie 
still  and  suifer  from  thirst,  supineness,  and  want  of  all  things." 

The  regiment  was  not  to  I'emain  here  long  .  Jubal  Early  was 
now  menacing  Washington,  and  the  0th  Corps,  some  12,000  men, 
were  ordered  to  its  defense.  So  our  men,  on  the  19th  of  July^ 
1864,  found  themselves  marching  in  thick  dust,  in  that  direction. 
Early  had  destroyed  a  portion  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad, 
and  had  marched  direct  for  the  capital,  which  had,  at  this  moment, 
but  few  soldiers  to  defend  it.  It  was  none  too  soon  that  this 
movement  to  drive  him  away  was  made,  for  while  the  corps  was 
steaming  down  the  James,  Jubal's  infantry  was  within  six  miles 
of  the  capital.  The  regiment  marched  straight  through  Wash- 
ington, to  Tenallytown,  on  the  12th. 

*'  Early  was  in  front  of  Fort  Stevens  when  we  arrived,  and 
brisk  tiring  was  going  on  between  his  pickets  and  Gen.  Augur's 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1241 

hastily  gathei-ecl  troops,  which  consisted   partly  of  luuidrod-days 
men,  invalid  corps  men,  citizens,  and  clerks  detailed  from  the  gov- 
ernment offices.     A  skirmish  occurred  just  after  dark,  which   re- 
sulted in  a  loss  to  our  side  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  killed  and 
wounded,  and  a  retreat  of  the  enemy,  with  equal  loss.     At  ten  in 
the  evening  the  regiment  marched  two  or  three  miles  up  the  road, 
by  Fort  De  Russy,  to  Fort  Kearney,  and  after  much  shifting,  lay 
down  on  their  arms  to  sleep.     In  the  morning,  Companies  C  and 
H   were   sent   to   man   a  battery,  but   returned  in  half  an   hour. 
Early  had  learned  of  the  presence  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  also  of 
the  19th,  (Emory's,)  which  had  opportunely  arrived  from  New  Or- 
leans; and  he  concluded  not  to  capture  the  Capital,  and  Capitol, 
Congress   and   Archives,  Arsenal  and   Navy]  Yard,  Lincoln   and 
Cabinet,   until    (as  Pollard   says,)   'another   and   uncertain  time.' 
He  had  begun  his  retreat  toward  Snicker's  Gap,  and  pursuit  was 
instantly  made  by  the  Sixth  and  a  division   of  the  19th  Corps, 
under  command  of  General  Wright.     Our  brigade  moved  up  the 
river  at  2:20  P.  M.,  and  bivouaced  late  in  the  evening  near  Poto- 
mac Cross  Roads." ' 

The  pursuit  was  continued  to  Snicker's  Gap,  and  then  this  much 
marched  regiment  returned,  with  the  6th,  to  Washington,  almost 
upon  the  double-quick.  "  Tenallytown  was  reached  on  the  23d,  by 
way  of  the  Chain  Bridge,  and  the  stifi",  lame,  sore,  tired,  hungry 
men,  found  thirty-six  hours  rest,  new  clothing,  new  shoes,  soft 
bread,  and  surreptitious  Whisky — for  all  which  they  were  truly 
thankful ;  also  cross-caivion  badges  (the  emblem  of  the  artillery 
service)  to  adorn  their  hats,  for  which  they  Avould  have  been  more 
thankful,  if  this  badge  had  not  been  to  them  such  a  bitter  mock- 
ery!" 

Within  forty-eight  hours.  Early  stood  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac,  shewing  an  evident  intention  of  marching  into  Penn- 
sylvania, or  anywhere  else  he  could  do  the  most  damage.  So, 
within  three  days  after  its  return  to  Washington,  the  regiment 
found  itself  on  the  march  again,  wdiich  culminated  in  the  bloody 
Shenandoah  Valley.     Our  troops  were  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Early ' — 

»  Vaills'  Hist.  '  Vaills'  19th 

'  It  was  on  this  march,  as  the  author  has  been  informed,  a  somewhat  zealous 
chaplain  introduced  into  his  prayer  a  couplet  from  a  grand  old  hymn,  but  made  it 
have  quite  a  different  meaning  from  the  usual  one,  from  his  method  of  accentua- 
tion, thus: — 

"  Early  !  my  God  !  without  delay, 
We  haste  to  seek  tJiy  face !  " 


1242  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

From  this  time  till  tlir  date  of  the  battle  of  Winchester,  there 
Avas  not  much  of  incident  that  occurred  in  our  regiment.  There 
was  drilling,  reorganization,  skirmishing,  marching  and  counter- 
marching. Gen.  Sheridan  being  now  in  command,  till  the.  19th  of 
September,  when  the  bloody  battle  of  Westchester  was  fought. 

Adjutant  Vaill's  account  is  given  entire: — 

"At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September,  the 
advance  was  in  motion.  Oar  brigade  started  from  Clifton  about 
daylight,  and  having  struck  the  Berryville  pike,  moved  five  or  six 
miles  towards  Winchester,  and  halted  for  an  hour  about  two 
miles  east  of  the  Opequan,  while  tlie  19th  Corps  was  crossing. 
The  Cavalry  had  previously  moved  to  secure  all  the  crossings,  and 
firing  was  now  heard  all  along  the  front,  and  continually  increas- 
ing. The  0th  and  19th  Corps,  following  Wilson's  Cavalry,  which 
fought  the  way,  crossed  at  and  near  the  pike  bridge,  our  brigade 
wading  the  stream  a  few  rods  north  of  it.  West  of  the  creek, 
the  pike  passed  through  a  gorge  over  a  mile  long,  from  which  the 
rebels  had  been  driven  by  the  cavalry.  The  19th  Corps  .and  a  por- 
tion of  our  own  had  moved  through  and  formed  a  line  of  battle 
some  distance  beyond,  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire,  when  our  di- 
vision emerged  from  the  gorge  and  filed  to  the  left  into  a  ravine 
that  ran  across  the  pike,  where  it  was  held  in  readiness  as  a  re- 
serve. This  was  about  half  past  nine.  The  fighting  now  waxed 
hotter,  louder,  nearer:  nevertheless,  some  of  the  men  found  time, 
while  their  muskets  were  stacked  in  this  ravine,  to  dig  potatoes 
from  a  neighboring  field.  At  length  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous 
charge  upon  the  center  of  the  front  line,  at  the  point  where  the 
3d  Brigade  of  the  2d  Division  joined  the  left  of  the  19th  Corps. 
The  line  broke,  and  retreated  in  complete  disorder,  each  broken 
flank  doubling  and  crowding  back  on  itself,  and  making  for  the 
rear.  The  enemy  pushed  his  advantage  and  came  rolling  into  the 
breach.  It  was  the  critical  moment  o^*  the  day, — for  if  he  had 
succeeded  in  permanently  separating  the  two  parts  of  the  line, 
t^ere  would  have  been  no  possible  escape  from  utter  defeat  for 
Sheridan's  army.  At  this  juncture  Gen.  Russell,  who  was  watch- 
ing from  the  rise  of  ground  just  in  front  of  the  ravine,  where  his 
division  lay,  exclaimed,  'Look  here!  it  is  about  time  to  do  some- 
tliing !  Upton,  bring  on  your  brigade.'  The  brigade  was  at  once 
moved  out  of  the  ravine,  passed  through  a  narrow  strip  of  woods? 
crossed  the  pike,  halted  for  a  moment  in  order  to  close  and  dress 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKV,  1243 

u])  com]^nctly,  (lion  went  at  a  donUle-quick  by  Uie  rii>;]it  iiank  into 
the  gap  that  had  been  made   in  the  tirst  line,  and  made  a  sliort 
halt,  just  in  rear  of  a  piece  of  woods,  out  of  which  tlie  remnants 
of  the  2d  and  3d  Divisions  were  still  retreating,  and  on  the  other 
side  of  which  was  tlie  advancing  line  of  Rodes'  and  Goi'don's  rebel 
divisions.     The   first  fire   tliat  struck    our  biagade  and  regiment 
during  the  day,  was  while  coming  to  this  position.     Genei-al  Rus- 
sell was  killed  by  a  s!iell  at  the  same  time,  having  been  previously 
wounded  and  refused  to  leave  the  field.     It  was  this  movement  of 
our  brigade  that  checked  the  enemy,  until  the  lines  were  r'^stored 
and  the  two  or  three   thousand   fugitives  brought  back.     Some  of 
our  men  began  to  fire,  l)ut  were  (juickly  ordered  to  desist.     After 
a  very  few  minutes  the  brigade  was  pushed  forward,  the  left  half 
of  it  being  somewhat  covered  by  woods,  from   which  position  it 
instantly  opene'l  a  terrific   fire,  while   the   2d  Connecticut.,  which 
constituted  the  right  half,  passed  to  the  right  of  the  woods  into  an 
open   field  of  uneven    surface,   and   halted    on  a  s[)ot    where    the 
ground  was   depressed   enough   to   afford  a  little  i)rotection,  and 
oz/^y  a  little  ;  firsexei'al   men  were   hit   while   getting  there.     In 
three  minutes  the  regiment  again   advaticed,  passed  over  a  knoll, 
lost  several  more   men,  and  halted    in    another  hollow   spot  sim- 
ilar to  the  lirst.     The  enemy's  advance  had  now  been  pushed  well 
back,  and   here  a  stay  was   made  of  perhaps  two  hours.     Colonel 
Mackenzie  rode  slowly  back  and  f  >rth   along  the  rise  of  groimd, 
in    front   of   this   position,    in    a   very    reckless    manner,   in    plain 
sight  and  easy  range  of  the  enetny,  who  kejit  up  a  fire  from  apiece 
of  woods  in  front,  which  elicited  from   him   the  I'emark,  'I  guess 
these  fellows   will  get  tired  of  fii'ing  at  me  by  and   by.'      But  the 
ground  where  the  regiment   lay  was   vei-y  slightly  de[)ressed,  and 
altliough  the  shots  missed  Macketizie,  they  killed  and  wounded  a 
pirge  number  of  both  oflicers  and  men  behind  him,     Lieut  Candt'e 
merely  raised  himself  fi-om  the  ground  on  his  elbow  to  look  at  his 
watch,  but  it  was   enough   to  bring  his  head   in  range  of  a  sharp, 
shooter's  ball,  and   he  was   instantly  killed.     About  three  o'clock, 
an  advance  of  the  whole  line   having  l»een   ordered   by  Sheridan 
the  regiment  charged  across  the   field,  Mackenzie  riding  some  ten 
rods  ahead,  holding  his   hat  aloft  on    the  point  of  his  saber.     The 
distance  to   the   woods  was  at   least  a  (piarter  of  a   mile,  and  was 
traversed   un<ler  a  fiie  that  carried  off  its  victims   at  nearly  e\ery 
step.     The  enemy  abiindoned  the  woods,  however,  as  the  regiment 
approached,  in  consequence  of  which  t»he  line  obliqued  to  the  left, 

26 


1244  niSTOKY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

ni)d  halted.  Companies  F  and  D  were  here  detached  and  taken 
ott"  to  the  riglit,  on  a  small  reconnoisance,  but  were  soon  brought 
back,  and  the  regiment  proceeded  to  the  right  of  the  woods  and 
partly  through  them,  and  advanced  to  a  rail  fence  which  ran  along 
the  side  of  an  extensive  field.  Here,  for  the  first  time  during  the 
whole  of  this  bloody  day,  did  the  regiment  have  orders  to  fire; 
and  for  ten  minutes  they  had  the  privilege  of  pouring  an  effective 
fire  into  the  rebels,  who  were  thick  in  front.  Then  a  flank  move- 
ment was  made  along  the  fence  to  the  right,  followed  by  a  direct 
advance  of  forty  rods  into  the  field.  Here  was  the  deadliest 
spot  of  the  day.  The  enemy's  artillery,  on  a  rise  of  ground 
in  front,  plowed  the  field  with  canister  and  shells,  and  tore  the 
ranks  in  a  frightful  manner.  Major  Rice  was  struck  by  a  shell, 
his  left  arm  toin  off,  and  his  body  cut  almost  asunder.  Major 
Skinnner  was  struck  on  the  top  of  the  head  by  a  shell,  knocked 
nearly  a  rod,  with  his  face  to  the  earth,  and  was  carried  to  the 
rear  insensible.  General  Upton  had  a  good  quarter  pound  of  flesh 
taken  out  of  his  thigh  by  a  shell,  and  was  laid  up  for  some  weeks. 
Colonel  Mackenzie's  horse  was  cut  in  two  by  a  solid  shot,  which 
just  grazed  the  rider's  leg,  and  let  him  down  to  the  ground  very 
abruptly.  Several  other  officers  were  also  struck:  and  from  these 
instances,  as  well  as  from  the  appended  list  of  casualties,  some 
idea  may  be  gained  of  the  havoc  among  the  enlisted  men  at  this 
point.  Although  the  regiment  had  been  under  fire  and  losing  con- 
tinually, from  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  until  now,  it  was  almost 
sunset,  yet  the  losses  dui-ing  ten  minutes  in  this  last  field,  were 
probably  equal  to  those  of  all  the  rest  of  the  day.  It  was  doubt- 
less the  spot  referred  to  by  the  rebel  historian,  Pollard,  when  he 
says,  '  Early's  artillery  was  fought  to  the  muzzle  of  the  guns.' 
Mackenzie  gave  the  order  to  move  by  the  left  flank,  and  a  start 
was  made;  but  there  was  no  enduring  such  a  fire,  and  the  men 
ran  back  and  lay  down.  Another  attempt  was  soon  made,  and 
after  passing  a  large  oak  tiee  a  sheltered  position  was  secured. 
The  next  move  was  directly  into  the  enemy's  breastwork.  They 
had  just  been  driven  from  it  by  a  cavalry  charge  from  the  right, 
and  were  in  full  retreat  through  the  streets  of  Winchester;  and 
some  of  their  abandoned  artdlery,  which  had  done  so  much  dam- 
age, stood  yet  in  position,  hissing  hot  with  action,  with  their  mis- 
erable, rac-aboue  horses  attached.  The  brigade,  numbering 
less  than  half  of  the  muskets  it  had  in  the  morning,  was  now 
got  into  sha))e,  and   after  .marching  to  a  field  in  the  eastern  edge 


11  I  S  T  O  U  Y      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1245 

of  the  city,  bivonaced  for  the  night,  wliile  the  pnisuit  rolled  miles 
away  up  the  valley  ])ike. 

Roll  call  revealed  tlie  fiict  that  the  regiment  had  lost  one  liun- 
dred  and  thirty-six  in  killed  and  wounded, — foui-tecu  of  whom 
were  t>fKcers.  Company  A,  out  of  its  entire  list  of  officers  and 
non-conmissioned  otHcers,  had  left  only  1st  Sergeant  Henry  Wil- 
liams,—  who  had  command  of  the  Company  during  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  fight, — and  two  corporals.  Company  H  had 
three  noble  officers  killed,  including  Captain  Frederick  M.  Berry, 
of  whom  Colonel  Kellogg  once  said,  that  he  was  the  most  perfect 
officer,  godlenian,  and  man,  all  things  considered,  in  the  regiment. 
Companies  A,  B,  and  E,  suifered  heavily,  C  and  G  still  more ;  and 
D,  F,  and  I,  most  of  all. 

"  But,  uidike  Cold  Harbor  or  Petersburg,  there  was  victory  to 
sliow  for  this  fearful  outlay.  And  it  was  tiie  first  cup  of  palpable, 
unquestionable,  unmistakalde  victory  that  tlie  2d  Connecticut, 
with  all  its  marching  and  fighting,  had  ever  tasted.'' 

In  summing  up  his  operations  in  the  Valley,  Sheridan  after- 
wards adds : — 

"At  AVinchester,  for  a  moment,  the  contest  was  uncertain,  but 
the  gallant  attack  of  General  Upton's  brigade  of  the  6th  Corps, 
restored  the  line  of  battle,  until  the  turning  column  of  Crook,  and 
Merritt's  and  Averill's  divisions  of  cavali-y,  under  Torbert,  '  sent 
the  enemy  whirling  through  Winchester.'" 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  September,  the  army  moved  rap- 
idly up  the.  valley  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  had  continued  his 
retreat,  during  the  night,  to  Fisher's  Hiy,  south  of  Slrasburg, 
which  Early  considered  the  very  Gibralter  of  the  Valley. 

Vaill  thus  describes  the  part  taken  by  the  2d  Conn.  H.  A.  in 
this  battle : — 

"  But  Sheridan's  re))oi't  merely  considers  the  afiair  as  a  whole; 
and  it  will  therefoi-e  be  necessary  for  us  to  review  it  from  a  regi- 
mental stand-point.  The  regiment  moved  from  bivouac  near 
Winchester  before  diylight  on  the  20Lh,  ami  by  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  encamped  just  south  of  Cedar  Creek,  remaining  until 
the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  when  it  moved  off  to  the  right  of 
the  pike,  takinu'  a  circuitous  route  througli  wooded  ravines  and 
over  wooded  hills,  and  at  length  came  out  upon  open  fields  about 


124G  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

a  mile  find  a  half  west,  or  southwest  of  Strasburg.  This  was  on 
the  evening  of  the  21st.  Here  lines  of  battle  were  formed,  and  a 
stay  was  made  of  about  two  hours ;  after  which  the  march  was 
continued  by  the  right  flank,  up  a  steep  and  winding  hill->ide,  un- 
til midnight,  when  the  regiment  halted  underarms  until  daylight, 
on  the  very  top  of  a  hill  fully  as  high  as  Fisher's  hill  and  sepa- 
rated from  it  by  Tumbling  River.  The  enemy's  strong  hold  was 
on  the  top  of  the  opposite  hill,  directly  across  the  stream.  In  the 
morning,  breastworks  were  commenced,  part  of  the  men  building, 
while  the  rest  remained  in  line  of  battle.  Lively  skirmishing  was 
going  on  all  day,  and  once  or  twice  things  were  hastily  put  in 
readiness  to  meet  an  anticipated  charge, — which,  however,  did  not 
come.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  orders  Avere  given 
to  pitch  tents, — but  while  the  men  were  at  it,  a  general  advance 
was  ordei'ed.  The  regiment  had  but  just  commenced  to  move 
directly  forward,  when  the  rebels,  (who  knew  every  inch  of  the 
ground,  and  could  tell  where  our  lines  ought  to  be,  whether  visi- 
ble or  not,)  began  to  drop  shells  into  their  new  breastworks,  and 
upon  the  very  spot  where  they  had  begun  to  pitch  tents.  The 
regiment  moved  down  the  steep  hill,  waded  the  stream,  and 
moved  up  the-rocky  front  of  the  rebel  Gibraltar.  How  they  ever 
got  up  there  is  a  mystery, — for  the  ascent  of  that  rocky  declivity 
would  now  seem  an  impossibility  to  an  unburdened  traveler,  even 
though  there  were  no  deadly  enemy  at  the  top.  But  up  they 
went,  clinging  to  rocks  and  bushes.  The  main  rebel  breastwork, 
which  they  were  so  confident  of  holding,  was  about  fifteen  rods 
back  from  the  top  of  the  bluff,  with  brush  piled  in  front  of  it. 
Just  as  the  top  was  reached,  the  8th  Corps  struck  the  enemy  on  the 
riglit,  nnd  tlieir  fliglit  was  very  disordered  and  precipitate.  The 
2d  Connecticut  was  the  first  regiment  that  reached  and  planted 
colors  on  the  works  from  the  direct  front.  After  firing  until  the 
rebels  were  so  far  oft*  that  it  was  a  waste  of  powdei-,  the  pursuit 
was  resumed,  and  kept  up  all  night;  although  but  little  progress 
was  made,  on  account  of  the  blockade  of  the  road,  both  by  the 
pursuing  army,  and  the  property  abandoned  by  the  enemy." 

It  was  supposed  that  this  defeat  would  satisfy  the  rebel  gov- 
ernment as  to  the  prospects  of  success  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley^ 
and  the  6th  Corps  started  for  Petersburgh  again,  but  were  now 
ordered  to  "  right  about,"  and  encamped  along  the  northern  bank 
of  a   tributary  of  the  Shenandoah,  called  Cedar  Creek.     Here 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1247 

tliey  icmained  till  the  surprise  and  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  which 
was,  in  many  of  its  aspects,  the  most  remarkable  battle  of  the 
war,  and  in  it  the  2d  C.  H.  A.  was  conspicuous,  and  among  the 
brave  men  of  that  decisive  day,  none  were  more  conspicuous  than 
the  men  of  Woodbury. 

The  battle  was  begun  by  the  rebels,  and  was  to  us,  in  the  first 
instance,  a  surprise  and  a  defeat.  Pollard,  in  his  "  History  of  the 
Lost  Cause,"  says  : — 

''The  surprise  was  complete.  Tiie  Sth  Corps  v^^as  unable  to 
form  a  line  of  battle,  and  in  five  minutes  was  a  herd  of  fugi- 
tives. Many  of  the  men  awoke  only  to  find  themselves  prisoners. 
The  19th  Corps  were  soon  involved  in  the  rout.  Tlie  valorous 
Confederates  pressed  on,  driving  the  whole  Fedt^ral  left  and  cen- 
ter, slaying  many  of  the  enemy  in  their  camos,  capturing  eighteen 
pieces  of  artillery,  fifteen  hundi'ed  prisoners,  small  arms  without 
number,  wagons,  camps,  everything  on  the  ground. 

"The  retreat  of  the  army  was  now  a  general  one,  the  6th  C(jrps 
doing  what  it  could  to  cover  it.  At  IMiddletown  an  attempt  M^as 
made  to  form  a  line  of  battle;  but  the  Confederates  threatened  a 
flank  movement,  got  possession  of  the  town,  and  put  the  enemy 
on  what  was  supposed  to  be  his  final  retreat  to  Winchester." 

Greeley,  in  his  "  Amei'ican  Conflict,"  says: 

"On  our  side,  all  was  amazement  and  confusion  ;  on  theirs, 
thorough  wakefulliiess  and  perfect  comprehension.  In  fifteen  min- 
utes, the  army  of  West  Virginia  was  a  flying  mob;  one  Ijattalion 
of  its  picket-line  had  lost  100  killed  and  wounded,  and  700  ]>ris- 
oners.  The  enemy,  knowing  every  foot  of  ground  as  fiimiliarly  as 
their  own  door-yards,  never  stopped  to  reconnoiter  or  consider, 
but  rushed  on  with  incredible  celerity." 

An  extract  from  Adjutant  Vaill's  account  of  the  part  taken  in  this 
conflict,  which  was,  in  its  results,  the  salvation  of  Washington, 
and  perliaps  tlie  first  turning-point  in  the  war,  follows: — 

"The  2d  Connecticut  had  its  full  share  of  the  varied  fortunes 
of  that  wondrous  day.  The  number  of  the  regiment  present  can- 
not be  exactly  ascertained,  but  was  probably  about  700,  oflicers 
and  men.  Our  losses  in  this  battle  were  greater,  in  proportion  to 
the  number  engaged,  than  in  any  other  fight,  not  even  excepting 
Cold  Harbor. 


1248  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  On  the  day  preceding  this  battle,  by  a  recent  law  of  Connec- 
ticut, the  soldiers  had  received  commissioners  to  take  their  votes 
for  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  and  had 
enjoyed  what,  under  the  circumstances,  was  a  great  luxury  to 
them.  The  Commissioners,  enamored  of  army  life,  expressed  re- 
gret that  they  could  net  see  a  battle  before  they  returned  to  Con- 
necticut. 

"  Most  of  the  regiment  were  up  next  morning  long  before  Re- 
veille, and  many  had  begun  to  cook  their  coffee,  on  account  of 
that  ominous  popping  and  cracking  which  had  been  going  on  for 
half  an  hour  off  to  the  right.  They  did  not  exactly  suppose  it 
meant  anything,  but  they  had  learned  wisdom,  by  many  a  sudden 
march  on  an  empty  stomach,  and  did  not  propose  to  be  caught 
napping.  The  clatter  on  the  right  increased.  Tiie  musket  shots 
reverberated  through  the  fog,  and  at  last, 'Whang!  ng-ng-ng 
went  a  piece  of  artillery.  And  then  a  smart  cannonading,  and 
more  musketry.  It  began  to  be  the  wonder  why  no  orders  came. 
But  suddenly  every  man  seemed  to  lose  interest  in  the  right,  and 
turned  his  inquiring  eyes  and  ears  to  the  left.  Rapid  volleys  and 
a  vague  tumult  told  that  there  was  trouble  there.  '  Fall  in  ! '  said 
Mackenzie.  The  'Commissioners'  looked  wildly  to  the  riglit, 
then  toward  the  left,  then  turned  pale,  and  then  advanced  vigo- 
rously toward  the  rear.  Shoulder  Arms !  Battalion,  left  face! 
File  left!  March!  Double-Quick !  March!'  The  brigade 
moved  briskly  on  toward  the  east,  crossing  the  track  of  other 
troops  and  batteries  of  artillery,  which  were  hurriedly  swinging 
into  position,  while  ambulances,  orderlies,  staff  officers,  camp  fol- 
lowers, pack  horses,  cavalrymen,  sutlers'  wagons,  hospital  wagons 
and  six-mule  teams  of  every  description  came  tumbling  and  gal- 
loping pell-mell  towar:!  the  right  and  rear,  and  making  off  toward 
Winchester*  It  was  not  a  hundred  rods  from  our  own  camp 
to  the  place  where  we  went  into  position,  on  a  road  running  north. 
General  Wright,  the  temporary  commander  of  the  army,  bare- 
headed, and  with  blood  trickling  fi'om  his  beard,  sat  on  his  hoi'se 
near  by,  as  if  bewildered,  or  in  a  brown  study.  The  G5th  New 
York  was  on  our  left,  and  then  came  the  2d  Division.  The  1st 
Brigade,  (Penrose's,)  was  on  the  right  of  ours,  and  then  came  the 
3d  Division.  The  ground  was  cleared  in  front  of  the  road,  and 
sloped  off  some  thirty  rods,  to  a  stream,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
which  it  rose  for  about  an  equal  distance,  to  a  piece  of  woods,  in 
which  the  advance  rebel  line  had  already  taken  position.     Truly 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     "\V  O  O  D  B  U  li  Y  .  1249 

does  Pollard  say  that  '  a  heavy  fi^g  favored  them.''  The  newly 
risen  sun,  huge  and  bloody,  was  on  tlieir  side  in  nioi'e  senses  tlian 
one.  Our  line  faced  directly  to  the  east,  and  we  could  see  nothing 
but  that  enormous  disc,  rising  out  of  the  fog,  while  they  could  see 
every  man  in  our  line,  and  could  take  good  aim.  The  battalion 
lay  down,  and  part  of  the  men  began  to  iire, — but  the  shape  of 
the  ground  afl'orded  little  protection,  and  large  numbers  were  kil- 
led and  wounded.  Four  fifths  of  our  loss  for  the  entire  day  oc- 
curred during  the  time  we  lay  here — which  could  not  have  been 
over  five  minutes; — by  the  end  of  which  time  the  2d  Connecticut 
found  itself  in  an  isolated  position,  not  unlike  that  of  (Jold  Har- 
bor. '  Go  and  ask  Penrose  where  he's  going  with  the  Brigade,' — 
said  Colonel  Mackenzie  to  the  writer  liereuf  (The  Jerseys  had 
withdrawn  from  our  right,  and  were  moving  across  our  rear  to 
the  left,  with  Penrose  on  foot,  some  distance  ahead  of  his  line.) 
'  Colonel  Penrose!  Mackenzie  wants  to  know  where  you  are  go- 
ing with  that  Brigade.'  'I'm  not  goini>;  anywhere.  I'm  wound- 
ed ! ' — was  the  energetic  reply, — which  was  carried  to  Colonel 
Mackenzie.  Just  then  Lieut.  Cleveland  rode  up  on  a  keen  jump, 
and  said,  'Colonel  Mackenzie!  General  Wheaton  wants  you  to 
move  directly  to  the  rear  by  right  of  companies ! '  Mackenzie  re- 
plied, '  My  God  !  I  cannot!  This  line  will  break  if  I  do.'  '  Well,' 
said  Cleveland,  pointing  to  the  left, — '  there  goes  the  6.5th,  and 
the  1st  Brigade  is  gone.'  A  few  seconds  later,  Mackenzie's  horse, 
'  old  Pop,'  was  struck  square  in  the  head,  and  after  spinning  around 
two  or  three  times  on  his  hind  legs,  went  down — dead  as  a  stone; 
and  the  Colonel,  who  had  previously  got  a  shot  tlirough  the  heel 
went  off  over  his  head.  The  fog  had  now  thinned  away  some- 
what, and  a  firm  rebel  line,  with  colors  full  high  advanced,  came 
rolling  over  a  knoll  just  in  front  of  our  left,  nor  more  than  three 
hundred  yards  distant.  '  Rise  up  !  Retreat!'  said  Mackenzie, — 
and  the  battalion  began  to  move  back.  For  a  little  distance  the 
retreat  was  made  in  very  good  order,  but  it  soon  degenerated  in. 
to  a  rout.  Men  from  a  score  of  regiments  were  mixed  up  in  flight, 
and  the  whole  corps  was  scattered  over  acres  and  acres,  with  no 
more  organization  than  a  herd  of  Buflfaloes.  Some  of  the  wound- 
ed were  canied  for  a  distance  by  their  comrades  who  were  at 
length  compelled  to  leave  them  to  their  fate,  in  order  to  escape 
being  shot. 

"  About  a  mile  from  the  place  where   the    retreat    commenced, 
there  was  a  road  running  directly  across   the  valley.     Here  the 


1 250  HISTORY      OF     AliCIKNT      WOODBURY. 

troops  were  rullieil,  and  a  slight  defence  of  rails  thrown  up.  The 
regimental  and  brigade  flngs  were  set  up  as  beacons,  to  direct  each 
man  how  to  steer  through  the  mob,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes 
there  was  an  effective  line  of  battle  established.  A  few  round 
shot  ricocheted  over  head,  making  about  an  eiglith  of  a  mile  at  a 
jump, — and  a  few  grape  were  dropped  into  a  ditch  just  behind  our 
line,  quickly  clearing  out  some  soldiers  who  had  crawled  in  there; 
but  this  was  the  extent  of  the  pursuit.  Mackenzie  and  Hamblin 
now  left  for  the,hosi)ilal,  to  have  their  wounds  dressed,  and  the 
whole  brigade,  (and  a  very  small  brigade  it  was!)  was  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  under  Colonel  Olcott,  of  the  121st  New  York. 
Three  lines  of  skirmishers  were  formed,  and  each  in  turn  consti- 
tuted the  front  line,  while  the  other  two  passed  through  and  halt- 
ed ;  and  so  the  retreat  was  continued  for  about  three  miles,  until 
a  halt  was  made  upon  high  ground,  from  which  we  could  jilninly 
sec  the  Johnnies  sauntering  ai'ound  on  the  very  ground  where  we 
had  slept. 

"  It  must  have  been  after  noon  when  we  left  that  position,  and 
moved  eastward  through  the  wood,  by  Sheridan's  order,  to  join 
the  2d  Division,  and  meet  the  enemy.  There  has  always  been  so 
much  dispute  as  to  whether  Sheridan  really  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  afternoon  formations,  that  it  is  best  to  give  his  own  tes- 
timony in  the  matter.     He  says  : — 

''At  about  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  October,  an 
officer  on  picket  at  Winchester,  reported  artillery  firing,  but,  sup- 
posing it  resulted  from  a  reconnoisance  which  had  been  ordered 
for  this  morning,  I  ))aid  no  attention  to  it,  and  was  unconscious  of 
the  true  CDudition  of  affairs  uniil  about  nine  o'clock,  Avhen,  having 
ridden  through  the  town  of  Winchester,  the  sound  of  the  artil- 
lery made  a  battle  unmistakable,  and  on  reaching  Mill  Creek,  one- 
half  a  mile  south  of  Winchester,  the  head  of  the  fugitives  appear- 
ed in  sight,  trains  and  men  coming  to  the  rear  vvith  appalling 
rapidity. 

"I  immediately  gave  directions  to  halt,  and  park  the  trains  at 
Mill  Creek,  and  ordered  the  biigade  at  Winchester  to  stretch 
across  the  country,  and  stop  all  stragglers.  Taking  twenty  men 
from  my  escort,  I  pushed  on  to  the  front,  leaving  the  balance,  un- 
der General  Forsyth,  and  Cvdonels  Thom  and  Alexander,  to  do 
what  they  could  in  stemming  the  torrent  of  fugitives. 

"I  am  happy  to  say  that  hundreds  of  the  men,  who  on  reflec- 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1251 

tion  found  tliat  they  liacl  not  done  themselves  justice,  ciune  back 
with  cheers." 

From  a  careful  examination  of  all  the  accounts  of  this  battle, 
the  writer  is  convinced,  that  to  tlie  hurried  return  lo  the  iront, 
(after  the  repulse,  and  utter  defeat  of  the  morning,)  and  efficient 
generalship  of  Sheridan,  was  this  glorious  and  decisive  viciory 
due.  And  this  ca,n  be  said  without  detracting  from  the  praise  due 
the  briUiant  deeds  of  the  other  glorious  men  who  fought  that  day. 
Tliere  is  an  irresistible  magnetism  and  fiscination  exerteil  over 
the  men  in  the  ranks,  by  the  bravery  and  skillful  daiing  of  a  loved, 
and  trusted,  and  successful  leader.     Such  is  Sheridan. 

In  the  quiet  routine  of  civil  life,  we  can  little  imagine  what  an 
electric  and  irresistible  impulse  would  be  given  to  brave  men, 
who  had  voluntaiily  ceased  to  retreat,  and  wei'e  making  a  noble 
stand,  to  see  a  beUtvcd  leader,  whom  they  sujipo.^ed  to  be  twenty 
miles  away,  i-iding  in  mad  haste  into  their  midst,  with  the  cheer- 
ing and  thrilling  words,  '*  vSteady,  Boys  !  You  are  going  back  to 
your  old  Camps!  Charge  bayonet!  Forwai'd,  March  !  "  Does 
any  one  doubt  that  some  such  inspiration  as  this  turned  the  sad 
disaster  of  the  early  morning,  into  the  glorious  victory  that  proved 
the  salvation  of  Washington? 

'' AV)out  two  o'clock  we  were  posted,  in  two  lines,  in  the  south- 
westei'u  edge  of  a  piece  of  woods,  in  front  of  which  was  an  open, 
side  hill  field,  at  the  top  of  which  along  a  stone  wall,  was  the  rebel 
skirmish  line,  while  the  main  line  was  not  a  greit  distance  back  of 
it.  Their  assault  had  already  been  made,  and  repulsed  by  the 
19th  Corps.  About  three  o'clock,  we  could  hear  the  cheering 
to  the  right,  as  Shei'idan  rode  along  the  line, — but  that  personage 
did  not  get  within  sight  of  our  regiment.  By  this  time  ILimblin 
and  Mackenzie  had  returned  to  take  part  in  the  'left  half  wheel,' 
which  had  been  ordered.  The  lints  moved  forward  over  the  as- 
cending ground,  under  a  galling,  but  not  very  destructive  tire  from 
the  rebel  skirmishei-s,  who  soon  gave  up  tiie  stone  wall  to  us,  and 
retreated  to  their  main  line.  A  square  musketry  fight  was  kept 
up  for  ten  minutes,  when  the  enemy  left  : — not,  however,  before 
inflictinj^  considerable  damage  on  us.  Here  Colonel  INIackenzie 
was  again  struck  by  a  solid  shot  or  shell,  which  just  grazed  his 
shoulder.  A  remarkably  large  number  of  our  officers  were  wound- 
ed at  this  point,  but  none  fatally,  nor  even  severely.    (lu  the  mom- 


1252  HISTORY      OF      A-NCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

ing  t1ie  casualties  among  llie  officers  had  been  few  and  severe, — 
Hosford  being  killed,  and  Fenn  and  Gregory  losing  each  an  arm  ) 
"The  enemy  attempted  to  rally  behind  another  fence,  a  little 
further  back,  but  after  a  moment  or  two  gave  it  up,  and  '  retired.' 
Not  only  in  front  of  our  regiment,  but  all  alonjf,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  both  to  the  riglit  and  left  wei-e  they  flying  over  the  un- 
even country,  in  precisely  the  same  kind  of  disorder  that  we  had 
exhibited  in  the  morning.  The  shouts  and  screams  of  victory 
mingled  with  the  roar  of  the  firing,  and  never  was  heard 

'  So  musical  a  discord,  such  sweet  thunder.' 

Tiie  sight  of  so  many  rebel  heels  made  it  a  very  easy  thing  to  be 
brave,  and  the  union  troops  pressed  on  utterly  regardless  of  the 
grape  and  canister  which,  to  the  last  moment  the  enemy  flung  be- 
hind him.  It  would  not  have  been  well  for  them  to  have  fired  too 
much,  if  they  had  had  ever  so  good  a  chance,  for  they  would  have 
been  no  more  likely  to  hit  our  men  than  their  own,  who  were  our 
prisoners,  and  scattered  in  squads  of  ten,  and  squads  of  07ie,  all 
over  the  vast  field.  At  one  time  they  made  a  determined  stand, 
along  a  ridge  in  front  of  our  brigade.  A  breastwork  of  rails  was 
thrown  together,  colors  planted,  a  nucleus  made,  and  both  flanks 
grew  longer  and  longer,  with  wonderful  rapidity.  It  was  evident 
that  they  were  driving  back  their  men  to  this  line  without  regard 
to  regiment  or  organization  of  any  kind.  This  could  be  plainly 
seen  from  the  adjacent  and  similar  ridge  over  which  we  were  mo- 
ving,— the  pursuers  being  in  quite  as  much  disorder  (so  far  as  or- 
ganizations were  concerned,)  as  the  pursued.  That  growing  line 
began  to  look  ugly,  and  somewhat  quenched  the  ardor  of  the 
chase.  It  began  to  be  a  question  in  many  minds  whether  it  would 
not  be  a  point  of  wisdom  to  '  survey  the  vantage  of  the  ground,' 
before  getting  much  further.  But  just  as  we  descended  into  the 
intervening  hollow,  a  body  of  cavalry,  not  large,  but  compact, 
was  seen  scouring  along  the  fields  to  our  right  and  front  like  a 
whirlwind,  directly  toward  the  left  flank  of  that  formidable  line 
on  the  hill.  When  we  readied  the  top  there  was  no  enemy  there  ! 
They  had  moved  on,  and  the  cavalry  after  them.  Thus  the  chase 
was  continued,  from  position  to  position,  for  miles  and  miles,  for 
[lours  and  hours, — utitil  darkness  closed  in,  and  every  regiment 
went  into  cam[)  on  the  identical  ground  it  had  left  in  such  haste 
in  the  morning.  Every  man  tied  his  shelter  tent  to  the  very  same 
old  stakes;  and  in   half  an  hour  coft'ee  was  boiling  and  salt  pork 


UISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT    WOOD  KURY.  1253 

sputtering  over  thousands  of  cainp  fires.  Civil  life  may  furnish 
better  fare  than  the  army  at  Cedar  Creek  had  that  night,  but  not 
better  appetites;  for  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  many  had 
gone  into  the  fight  directly  from  their  beds,  and  had  eaten  nothing 
for  twenty-four  hours. 

"Late  in  the  evening,  after  many  were  sound  asleep,  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  be  formed  in  line  without  arms.  When  the 
command  to  'fall  in'  was  heard,  the  general  question  was,  '  Well, 
old  Jubal  hasn't  forgotten  anything  and  come  back  after  it,  has 
he  ?  '  The  clause,  '  without  arms,'  however,  showed  that  he  had 
not;  althongli  tlie  soldiers  expressed  their  perfect  willingness  to 
fight  him  that  way,  if  he  still  found  himself  unable  to  restrain 
his  pugnacity.  The  line  being  formed,  Captain  Jones — now  in 
command  of  tlie  i-egiment — said,  'Soldiers: — I  have  received  a 
despatch  from  General  Sheridan's  Head-quarters,  which  announces 
that  we  have  this  day  taken  not  less  than  two  thousand  prisonersi 
forty-seven  guns  and  caissons,  a  large  number  of  battle-fiags,  all 
the  wagons  and  supplies  taken  from  us  this  morning,  besides  hor- 
ses, mules,  wagon  trains,  and  material  of  all  kinds  in  unknown 
quantities;  and  that  our  victory  is  complete.  I  now  propose  three 
cheers  for  Sheridan,  ourselves,  our  army,  and  the  Union  ! '  They 
were  given  with  indescribable  heartiness,  while  all  the  camps,  far 
and  near,  joined  in  full  chorus.  The  battalion  was  dismissed,  and 
thus  ended  the  day  that  had  witnessed  a  battle  which  was,  in  many 
respects,  without  a  parallel  in  ancient  or  modern  history." 

Gcu.  Early  and  the  Confederate  government  had  now  had  ex- 
perience enough  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  It  was  certain  that 
there  would  be  no  more  fighting  in  that  desolated,  but  beautiful 
region.  The  regiment,  therefore,  returned  to  Petersburg  again, 
and  saw  no  more  pitched  battles  till  the  next  spring. 

While  all  these  stirring  events  were  going  on  at  the  front,  the 
people  were  making  the  most  strenuous  efforts  at  home  to  fill  the 
fearfully  depleted  ranks  of  the  brave  defenders  of  the  union. 
Many  of  these  recruits,  for  Avhose  enlistment  enormous  bounties 
were  paid,  were  of  the  most  worthless  trash  on  the  face  of  the 
earth — bounty  jumpers,  thieves,  murderers,  prison-birds  and  vilest 
knaves.  They  took  the  patriotic  monies  poured  out  by  the  people 
like  water,  and  deserted  almost  e/i  masse. 

In  aid  of  the  good  cause,  Woodbury  passed  the  following  votes 
in  1864  : 


1254  HISTORY     OF     A  N  CI  ENT    W  O  CD  BU  R  Y  . 

*'  AlI  a  town  meetino:  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  of  Wood- 
bury, holden  at  the  Town  Hall  in  said  town,  pursuant  to  warning, 
Jan.  18th,  1864,  the  following  votes  were  "passed  on  motion  made. 

"  Voted,  To  confii-ni  the  votes  and  resolutions  passed  at  a  spe- 
cial town  meeting  held  on  the  13th  day  of  August.  18(33,  and  re- 
corded in  the  records  of  this  town,  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 

"Tliis  vote  was  passed  by  yeas  70,  nays,  42. 


"At  a  meeting  held  15th  February,  1864: — 

"  Voted,  That,  pursuant  to  a  statute  law  of  this  State,  approved 
Dec.  18th,  1862,  entitled  '  An  Act  to  authorize  Towns,  Cities  and 
Boroughs  to  issue  Bonds,  or  other  obligations  for  War  Purposes,' 
the  Town  pay  to  any  person,  who  shall  get  an  accepted  recruit  to 
count  on  the  quota  of  Woodbury,  on  the  last  call  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  for  500,000  men,  and  actually  have  him  sworn 
in,  to  the  credit  of  said  town,  the  sum  of  seventy-five  ($75)  Dol- 
lars, as  recruiting  expenses,  to  be  paid  to  him  on  presenting  vouch- 
ers from  the  proper  authorities,  of  the  recruit's  muster,  till  the 
town  quota  is  full. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  be  authorized  to  issue 
orders,  or  other  evidences  of  indebtedness  against  said  town,  to 
meet  the  expenses  as  authorized  in  the  foregoing  vote,  and  be  di- 
rected to  do  so,  on  presentation  of  said  vouchers. 

"  Voted,  That  each  man,  who  shall  recruit  a  man,  or  men,  to  fill 
the  quota  of  the  town  of  Woodbury,  shall  report  daily  the  name 
or  names  of  such  recruits  to  the  Town  Clerk,  that  it  may  be  de- 
termined when  the  quota  is  full." 


"Meeting  held  July  30,  1864: 

"  Voted,  That  pursuant  to  a  Statute  law  of  this  State,  approved 
Dec.  18th,  1862,  entitled  '  An  Act  to  authorize  Towns,  Cities  and 
Boroughs,  to  issue  Bonds  or  other  obligations  for  War  Purposes,' 
the  town  pay  to  any  person  who  shall  procure  an  accepted  recruit, 
to  count  on  the  quota  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury  on  the  last  call 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      "WOODBURY.  1255 

of  the  Pi-esident  of  tlie  United  States  for  500,000  men,  and  actu- 
ally have  him  sworn  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  the 
credit  of  said  Town  of  Woodbury,  the  sum  of  Tliree  Hundred 
Dollars,  recruiting-  expenses,  to  be  paid  to  him  on  presenting 
vouchers  from  the  propt'r  authorities  of  the  recruit's  muster-in, 
until  the  quota  of  the  town  is  filled. 

''  Voted,  That  any  person  who  shall  furnish  a  substitute,  or  rep- 
resentative, before  the  draft,  shall  receive  the  same  compensation 
as  other  recruiting  agents,  provided  the  town  of  Woodbury  shall 
have  credit  for  said  substitute  or  representative,  on  the  quota  of 
the  town. 

"  Voted,  That  the  quota  of  the  town  be  deemed  to  be  thirty- 
five  men. 

"  Voted,  Thattlie  Selectmen  of  the  town  be  authorized  to  issue 
orders  or  otlier  evidences  of  indebtedness  against  said  town,  to 
meet  the  expenses  authoi-ized  in  the  foregoing  votes,  and  be  di- 
rected to  do  so  on  presentation  of  said  vouchers. 

"  Voted,  That  each  man  wlio  shall  I'ecruit  a  man  or  men  to  fill 
the  quota  of  the  town  of  Woodbury,  shall  report  daily  the  name 
or  names  of  such  recruits  to  the  Town  Clerk,  that  it  may  be  de- 
termined when  the  quota  is  full." 


"Special  meeting,  held  Aug.  22,  1864: — 

"Whereas  the  number  of  persons  on  the  United  States'  enroll- 
ment list  for  the  town  of  \Voodbui-y,  greatly  exceeds  the  number 
of  men  suV)ject  to  military  duty  residing  therein,  by  reason  of 
which  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  late  call  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  for  500,000  men  is  largely  in  excess  of  what 
it  should  be,   tlierefore  :  — 

"  Voted,  That  for  the  purpose  of  reducing  tiie  quota,  the  Se- 
lectmen of  the  town  are  hereby  authorized  and  instructed  to  pro- 
cure the  coriectioii  of  said  enrollment  list,  by  the  erasure  of  the 
names  of  such  ]iersons  thei-eon  as  are  not  subject  to  military  duty  ; 
and  also  to  have  all  ])ers()ns  who  have  entered,  or  who  may  enter 
the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States,  credited  on 
said   quota,  wlio  are   entitled   by  law  to   be  so  credited,  and   who 


1256  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

have  not  been  heretofore  so  credited,  and  they  are  liereby  autlior- 
ized  to  pay  all  needful  expenses  for  these  purposes. 

"  Voted,  That  pursuant  to  a  Statute  Law  of  the  State,  approved 
December  ISth,  18G2,  entitled  'An  Act  to  authorize  Towns,  Cities 
and  Boroughs  to  issue  Bonds  or  other  obligations  for  War  Pur- 
poses,' that  the  additional  sura  of  Fifteen  Thousand  (15,000)  Dol- 
lars be  appropriated  from  the  Town  Treasury,  to  be  used  for  re- 
cruiting purposes  only. 

"  Voted,  Daniel  Curtiss  and  Robert  Peck,  be  appointed  agents 
to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  call  of  the  President  for 
five  hundred  thousand  (500,000)  men,  to  procure  volunteers  or  as- 
sist in  procuring  substitutes  for  any  citizens  of  Woodbury  who 
may  apply  to  them  for  assistance,  and  said  Curtiss  and  Peck  shall 
have  full  power  to  use  or  apply  any  part  or  all  of  the  sum  of  fif- 
teen thousand  (15,000)  dollars,  heretofore  appropriated,  if  deemed 
necessary  by  them,  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town. 

"  Voted,  That  any  person  who  shall  fi'"st  deposit  the  sum  of 
three  liundred  (800)  dollars  with  said  agents,  shall  have  the  first 
substitute  procured  by  them  to  apply  on  the  quota  of  the  town^ 
and  so  on,  in  the  regular  order  cf  deposit  of  said  sum  of  three 
hundred  dollars,  until  the  quota  is  filled. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  pay  to,  or  draw  their  order  on,  the  Town  Treas- 
urer, for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  (200)  dollars,  in  iavor  of  each 
and  every  person  who  has,  since  the  1st  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1864, 
or  shall,  pi'ior  to  the  draft,  furnish  an  acceptable  substitute  for  the 
period  of  three  years,  to  apply  on  the  quota  of  the  town,  and 
shall  produce  his  certificate  from  the  Board  of  Enrollment,  that 
such  substitute  has  been  furnished,  in  addition  to  the  three  hundred 
dollars  already  appropriated  at  the  special  meeting  of  said  town, 
holden  July  .30th,  1864,  provided,  that  no  person  shall  receive  a 
greater  sum  than  has  been  paid  by  him  for  his  substitute  exclu- 
sive of  the  bounty  of  $300  paid  by  the  State,  making  the  substi- 
tute cost  the  principal  8300, 

"  Voted,  Tliat  every  person  who  has  heretofore  procured  a  substi- 
tute under  the  last  call  for  five  hundi'ed  thousand  men,  shall  receive 
a  sum  equal  to  the  amount  expended  by  him  in  procuring  said  sub- 
stitute, provided  that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  shall  first 
be  deducted  from  said  expenses,  and  the  sum  actually  paid  foi-  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1257 

substitute  sliall  be  deemed  tlie  amount  expended,  making  ^tliat 
each  substitute  shall  cost  tlie  principal  three  hundred  dollars,  uut 
of  the  whole  sum  tlie  substitute  cost. 

"  Voted,  Thai  tlie  appropriation  of  fifLeen  thousand  (15,000) 
dollars  shall  not  affect  any  previous  vote  or  votes,  or  any  appro- 
priation heretolbre  made  by  tliis  town,  to  encoui'age  enlistments. 

''  Votedy  That  tiie  Selectmen  of  the  town  be  autliorized  and  di- 
rected to  issue  orders,  oc  other  evidences  of  indelnedness  ngainst 
said  town,  to  meet  the  expenses  as  authorized  in  the  foregoing 
votes,  and  to  do  so  on  request  of  said  agents  appointed  by  the 
town  to  fill  the  quota." 


"Military Town  Meeting,  Dec.  21,  18G4: 

"  Voted,  That  Daniel  Curtiss  and  Robert  Peck  be  a  Committee 
to  fill  the  quota  of  this  town  in  the  present,  or  any  future  call 
made  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  volunteers  or 
draited  men. 

"  Voted,  That  said  Committee  is  authorized,  at  their  discretion, 
to  fill  said  quota,  by  procuring  substitutes  for  sucli  persons  as  will 
pay  said  committee  such  sum,  not  exceeding  three  hundred  dollars, 
as  is  necessary  to  procure  such  substitutes,  or  by  procui-ing  vol- 
unteers, and  charge  the  expense  to  the  town. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  and  directed  to  draw 
orders  on  the  Treasury  of  this  town  to  carry  out  the  foregoing 
votes,  u])on  the  persons  ])resenting  the  jjroper  vouchers,  that  said 
substitutes  or  volunteers  are  mustered  into  the  IJidted  Stales  Ser- 
vice, to  the  credit  of  this  town. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  and  directed  to  draw 
orders  on  the  Treasury  of  this  town  for  all  persons  that  have  put 
in  substitutes  to  the  credit  of  this  town  since  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber last,  for  such  amounts  as  said  substitutes  have  cost  thein,  over 
and  above  three  hundred  dollars,  exclusive  of  State  Bounty  and 
expenses " 

In  tile  latter  part  of  the  year  1864,  permission  was  gr.mled  to 
all  military  subjects  to  procure,  and  cause  to  be  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  substitutes,  which  should  protect  them  from 


1256  niSTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 

call  on  nny  future  draft  for  three  years.  The  last  vote  quoted 
above  was  introduced  to  assist  military  subjects  to  avail  them- 
selves of  this  privilege.  A  large  number  of  our  military  subjects 
availed  themselves  of  this  vote,  especiall}'-,  as  a  draft  had  been 
announced,  though  no  quota  for  Connecticut  had  been  assigned. 
There  is,  however,  a  grim  joke  about  the  matter.  For,  at  the 
very  time  this  favor  was  granted,  the  quota  of  Connecticut  turned 
out  to  be  full  on  all  calls  that  had  been  made,  with  a  surplus  of 
some  7,000  to  be  applied  on  some  future  call,  which,  however,  was 
never  made,  and  it  also  turned  out,  that  Woodbury  had  contri- 
buted quite  a  number  more  than  its  share  of  this  excess.  So, 
some  twenty,  or  twenty-five  persons  parted  with  $300  apiece,  and 
the  town  with  an  average  of  $500,  or  $G00  apiece  for  the  same 
number,  while  it  was  unnecessary,  for  the  purpose  intended,  if 
they  had  had  information  to  instruct  them  as  to  passing  events. 
However,  the  men  were  forwarded,  and  no  doubt  had  their  influ- 
ence in  "  closing  out  "  the  rebellion. 

As  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  exhausting  individual  struggles, 
which  go  to  make  up  the  recoi'd,  and  the  success  of  the  war,  two 
letters  of  Commissary  Sergeant  Waltei'  S.  Orton,  are  here  record- 
ed. The  last  one  was  written  only  a  brief  time  before  this  brave 
young  man  received  his  own  death  wound,  at  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester. They  were  written  to  Deacon  Philo  M.  Trowbridge, 
who,  with  the  writer,  and  a  few  others,  particularly  identified 
themselves,  not  only  in  the  recruiting  and  sending  of  men  to  the 
front,  to  assist  in  the  national  struggles,  but  who  also  identified 
themselves  in  caring  for  the  dear  ones  the  brave  soldiers  left  be- 
hind them,  assisting  them  in  their  troubles," cheering  them  in  their 
sori'ows,  bearing  tenderly  to  the  bereaved  the  news,  that  their 
ch(  rished  relatives  had  died  in  battle,  or  by  fell  disease,  or  by  the 
inevitable  accidents  incident  to  the  service.  This  was  often  a  sad 
duty,  calling  for  sym|)at.hetic  tears.  The  general  public  will  never 
know  how  sad  were  the  duties  performed  by  this  self-constituted 
committee. 

The  writer  speaks  of  this  young  soldier  as  of  a  vei'v  dear  friend. 
He  was  true  in  all  the  relations  of  life  He  did  not  enlist  for  the 
poor  i)ittance  of  §100  offered  by  tiie  town,  and  the  patriotic 
offer  of  C.  G.  Judson  of  ten  dollars  more  to  the  volunteers 
of  his  native  town,  made  to  show  his  interest  in  the  course  of 
the  town. — No  such  sordid  motive  moved  him.  lie  had  no  de- 
sire to  shed  human  blood.     But  lie  saw  the  need  of  more  men  for 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1259 

the  service,  anil  determined  to  leave  wife  and  children,  to  devote 
himself  to  the  defense  of  his  country.  Greater  should  be  his 
meed  of  fame,  because  he  enlisted  and  went  into  the  war  with  the 
sad  foreboding  that  he  should  not  survive  it — that  he  should  never 
reside  again  in  his  native  town,  after  he  should  have  marched 
with  the  volunteers  for  their  duties  at  tlie  front.  The  writer  Avell 
remembers,  even  through  all  the  multiplied  cares  of  that  beautiful 
Sabbath  day,  when  there  was  a  hurried  gathering  of  our  Wood- 
bury company  to  march  to  Litchfield,  the  sad  partinijf  of  Oiton 
with  his  friends,  his  wife  and  children,  and  his  parting  remark — 
"I  feel  I  shall  not  survive  this  war.  But  some  must  be  sacrificed. 
Some  must  give  up  all  for  the  union.  I  cannot  withhold  my  ser- 
vices for  the  salvation  of  the  country." 

He  was  permitted  to  see  his  native  town  and  loved  ones,  on 
furlough,  once  and  a^ain.  But  his  foreboding  became  prophecy. 
He  received  a  gun-shot  wound,  quite  through  his  bi'cast,  from 
right  to  left,  at  the  battle  of  Winchester.  Singularly  enough,  he 
lived  on,  wrote  cheerlul  letters  to  his  wife,  Imt  finally  died  of  sec- 
ondary hemorrhage,  sonie  two  weeks  after  his  injui-y  was  received. 
There  is  another  circumstance  connected  with  this  case.  Orton 
Mas  commissary  Sergeant  of  his  company,  and  was  not  obliged, 
l)y  any  rule,  to  particijjate  with  his  musket  in  battle.  Pure  pat- 
riotism, in  meeting  a  desperate  encounter,  must,  therefore,  have  sent 
him  to  his  death.  The  survivors  can  but  weep  in  remembrance  of 
his  gentle  virtues. 


"  Camp  of   the  2t>  C.  V.  A.,  | 
Charlestown,  Va.,  Aug.  30th,  '64.  f 

"Friend  Trowbridge: — Your  letter  wms  received  in  due  sea- 
son, and  as  I  have  a  little  leisnie,  being  on  the  sick  list,  I  will  en. 
deavor  to  give  you  the  details  of  our  movements  since  IVIay  15th, 
1864.  I  do  not  know  as  it  will  be  interesting,  as  I  shall  have  to 
write  from  memory. 

"May  15th. — Had  orders  to  march  at  12  o'clock,  (noon,)  to 
garrison  Forts  Albany,  Stevens,  (iregg,  Whi])ple,  Hagarty,  Berry 
and  others.  IGth — Orders  to  pa(;k  up  for  a  forward  movement  to 
the  front.  Camped  near  Alexandria.  l7th. —  Went  aboard  trans- 
ports for  Belle  Plain.  Landed  at  5  o'clock,  evening,  liained  very 
hard ;  lay  in    the  mud    that  night ;  the   regiment  was    paid  off. 

27 


1260  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

18. — Took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Fredericksburg,  where  we  en- 
camped for  the  night.  19th. — Left  .Fredericksburg  in  the  morn- 
ing for  Spotsilvania,  where  we  were  assigned  to  the  2d  Brigade, 
1st  Division,  6th  Corps,  commanded  by  Major  General  Wright ; 
Brio-ade  Commandant,  General  Upton  ;  Division  Comraandani, 
Major  General  Russell,  who  is  a  regular  old  tanner  in  looks  and 
dress.  The  same  night,  our  regiment  had  to  throw  up  rifle-pits. 
Althouo-h  tired,  and  on  half  rations,  our  boys  took  hold  of  the 
work  with  a  will.  20th. — Formed  in  line  of  battle  and  awaited 
an  attack  from  the  Johnnies.  They  charged  our  skirmish  line, 
but  were  repulsed  by  our  brigade  battery.  At  9  in  the  evening 
made  a  flank  movement  in  the  direction  of  Hanover  Court  House. 
The  Johnnies  charged  our  empty  breastworks  the  next  morning. 
We  marched  until  3  o'clock,  the  21st,  M'hen  we  halted  at  Gunie 
Station  ;  from  thence,  across  the  North  Anna  river,  where  our  ad- 
vance attacked  the  Johnnies,  and  cnused  them  to  retreat.  We 
then  encamped  until  the  next  morning,  22d,  when  we  threw  out 
a  strono-  skirmish  line.  One  man  in  our  company,  by  the  name  of 
Smith,  was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  our  corps  being  in  line  of  battle 
all  of  the  time.  The  next  morning,  23d.  advanced  and  tore  up 
some  12  miles  of  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad.  A 
mnn  by  the  name  of  Barns  had  both  legs  broken,  by  the  falling  of 
a  portion  of  the  track— since  died — then  lay  on  our  arms  in  line. 

25th. Recrossed  the  Norlli  Anna,  commenced  the  line  of  march 

at  8.  morning.  Halted,  in  the  afternoon,  near  Chesterfield.  Drew 
a  few  hard  tack  and  some  fresh  beef;  burned  the  Railroad  Station 
House  and  destroyed  several  cars  the  Johnnies  had  to  abandon. 
Marched  until  27th,  with  only  a  few  halts.  Crossed  the  Pamunky 
river  on  pontoons;  halted  after  we  crossed,  and  went  into  camp. 

28th. Marched  two  miles,  and  rested  for  the  day.     Took  up  the 

line  of  march  at  10  o'clock,  night;  marched  to,  and  encamped 
near  Hanover  Court  House— 29th,  (making  the  second  time  we 
were  near  the  above-mentioned  place,) -a  part  of  our  regiment 
tearing  up  the  Railroad  track,  the  balimce  in  line  of  battle,  in  the 
woods.  30th. — Moved  a  short  distance,  into  a  swamp,  where  we 
threw  up  rifle-pits — continual  firing  on  the  skii'inish  line — took  up 
the  line  of  march  at  10  o'clock;  marched  until  10  o'clock,  the  1st 
day  of  June.  At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  our  corps  was  ordered 
to  charge  the  enemy's  works,  amid  a  shower  of  grape  and  canis- 
ter. Our  men  were  told  to  lay  down,  then  charge,  after  the  first 
fire.     Drove  the  Johnnies  out  of  their  pits,  carrying  two,  and  then 


HISTOKY     OP     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1261 

the  third  line  of  the  Johnnies  works.  Privates  A.  D.  Galpin  and 
F.  F.  Kane,  were  killed  before  they  reached  the  first  liiie  of  works. 
(It  will  do  for  nie  to  explain  a  little  of  the  following.)  It  was 
there  onr  brave  Colonel  fell,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  not  giving 
up  until  killed — he  being  wounded  three  times  before  he  received 
the  fatal  shot.  Some  say  he  was  drunk — but  that  is  not  true — he 
died  sober,  and  he  died  a  brave,  true,  and  noble  officer.  We  never 
shall  see  his  hke  again,  while  in  the  U.  S.  service.  We  lay  in  the 
pits  until  the  next  day,  2d,  when  we  wci'e  relieved,  marched  to 
the  rear,  but  within  range  of  the  minnie  balls  and  shells.  It  was 
there  that  Isaac  Briggs  received  his  wound,  while  laying  in  his 
tent,  reading.  Nothing  of  any  note  transpired  until  the  12th, 
when  we  again  made  a  flank  movement,  starting  at  9  in  the  evening, 
and  marched  until  5  oV-lock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  when 
we  encara[)ed,  after  crossing  the  Chickahoraany.  14th. — Marched 
10  miles,  then  encamped,  near  the  James  river.  15th. — Marched 
tAVo  miles,  then  camped  in  a  corn-field.  16th. — Took  up  the  line 
of  niarcli  at  5  in  the  afternoon — rested  on  the  banks  of  the  James 
two  hours,  then  went  aboai'd  of  transpoi'ts  at  12,  night,  touching 
at  City  Point;  from  thence,  to  Point  of  Kocks,  where  we  remain- 
ed. We  heard  cannonading  in  the  direction  of  Petersburg.  Re- 
mained in  camp  until  the  19th,  then  crossed  the  James  river  on 
pontoons,  and  mai'ched  to  within  two  miles  of  Petersbm-g;  en- 
camped that  night, — tiie  20th,  our  regement  went  on  picket  duty, 
and  we  could  see  the  churches  in  the  city,  and  some  of  the  streets. 
21st. — The  Johnnies  shelled  oar  batteries,  but  did  no  harm.  22d. 
— W^ere  under  fire  of  the  Johnnies.  Took  up  our  line  of  march 
at  9  in  the  evening,  going  in  a  south-east  direction,  until  the  morn- 
ing of  the  23d,  when  we  rested  four  hours,  then  formed  a  line  of 
battle,  one  half  of  the  regiment  as  skirmishers,  and  the  remainder 
as  reserve.  One  private  of  our  company,  by  the  name  of  Ruel 
Hazen,  was  killed  on  the  skirmish  line.  Romayn  Hard  had  a  ball 
put  through  his  cap,  which  was  attached  to  his  haversack,  doing 
no  harm  to  him.  Wa  withdrew  our  line,  and  went  to  building 
breastworks,  in  anticipation  of  an  attack — lay  in  thei)its  all  night. 
24th.  —  Changed  our  position  several  times  during  the  day — build- 
ing rifle-pits.  25th. — Remained  in  the  same  position,  clea)-ing  up 
the  woods  in  our  front.  26th. — Ourcomi)any  on  picket— all  quiet 
along  the  line.  27th. — Cleared  up  a  camp  ground.  28th. — Re- 
mained in  camp.  No  duty  to  do,  only  for  Walt.;  he  had  to  write 
all  day.     Reviewed  by  General   Wiight.     29th. — starched   down 


1262  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

to  Reams  Station,  to  support  the  cavalry  raid  on  the  Welden  and 
Petersburg  Railroad,  and  eftectnally  cut  the  road — remained  there 
that  night.  30th. — Marched  four  miles  up  the  Jerusalem  plank 
road,  and  encamped  until  July  2d,  when,  returned  to  near  where 
we  were  emcamped,  the  28th. — There  we  remained  until  the  9th. 
Then  took  up  the  line  of  march  at  9,  night,  and  marched  until  9 
o'clock,  the  10th,  when  we  reached  City  Point,  on  our  return  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  Took  the  transports  at  5  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, reaching  our  place  of  destination,  (Washington,)  the  12th, 
where  found  the  Rebs  in  force,  within  five  miles  of  the  city.  We 
lay  in  rifle-pits  that  night.  13th. — Went  into  camp  near  Fort  Ste- 
vens— remained  until  12,  night, — marched  a  short  distance,  then 
encamped.  14th. — Marched  till  5  o'clock,  and  halted  at  Poolsville, 
— encamped  all  night.  15th. — A  rebel  spy  was  hung  on  the  left 
of  our  brigade.  He  remained  hanging  from  one,  morn.,  until  sun- 
set. Remained  in  camp  until  the  10th. — Took  up  the  line  of 
march  at  5, morning;  crossed  the  Potomac  at  White  Ford;  water 
waist  deep.  Encamped  that  night  three  miles  west  of  Leesburg. 
Our  company  went  on  picket.  Remained  here  nuiW  the  18th. — 
Started  on  the  march,  passing  through  Hamilton,  Thompsonville, 
and  Snicker's  Gap,  which  we  reached  after  Hunter's  men  shame- 
fully fled  from  the  Rebel  front.  There  would  have  been  a  total  rout 
of  all  his  command,  had  not  our  Corps  come  up  and  opened  their 
batteries  upon  them.  We  went  into  camp,  and  remained  on  the 
banks  of  the  Shenandoah  until  the  20th,  when  we  crossed  the 
above  named  river,  and  marched  to  within  two  miles  of  Beers- 
ville — then  we  left  the  Johnnies  under  charge,  or  rather  for  Gen. 
Crook  to  take  care  of;  then  recrossed  the  Shenandoah,  and  march- 
ed through  Snicker's  Gap,  the  21st,  marching  all  night,  and  until 
night  of  the  present  date,  when  we  encamped,  four  miles  east  of 
Leesburg,  on  Goose  Creek.  22d. — Marched  in  the  direction  of 
Washington,  where  wc  encamped  on  the  Leesburg  and  Alexan- 
dria turnpike.  23d. — Crossed  tiie  Chain  Bridge,  aiid  encamped 
near  Tenallytown,  where  we  remained  until  the  25th.  We  were 
then  ordered  to  join  our  old  Corps  (the  22d).  We  then  marched 
through  Georgetown,  and  our  company  was  assigned  to  Fort 
Clegg.  Here  we  remained  until  2  o'clock,  the  26th,  when  we  were 
ordered  to  pack  up,  and  join  the  6th  Corps ;  marched  until  10 
o'clock  that  night,  the  company  having  five  hours  the  start  of 
our  regiment.  2Vth. — Started  on  the  march  at  daylight,  passing 
through  Rockville  and  Clarksville,  encamped  at  5  o'clock.     28th. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUET.  1263 

Started  on  the  march,  passing  through  Hyattstown,  Urbana,  join- 
ing the  company  at  tlie  Monocacy  river,  crossed  tlie  river  and 
marched  to  Jetferson,  where  we  encamped  at  10  o'clock,  night. 
29th. — Marched ;  passed  through  Kiioxville,  Plarper's  Ferry,  and 
encamped  on  Bolivar  Heights.  30th. — Came  back  from  Jiolivar 
Heights,  passing  through  Harper's  Ferry,  and  Knoxville;  march- 
ed until  2  o'clock,  the  morning  of  the  31st,  when  we  encamped 
near  Frederick.  1st — Remained  in  camp.  2d. — Marched  one 
mile  and  encamped.  3d. — Passed  through  liuckettown,  forded 
the  Monocacy,  and  encamped  on  the  bank.  4th, — Divine  Service 
in  camp.  5th. — In  camp.  6th. — Took  up  the  line  of  march  at  10 
o'clock;  marched  all  night,  and  the  7th,  encamped  on  Bolivar 
Heights.  Remained  in  camp  until  the  10th,  when  we  started  on 
another  raid  after  the  Johnnies,  passing  through  Berryville,  and 
Charlestown.  Halted  for  the  night  at  5  o'clock,  lltli. — Marched 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  encamped  at  6  o'clock  for  the  night. 
12th. — Marched  until  9,  evening,  passing  through  Newtown. 
Halted  for  the  night.  13th. — Marched  to  within  four  miles  of 
Strausburg,  passing  through  Middletown.  The  Johnnies  made  a 
stand,  and  we  popped  away  into  them.  We  fired  into  their  rear 
all  of  the  way  from  Berryville  up  the  valley.  We  remained  in 
camp  until  the  6th,  when  we  returned  to  Harper's  Ferry,  destroy- 
ing grain  and  hay,  gathering  up  cattle  and  horses.  Our  boys  for- 
aged all  the  way  back  ;  at  Winchester  we  burned  a  large  flouring 
mill.  The  Johnnies  followed  us  to  Harper's  Ferry,  or  rather  to 
Bolivar  Heights,  where  we  made  a  stand,  and  captured,  during 
last  week,  some  1,500  prisoners.  18th. — They  fell  back,  and  we 
followed  them  as  far  as  Charlestown,  where  our  cavalry  attacked 
their  rear.  We  don't  want  to  fight  them,  but  bother  them,  in  or- 
der to  keep  them  from  going  to  Richinond,  to  reinforce  Lee. 
Well,  my  friend,  I  am  tired,  and  I  think  you  will  be,  by  the  time 
you  get  this  letter  read." 

"If  you  choose,  you  may  read  this  to  Cothren,  and  my  brother 
Fred;  also  to  Oapt.  Sperry.  Remember  me  to  all  inquiring  friends, 
especially  Mr.s.  T." 

Yours,  fraternally, 

Sergt.  W,  J.  Orton." 


1264  HTISOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 


"Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  ■12th  June,  1864. 
"Friend  Trowbridge: — I  receiver!  your  letter  day  before  yes- 
terday, and  I  was  happy  to  hear  from  you.  Time  has  made  seve- 
ral changes  since  I  la&.t  wrote  to  you.  Our  regiment  marched  day 
and  night,  commencing  May  18th,  up  to  June  1st.  We  marched 
all  night  of  May  30,  and  up  to  June  1st,  at  10  o'clock,  and  about 
5  o'clock  of  the  same  day  made  a  charge  on  the  rebel  rifle-pits>. 
taking  three,  but  owing  to  the  want  of  support  could  not  hold 
but  two  of  them.  Our  Colonel  was  killed,  after  receiving  four 
wounds.  He  led  the  charge.  Our  loss  is  380,  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  Old  soldiers  say  that  our  regiment  was  whipped 
three  difterent  times,  but  our  men  did  not  know  it,  and  continued 
to  fight.  Our  regiment  took  between  5  and  600  rebel  prisoners. 
They  came  in  fast,  for  a  while.  Almond  D.  Galpin  was  killed,  also 
Friend  F.  Kane,  at  the  commencement  of  the  charge — Galpin  by 
a  shell,  and  Kane  by  a  ball.  Briggs  was  Avounded  two  days  after 
in  his  tent,  by  a  ball  from  the  rebels  striking  him  on  the  foot,  I 
think  that  is  all  of  the  old  men.  L.  H.  Hotchkiss  is  wounded  in 
the  hand ;  some  eleven  of  the  men  were  slightly  wounded.  I 
have  forgotten  Corporal  Wellman,  he  was  wounded  in  the  face, 
also  in  the  arm.  Several  of  our  boys  are  sick  with  the  summer 
complaint.  We  have  communication  opened  to  the  James  river, 
and  we  shall  get  our  supplies  from  there.  Balls  and  shell  whistle 
all  of  the  time.  Our  company  are  out  on  picket.  My  duty  does 
not  take  me  away  from  camp.  The  rebels  that  I  have  talked  with 
say,  this  is  the  last  campaign.  They  also  say  that  thatEwel,  Beau- 
regard and  Lee  make  speeches  to  the  men  every  night.  Some 
think  we  are  sure  to  win.  They  admit  that  they  cannot  tell  any- 
thing about  Grant's  movements.  Well,  I  must  close,  as  my  duty 
will  not  permit  rae  to  longer  indulge  in  writing  to  my  friends. 
Yours  fraternally, 

W.  J.  Orton. 

"  Wednesday,  15th,  June,  1864. 

"  Wo  left  camp  Sunday,  at  8  o'clock,  and  marched  all  night,  and 
all  day,  until  seven,  and  out  of  the  time  we  marched  thirty-two 
miles,  and  only  rested  three  hours,  out  of  the  twenty-three.  Yes- 
terday we  marched  about  eight  miles,  and  we  now  are  near  the 
banks  of  the  James  river.     Burnside's  army  crossed   last  night. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1265 

They  say  our  destination  is  Petersburg,  sontli  of  Riclimond. 
Grant  says  we  must  liave  Richmond  by  the  4tli  of  July.  But  our 
men  have  got  to  fight  before  they  get  it.  Grant  keeps  making 
flank  movements,  and  gets  nearer  Richmond  every  time  lie  moves. 
He  stops  in  one  j)lace  until  he  gets  the  whole  rebel  forces  in  the 
position  that  he  wants  them,  then  starts  off  in  the  night  and  leaves 
them  behind.  Our  boys  are  tired  out,  foot  sore,  sick,  and  com- 
pletely worn  out.  A  sick  man  has  got  to  march,  as  well  as  the 
well  men.  We  have  got  a  regular  officer  for  a  Colonel,  and  he  is 
so  strict  that  he  abuses  his  men.  We  never  shall  have  another 
man  like  Col.  Kellogg.  You  may  show  this  letter  to  Captain 
Sperry,  and  it  will  answer  the  place  of  two  letters.  It  is  hard  to 
write  in  the  army  I  have  got  some  postage  stamps.  Remember 
me  to  all  inquiring  friends. 

I  remain  yours,  fraternally, 

W.  J.  Orton, 


Onr  soldiers  serving  in  the  south  had  a  variety  of  vicissitudes 
and  experiences,  besides  fighting  the  enemy.  Major  Frye,  writing 
from  Pass  Marchal,  says  : — 

"The  moccasins  and  rattlesnakes  are  quite  abundant,  and  appa- 
rently old  settlers,  as  we  killed  one  with  nine  rattles.  They  are 
quite  a  protection  against  a  flank  movement  of  the  enemy  through 
the  swamp  ;  and  the  aligators  actually  stick  their  noses  into  the 
tents,  in  hopes  of  stealing  a  biscuit  or  a  piece  of  pork.  And  then, 
all  night  long,  the  soldier  is  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  most  infernal 
croaking  of  tree-toads,  and  kept  asleep  by  the  buzzing  and  biting 
of  myriads  of  mosquetoes  and  yellow  flies.  One  knows  not  how 
it  is  ;  but  though  every  soldier  has  a  musquito  bar,  still  daylight 
will  find  as  many  inside  as  out:  and  then  innumerable  green  liz- 
ards about  four  inches  long,  harmless,  but  sportive,  gambol  and 
catch  flies  and  mosquitoes  freely  upon  your  face  and  body." 

And  so  the  fourth  year  closed  with  a  general  waning  of  the  re- 
bellion, and  a  tightening  of  the  cords  by  which  the  traitors  were 
becoming  bound,  as  with  hooks  of  steel,  under  the  magnificent 
valor  of  the  union  armies,  and  the  splendid  generalship  of  Gen, 
Grant. 


1266  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

1865.  The  year  opened  auspiciously,  and  as  soon  as  army 
movements  could  be  made,  there  was  a  combined  movement  and 
determination  on  the  part  of  all,  officer  and  man,  to  squelch  the 
rebellion,  and  that  right  speedily.  And  the  campaigns  of  the 
year  were  begun  witli  the  hope  and  expectation  of  soon  bringing 
the  war  to  a  successful  close.  In  this  final  grapple,  we  had  Grant 
before  Richmond,  Sherman  in  the  south-west,  and  Terry  in  the 
south-east,  respectively,  working  at  the  rebels  trunk,  and  giant 
limbs,  while  officers  and  men,  and  all  were  in  their  best  fighting 
trim.  As  the  people  of  our  State  looked  on  the  struggle,  they 
recalled,  with  pardonable  pride,  the  fact  that  these  three  soldiers, 
— Grant,  Sherman  and  Terry, — who  had  become  the  supreme  hope 
of  the  nation  in  its  hour  of  agony,  had  all  sprung  from  a  long  line 
of  ancestors,  who  were  born  upon  tlie  soil,  and  trained  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Connecticut.  And  old  Woodbury  had  the  proud 
satisfaction  of  having  furnished  the  lineage  of  two  of  them — 
Grant  and  Sherman.' 

Nearly  all  the  Woodl)ury  soldiers  who  were  now  in  the  war, 
except  those  who  were  serving  in  the  grand  old  5th  Connecticut 
under  Sherman,  in  his  ever-memorable  and  glorious  "  March  to 
the  Sea,"  were  in  the  regiments  which  were  concentrated  around 
Fetersburgh  and  Richmond,  under  Grant,  and  were  soon  to  wit- 
ness, and  assist  in  the  fall  of  these  two  strongholds,  after  a  deadly 
siege,  which  had  existed  some  ten  months. 

The  war  had  far  advanced,  and  there  was  an  urgent  need  of 
men  before  even  the  northern  mind  could  be  educated  up  ta  the 
point  of  employing  the  services  of  colored  troops.  At  length  it 
was  permitted,  and  Gov.  Buckingham  issued  his  call  for  the  29th 
Regiment.  It  was  readily  filled,  as  was  also  the  30th.  The  29th 
contained  a  considerable  number  of  Woodbury  colored  men,  and 
it  was  now  employed  in  the  siege  of  Petersburgh  and  Richmond, 
being  placed  nearer  Richmond  than  the  white  regiments. 

On  the  preceding  Octobei",  Grant  had  made  a  last  effort  to  turn 
the  Confederate  right,  and  in  this  movement,  the  29th  was  engaged  : 
" Stubbornly  was  the  advance  contested;  but  from  tree  to  tree, 
from  bush,  rock,  and  rifle-pit,  the  rebel  skirmishers  were  driven, 
until  they  broke,  and  fled  into  the  woods.  The  brigade  remained 
in  the  woods  while  the  29th  pushed  forward,  nearly  six  hundred 

'  Samuel  Grant,  Jr.,  of  Windsor,  married  Grace  Minor,  daughter  of  Capt.  John 
Minor,  of  Woodbury,  and  the  father  and  ancestors  of  General  Sherman  were 
natives  of  Woodbury,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  in  1672. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  126Y 

strong,  until  they  had  made  their  way  close  up  to  thebreai^tworks, 
from  which  poured  a  heavy  fire.  At  this  time,  the  enemy  opened 
upon  the  29th  from  a  battery  in  an  angle  of  the  works;  sweeping 
the  lino  with  shot  and  shell,  and  threatening  to  render  it  untena- 
ble. A  well-directed  riile-Hre  silenced  it.  The  gunners  fell  at 
their  guns.  Comrades  attempted  to  crawl  up;  but  they  were 
shot  down  or  forced  back,  and  the  guns  remained  as  silent  as  if 
spiked.  The  blacks  exhausted  their  ammunition,  but  replenished 
their  supply  from  the  dead  or  wounded.  They  vied  with  each 
other  in  deeds  of  daring.  In  a  lull  of  battle  they  would  call  out, 
'  How  about  Fort  Pillow  to-day  ?  '  '  Look  over  hei'e,  Johnny,  and 
see  how  niggers  can  shoot!'  They  exposed  themselves  with  the 
utmost  recklessness  and  indifference  ;  and  Capt.  Camp  was  obliged 
to  restrain  them  from  useless  exhibitions  of  their  courage. 

"During  the  afternoon,  various  points  of  the  rebel  works  were 
assaulted,  but  without  success.  The  29th  remained  in  front,  firing 
until  the  muskets  became  so  foul  that  the  charge  could  not  be 
rammed  home.  Nightfall  found  the  regiment  still  engaged  with 
unwearied  enthusiasm  where  they  had  been  for  fifteen  hours.  By 
eight  o'clock,  the  firing  gradually  slackened,  and  finally  ceased ; 
and  the  regiment  remained  on  the  skirmish-line  till  daylight.  A 
violent  storm  drenched  the  men  completely ;  but  they  were  vigil- 
lant  until  relieved, 

"By  this  time,  our  negroes  had  showed  that  they  could  fight,  if 
anybody  had  sincerely  doubted  it.  On  the  skirmish-line  this  day, 
the  29th  had  lost  twelve  killed  and  sixty-seven  wounded.  Among 
the  latter  was  Capt.  James  C.  Sweetland,  During  the  advance  of 
the  morning,  Sergeant  Jacob  F.  Spencer,  of  Clinton,  ran  fir  ahead 
of  the  line,  and  captured,  single-handed,  two  armed  rebels,  and 
brouglit  them  back  prisoners.  They  afterwards  declared  that  they 
would  never  have  surrendered  to  him  if  they  had  known  he  was 
a  '  nigger. '  Gen.  Weitzel  presented  Spencer  with  a  medal  for 
gallantry. 

"x\djutant  H.  H.  Brown  said  in  the  regimental  report,  'Though 
twenty-three  hours  on  the  skirmish  line,  and  the  men  excessively 
fatigued,  I  beg  to  call  especial  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  are 
none  missing.  When  we  returned  to  camp  yesterday  afternoon, 
we  brought  every  man  we  took  out,  excepting  those  killed  and 
wounded.'  " 

And  in  the  final  success  of  the  union  arms,  in  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Lee  and  liis  army,  we  find  this  regimeut  conspicuous : — 


1268  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

'' Weitzel,  pressing  near  Richmond,  north  of  tlie  Jatnes,  with 
one  division  of  the  24th  Corps,  and  one  division  of  the  25tli  (col- 
ored) Corps,  was  attracted  by  the  conflagration,  and  in  early 
morning  hurried  forward  over  the  vacated  Confederate  breast- 
works towards  the  city. 

"  Lieut  Colonel  David  Torrence  reported,  'At  sunset  of  April  2 
we  Avitnessed  the  last  rebel  dress-parade  in  Virginia,  from  the 
magazine  of  Fort  Harrison.  Early  on  Monday  morning,  April  3, 
1865,  the  picket  fires  of  the  enemy  began  to  wane,  and  an  ominous 
silence  to  prevail  within  his  lines.  Very  soon,  deserters  began  to 
come  into  our  lines,  who  reported  that  the  works  in  our  front 
were  being  evacuated. .  In  a  little  while,  we  saw  the  barracks  of 
Fort  Darling  in  flames  ;  and  tremendous  explosions  followed  each 
otlier  in  rapid  succession.  The  earliest  dawn  revealed  to  us  the 
deserted  lines,  with  their  guns  spiked  and  their  tents  standing. 
We  were  ordered  to  advance  at  once,  but  cautiously.  The  troops 
jumped  over  the  breastworks,  and,  avoiding  the  torpedoes,  filed 
through  the  rebel  abatis ;  and  then  began  the  race  for  Richmond. 

*'No  words  can  describe  the  enthusiasm  of  the  troops  as  they 
found  themselves  fairly  within  the  rebel  lines,  and  tramping  along 
the  bloody  roads  leading  to  the  ca))ital.  The  honor  of  first  enter- 
ing that  city  was  most  earnestly  contested.  Many  regiments 
threw  away  every  thing  but  their  arms,  while  this  regiment 
'double-quicked'  in  heavy  marching  order.  Two  companies  of 
this  regiment,  G  and  C,  that  had  been  sent  forward  as  skirmish- 
ers, reached  the  city  close  on  the  heels  of  our  cavalry,  and  were, 
without  the  slightest  doubt,  the  first  companies  of  infantry  to  en- 
ter the  city.  Through  the  heat  and  dust  the  troops  straggled  on; 
and  at  last,  as  we  came  in  full  view  of  the  city,  the  air  was  rent 
with  such  cheers  as  only  the  brave  men  who  had  fought  so  long 
and  so  nobly  for  that  city  could  give."» 

Throughout  Sherman's  Grand  March,  the  veteran  5th  maintain- 
ed it^  early  renown  in  all  the  battles.  As  an  instance,  it  is  men- 
tioned, that  at  the  battle  of  Peach-tree  Creek,  near  Atlanta,  Ga., 
which  was  almost  a  complete  surprise  to  the  union  army  ; — "As 
the  enemy  came  shouting  and  yelling  from  the  woods  within 
twenty  yards,  flaiuiting  their  flags  in  the  assurance  of  an  easy  vie 
tory,  the  old  division   closed  sternly  in,  and  the  answer  to  their 

'  Hist,  of  Conn,  in  the  recent  War. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1269 

yells  were  union  bullets  and  union  cheers.  For  three  hours  the 
biittle  i-nged,  the  enemy  being  repeatedly  repulsed,  and  as  often  re- 
turning to  (he  charge,  only  to  find  a  wall  of  fire  and  steel  more 
impenetrable  than  before,  and  to  lose  increased  numbers  of  their 
misguided  soldiers  upon  the  field.  At  a  little  before  sunset  the 
battle  ceased.  The  returns  of  the  5th  exhibited  a  loss  of  sixty 
men  killed  and  wounded,  out  of  less  than  200  who  went  into  ac- 
tion ;  among  whom  were  many  of  the  best  and  most  valued  men 
of  the  regiment. ' 

"In  January,  1»65,  the  army — 'Sherman's  Iron-clads,'  as  they 
were  called  by  the  Confederates,  rested  for  a  few  weeks  in  and 
about  Savannah,  after  one  of  the  most  remarkable  campaigns  in 
the  wars  of  tlie  world." 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1865,  the  2d  Heavy  Artillery  was  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  and  did  good  service. 

''  At  midnight  the  regiment  marched  back  to  quarters,  arriving 
at  sunrise,  and  having  taken  a  ration  of  whisky,  which  had  been 
ordered  by  Grant,  or  somebody  else,  in  consideration  of  three 
nights  and  two  days  on  the  bare  ground,  in  February,  together 
with  some  fighting,  and  a  good  deal  of  hard  marching,  and  hard 
work,  the  men  lay  down  to  sleep  as  the  sun  rose  up,  and  did  not 
rise  up  till  the  sun  went  down."  ^ 

On  tlie  25th  of  March,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Fort  P'isher,  and  bore  an  honorable  part,  taking  more  prisoners 
than  the  number  of  its  men  taking  part  in  the  battle.  This  was  a 
very  decisive  battle,  leaving  miles  of  the  rebel  picket  lines  in  our 
possession,  thousands  of  prisoners  in  our  hands,  and  greatly  tight- 
ening the  grip  of  the  union  armies  upon  Petersburg.  The  activ- 
ity of  this  spring  was  in  strong  contrast  with  the  endless  cannon- 
ading and  laying  in  the  trenches  not  daring  to  show  one's  head 
without  I'isk  of  its  loss,  the  opposing  picket  lines  running  for  miles 
within  200  feet  of  each  other,  that  had  prevailed  for  the  preceding 
ten  months.  It  is  difficult  even  now  to  see  how  the  two  immense 
armies  of  Grant  and  Lee  could  have  (confronted  each  other  for  so 
long  a  time  without  more  active  and  decisive  hostilities.  How- 
ever, that  period  was  past.  All  things  were  now  ready,  and  the 
end,  so  long  desired,  drew  near. 

'  Crofut  &  Morris,  p.  703.  »  Vaill. 


1270  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 

"On  the  1st  of  April,  Sheridan,  with  cavalry  and  infantry,  won 
a  great  victory  at  Five  Forks  over  the  divisions  of  Pickett  and 
Bushrod  Johnson.  Mr.  Pollard  tells  us  that  on  that  occasion  five 
thousand  rebels,  '  having  got  the  idea  that  they  were  entrapped, 
threw  down  their  arms,  and  surrendered  themselves  as  pi'isoners.' 
Indeed,  all  the  rebels  along  the  line  seemed  about  this  time  to  have 
'got  the  idea,'  badly, — and  General  Grant  determined  to  strength- 
en their  hold  upon  it  by  a  shotted  salute  in  honor  of  Slierid.in's 
victory  at  Five  Forks.  It  was  about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  eve- 
ning of  the  1st  of  April,  and  all  quiet,  when  Bang!  went  a  gun 
from  Fort  Wadsworth.  Heavy  tiring  at  a  distance  of  three  miles 
or  moi'e  will  not  start  soldiei's  from  their  bunks.  Every  shot  may 
destroy  a  regiment  or  sink  a  ship, — it  will  not  destroy  their  re- 
pose. But  Fort  Wadsworth  was  too  near  camp, — only  fifty  paces 
off — and  the  men  were  constrained  to  look  out  and  see  the  cannon- 
ading of  which  that  shot  was  the  opening  gun.  Waterloo's  open- 
ing roar  and  Hohenlinden's  far  flashes  were  but  the  work  of  pop- 
guns in  comparison  with  the  artificial  earthquakes  that  shook  Pe- 
tersburg and  its  bristling  environs,  and  the  lightnings  which  came 
in  such  quick  succession  that  the  jaws  of  darkness  were  not  able 
to  devour  them  up.     Mr.  Pollard  says  of  it : — 

"'On  the  night  of  the  1st  April,  Grant  celebrated  the  vic- 
tory of  Five  Forks,  and  performed  the  prelude  of  what  was 
yet  to  come,  by  a  fierce  and  continuous  bombardment  along  his 
lines  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Every  piece  of  artillery  in  the  thickly 
studded  forts,  batteries,  and  mortar-beds,  joined  in  the  prodigious 
clamor;  reports,  savagely,  terrifically  crashing  through  the  nar- 
row streets  and  lanes  of  Petersburg,  echoed  upwards;  it  apiieared 
as  if  fiends  of  the  air  were  engaged  in  a  sulphurous  conflict.' 

"  At  about  midnight,  the  regiment  was  called  up  and  ordered 
to  pack  up  everything.  Knapsacks,  however,  were  to  be  left  be- 
hind ;  and  to  secure  greater  silence,  canteens  were  to  be  worn  on  the 
right  side.  Six  companies  and  a  half  fell  in,  (the  rest  being  on 
picket,)  and  proceeded  to  brigade  head-quarters,  and  thence  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Patrick's  Station.  All  mounted  officers  were 
ordered  to  leave  their  horses  inside  the  earthworks ;  and  the  di- 
vision moved  out  in  front,  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  Look-out.  A 
heavy  picket  fire  was  opened,  under  cover  of  which  the  lines  were 
formed,  three  or  four  deep  in  all  except  our  brigade,  which  had 
only  two,  although  on  the  right  of  the  division,  and  our  regiment 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U^B  Y  .  1271 

(of  course)  in  the  front  line.  The  charge  was  expected  to  come 
off  at  four  o'clock,  but  day  began  to  dawn  before  the  signal  gun 
was  fired.  Skinner  had  coiumaiid  of  the  right  wing  of  the  bat- 
talion, Jones  of  the  lelt  wing,  riubl)ard  of  the  whole.  The  ad- 
vance was  made  en  echelon  by  brigades,  with  a  great  rush  and 
yell— althoug'^  a  part  of  the  1st  Brigade,  (the  Jerseys,)  broke  and 
ran,  inglorionsly.  The  advance  was  over  precisely  the  same 
ground  as  on  the  25th  of  iMarch,  and  the  firing  came  from  the 
same  battery  and  breastworks,  although  not  quite  so  heavy. 
Lieut  Colonel  Skinner  and  seven  enlisted  men  were  wounded — 
none  of  them  moi-tally.  A  shot,  which,  judging  from  the  hole  it 
made,  was  something  smaller  than  a  minnie  ball,  struck  Skinner 
on  the  side,  under  the  right  arm,  went  through  an  overcoat,  wad- 
ded blouse,  and  vest,  pierced  the  skin,  and  traveled  seven  inches 
on  the  ribs,  then  came  out  and  sped  on,  and  may  have  wounded 
another  man,  for  ought  that  is  known  to  the  contrary.  There  was 
but  little  firing  on  our  side, — but  with  bayonets  fixed,  the  boys 
went  in — not  in  a  very  mathematical  right  line,  but  strongly  and 
surely, — on,  on,  until  the  first  line  was  carried.  Then,  invigorated 
and  greatly  encouraged  by  success,  they  pressed  on, — the  oppo- 
sing fii'e  slackening  ever}^  moment, — on,  on,  through  the  abbattis 
and  ditch,  u|»  thesteep_  bank,  over  the  parapet,  into  the  rebel  cam}) 
that  had  just  been  desei'ted.  Then,  and  there,  the  long  tried  and 
ever  faithful  soldiers  of  the  Republic  saw  DAYLIGHT! — and 
such  a  shout  as  tore  the  concave  of  that  morning  sky,  it  were 
worth  dying  to  hear.  On  the  ground  where  so  long  the  rebels 
had  formed  and  drilled  their  battalions,  our  line  was  now  re-form- 
ed, an<l  then  inished  on,  over  the  hills  and  far  away, — across  a 
])ike  and  jtast  a  telegraph,  which  was  quickly  cut, — then  on,  until 
at  length  Colonel  Hubbard  found  himself  and  liis  half  battalion 
alone  on  the  Boydtown  plank  road.  After  cutting  off  and  burn- 
ing a  small  wagon  train  loaded  with  medical  stores,  we  marched 
back  to  the  rebel  cam)>,  where  m'c  found  the  remainder  of  our 
brig.ide  holding  tlie  right  of  the  captured  line.  The  rest  of  the 
corps  was  in  line  two  miles  further  to  the  left,  where  it  had  some 
sharp  fighting.  Our  skirmisliers  took  several  works  and  guns, 
but  for  want  of  support  had  to  rclincpiisli  them,  and  the  rebels, 
following  up  theii-  slight  advantage,  turned  the  gutis  on  us,  making 
it  \ery  uncominrable  lor  a  few  minutes, — our  flank  being  (piite  un- 
covered,— when,  suddenly,  hurrah  !  a  column  of  reinforcements 
comes  over  the  hill  by  Fort  Fisher.     The  rebels  turn  their  guns 


12Y2  HISTORY    OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

in  that  direction,  but  to  no  purpose  : — for  the  24th  Corps  marches 
steadily  forward,  goes  into  line  by  reji^iments,  advances  a  heavy 
skirmish  line,  and  then  a  superb  line  of  battle, — whereupon  the 
enemy  abandon  their  works  and  flee.  This  advance  of  the  24th 
Corps  was  one  of  the  most  magnificent  sights  our  soldiers  ever 
saw:  it  drove  the  rebels  before  it  as  the  hurricane  drives  dead 
leaves.  Our  men  watched  the  charge  until  the  line  was  a  mile  to 
the  right,  then  moved  inside  of  our  works,  and  rested,  an  hour. 
While  there,  Grant,  Meade  and  Wright  rode  up,  and  were  greeted 
with  cheers  that  had  in  them  the  prophetic  ring  of  the  final  and 
all-comprehending  victory  so  soon  to  come.  Unanimous  cheers, 
too,  they  were. 

"Generals,  too,  in  this  rejoicing  hour,  dispensed  with  their  usu- 
al reticence,  and  seemed  to  think  that  it  would  not  be  prejudicial 
to  good  order  and  military  discipline  even  to  let  enlisted  men 
know  what  was  going  on 'in  high  military  circles.'  Every  pri- 
vate soldier  in  the  ranks  was  possessed  of  the  intelligence  that 
General  Grant  says  that  Sheridan  is  coming  up  the  South  Side 
without  opposition  ;  General  Wright  reports  that  he  cannot  find 
any  forces  to  the  left, — so  General  Gi-aut  tells  him  to  move  on  Pe- 
tersburg and  'take  it  as  soon  as  God  will  let  him.' 

"The  Corps  followed  the  Second  Corps — all  except  our  brigade, 
which  was  detached  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Parke,  com- 
raandinu,-  the  9th  Corps.  We  marched  to  the  right,  by  the  old 
camp  near  Warren's  station,  and  up  the  corduroy  to  the  rear  of 
Fort  Hell,  where  a  rest  of  an  hour  was  made,  in  a  fiei'cely  hot 
sun.  Then  the  brigade  advanced  through  a  covered  way,  past 
Fort  Hell,  and  out  in  front  to  the  works  that  had  been  captured 
early  that  morning  by  Hartraft's  division  of  the  9th  Corps.  There 
the  men  lay  down  in  muddy  trenches,  among  the  dying  and  the 
dead,  under  a  most  murderous  fire  of  sharp-shooters.  There  had 
been  charges  and  counter  charges, — but  our  troops  held  all  they 
had  gained.  At  length  the  hot  day  gave  place  to  chilly  night, 
and  the  extreme  change  brought  much  suffering.  The  men  had 
flung  away  Avhateverwas  fiing-away-able  during  the  charge  of  the 
morning,  and  the  subsequent  hot  march, — as  men  always  will, 
under  like  circumstances,— and  now  they  found  themselves  blank- 
etless,  stockingless,  overcoatless, — in  cold  and  damp  trenches,  and 
compelled  by  the  steady  firing  to  lie  still,  or  adopt  a  hoiizontal, 
crawling  mode  of  locomotion,  which  did  not  admit  o^'  speed 
enough  to  quicken   the  circulation  of  the  blood.     Indeed,  it  was 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  1>  B  U  R  Y  1273 

very  cold.  Some  touk  tlie  clothing  from  the  dead,  and  wrapped 
themselves  in  it  ;  others,  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  pi'ocure 
spailes,  dug  gopher  holes,  and  burrowed.  At  daylight,  Colonel 
Fiske  and  the  'ioth  "^ew  York  clambered  over  the  huge  eai'thwork, 
took  possession  of  Fort  llcll,  opened  a  picket  tire  and  fired  one  ot 
the  guns  in  tlie  Fort,  eliciting  no  reply.  Just  then  a  huge  lire  in 
the  direction  of  ihe  city  followed  by  several  explosions,  convinced 
our  side  that  Lee's  army  had  indeed  left.  The  regiment  was  has- 
tily got  together, — ninety  muskets  being  all  that  could  be  pro- 
duced— and  sent  out  on  picket  to  relieve  the  200tli  Pennsylvania- 
The  picket  line  advanced,  and  meeting  with  no  resistance,  pushed 
on  into  the  city.  What  regiment  was  the  first  to  enter  the  city 
is,  and  i)robabIy  ever  will  be,  a  disputed  question.  The  2d  Con- 
necticut claims  to  have  been  the  first, — but  Colonel  Hubbard  had 
ordered  the  colors  to  remain  behind  when  the  regiment  went  out 
on  the  skirmish  line — and  consequently,  the  stars  and  stripes  that 
first  floated  over  captured  Petersburg,  belonged  to  some  other 
regiment.  Colonel  Hubbard  was,  however,  made  Provost  Mar- 
shal of  the  city,  and  for  a  brief  while  dispensed  govei-nment  and 
law  in  that  capacity.  Uut  city  life  was  not  conducive  to  good  or- 
der and  military  discipline,  and  the  brigade  shortly  moved  out  and 
marched  gaily  down  to  the  old  camp,  tour  miles  away.  x\fter  re- 
maining there  two  hours,  evei'ything  of  a  portable  nature  was 
packed  up,  a  farewell  lea\e  taken  of  the  Canq)  near  Warren's  Sta- 
tion, and  the  line  of  march  takcji  up  due  west.  The  bi'igade  now 
furnished  a  striking  illustration  of  the  difference  between  the 
marching  and  fighting  strength  of  an  army.  It  had  come  down 
from  Petersbug  to  camp,  numbering  three  hundred  ; — now,  nearly 
two  thousand  men,  all  of  the  2d  Brigade  started  in  pursuit  of  the 
retreating  rebellion. 

"•  While  ])assing  through  the  heaviest  of  the  rebel  works,  the 
brigade  met  President  Lincoln  and  Admiral  Porter,  under  convoy 
of  a  squadron  of  cavalry, — and  saluted  the  dear  old  Uncle,  who 
looked  pale  and  thin.  The  Corps  was  overtaken  toward  evening* 
and  the  night  passed  in  bivouac.  Reveille  sounded  at  8:30  the 
next  morning,  and  Pack  \\\>  5:30, — and  after  a  march  oi  about 
three  miles,  over  a  somewhat  different  country  from  that  along 
Grant's  Railroad — in  that  it  was  hilly  and  stony, — a  halt  was  made 
of  two  hours  or  more,  dui'ing  which  the  official  annoucement  of 
the  capture  of  Kichmf)nd  was  made  by  General  Haniblin,  and  re- 
ceived with  almost  interminable  shoutings,  and  a  crashing  of  brass 


1274  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

bands,  the  like  of  which  was  never  heard  before.  Rebel  Generals 
and  staff  officers,  and  squads  of  greybacks  were  brought  in  all 
through  tlie  day.  Soon  after  noon  the  column  was  again  put  in 
motion,  and  after  a  heavy  march  through  the  swamps,  went  into 
camp  at  eight  in  the  evening.  During  this  afternoon  our  regi- 
ment passed  the  body  of  a  negro  whose  throat  had  been  cut  by 
the  rebels,  and  heard  of  a  white  man  close  by,  who  had  been  mur- 
dered in  the  same  manner.  The  place  whei'e  this  night  was  spent 
was  called  Berill's  Fore'.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  march 
was  resumed,  and  continued  all  day,  with  a  halt  of  two  hours  at 
noon,  during  which  two  days'  ration?  of  hard  tack,  sugar  and  cof- 
fee were  issued; — and  the  corps  encamped  late  in  the  evening  in 
the  neigliborhood  of  Jetersville,  in  Amelia  County.  Orders  were 
here  issued  by  General  Meade,  hinting  at  long  marches,  and  di- 
recting that  rations  be  economized. 

"  And  now  came  the  day  of  the  last  fight  for  the  2d  Connecti- 
cut. It  was  the  6th  of  April,  1865.  Reveille  sounded  at  4:30, 
and  at  5:30  the  lines  Avere  formed  for  an  advance  upon  the  enemy, 
who  weie  in  foice  immediately  in  front.  The  affair  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  Lieut.  Curtiss ; — " 

"  After  marching  back  two  miles,  on  the  road  by  which  we 
came  on  the  previous  evening,  we  halted  for  half  an  hour,  and 
were  then  ordered  back  to  the  ground  from  which  we  had  just 
come.  We  had  just  halted  there,  after  a  muddy,  slippery  march, 
and  were  mourning  that  Lee  had  outwitted  and  escaped  us,  when, 
hark!  Firing  in  advance  and  to  the  right.  All  right.  We'll 
have  him  yet.  We  moved  on  and  struck  the  Danville  Railroad 
at  Amelia  Court  House,  marching  alongside  of  it  for  two  miles, 
and  on  it  for  a  mile  more,  towards  Burkesville.  Here  we  met 
J(»hnny  Wheeler,  Avounded,  and  Mackenzie  and  his  cavalry.  We 
struck  off  west-north-west  from  the  Railroad,  and  marched  steadily 
forward,  hour  after  hour,  toward  a  distant  cannonade.  At  four 
o'clock  we  began  to  overtake  the  cavalry,  w^ho  reported  every- 
thing going  on  well.  We  passed  15,000  prisoners  just  taken  from 
Messrs.  R.  E.  Lee  &  Co.  The  firing  grew  heavier  and  nearer, 
and  at  five  we  reached  the  cavalry  battle-field  of  the  morning. 
Although  tired  and  'played  out,'  there  was  no  halt  for  us — but  we 
moved  forward  into  position,  advancing  beyond  our  batteries, 
which  were  playing  a  lively  tune  from  a  hill  close  by.  When 
formed,  the  line  w^as  advanced — sometimes  by  brigade  front  and 
sometimes  by  a  flank — but  always  on,  until  we  crossed  Sailor's 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1275 

Creek,'  and  came  to  a  bait  under  a  steep  Itniik,  from  tlie  crest  of 
which  the  rebels  poured  down  a  murderous  tire.  Two  lines  Avere 
formed,  the  2d  Connecticut  Volunteer  Artillery  and  Gf)th  New 
York  in  the  second  line.  Everything  being  ready,  '  Forward  !  ' 
sounded  along  tlie  whole  line,  and  away  we  went  up  the  hill,  un- 
der a  very  hot  fire.  It  was  tough  work  to  get  over  the  crest,  but 
at  last  we  got  the  Johnnies  started,  and  made  good  time  after 
them.  The  2d  Heavies  captured  Malone's  head  quarter's  train,  and 
many  prisoners,  besides  one  battle  Hag.  We  were  badly  broken, 
but  after  running  on  for  some  distance,  were  finally  lialted  and  re- 
formed. Colonel  Hubbard  and  Major  Jones  came  up  in  time  to 
present  us  to  Generals  Sheridan,  Wright,  Wheaton  and  Hamblin, 
who  all  rode  along  to  the  front.  We  also  advanced  soon  after, 
and  found  things  in  a  promising  condition.  General  Ewell  and 
staff,  and  several  thousand  other  prisoners,  had  been  taken,  to- 
gether with  wagon  trains,  guns,  caissons,  and  small  arms  without 
number.  One  of  the  prisoners  told  us  that  they  had  but  three 
guns  left.  Our  loss  in  the  charge  was  seven  wounded,  three  of 
them  mortally,  viz:  Emory  W.  Castle  and  Erastus  W.  Converse, 
of  D,  and  Charles  Griswold,  of  F.  At  ten  o'clock  we  moved  up 
a  mile  further  to  the  front,  and  bivouaced  for  the  night."'* 

Gen.  Lee  was  now  forced  to  capitulate,  and  unconditionally  sur- 
render his  whole  a.imy.  About  noon  on  Sunday,  April  0th,  1865, 
in  a  farm  house  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  sat  the  chiefs. 
Grant  and  Lee,  and  signed  the  death-warrant  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  subjoined  letters,  from  a  young  man  who  enlisted  from 
Woodbury,  in  Company  I  as  a  private,  and  by  good  conduct  at- 
tained the  rank  of  Brevet  Major,  show  the  feelings  with  which 
our  brave  soldiers  witnessed  the  collapse  of  the  rebellion  ; — 

"  Quartermaster's  Office, 
Richmond,  Va.,  April  5th,  1865. 

"  Friend  Cotiiren; — Here  I  am  in  Richmond.  Ya.,  in  old  Jeff. 
Davis'  private  parlor,  writing  to  you,  with  no  secesh  to  make  me 
afraid.  The  private  residence  of  the  arch  traitor  is  now  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen.  Weitzel.  It  is  furnished  in  splendid  style — Jeff, 
left  everything — guess  he's  left  the  place. 

"The  inhabitants    welcomed  us  with   the  waiving  of  handker- 

'  A  small  tributary  of  the  Appomattox.  "  Vaill's  19th  Conn. 

28 


1276  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

chiefs,  and  other  demonstrritions  of  joy.     The  young  ladies  seemed 
to  vie  with  each  other  in  kindness  and  greeting  to  us. 

"  The  accursed  rebs  set  fire  to  tlie  business  portion  of  the  city, 
and  it  is  now  a  mass  of  smoking  ruins.  We  labored  to  check  the 
flames,  but  did  not  succeed  until  great  havoc  had  been  made. 
The  rebs  did  not  gain  many  friends  by  running  away  by  the  light 
of  their  own  dwellings. 

"I  expect  to  go  to  Petersburg  to-day,  where  I  hope  to  find  the 
2d  Connecticut  boys.  Perhaps  you  may  wonder  how  I  came  up 
here,  as  you  last  heard  from  me  at  Wilmington.  Gen.  Terry's 
forces  joined  Sherman  in  Goldsboro.  1  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Scho- 
field  to  report  at  the  Chief  Quartermaster's,  at  the  headquarters 
of  the  Lieut. -General  commanding  U.  S.  forces,  at  City  Point  or 
in  the  field.  I  followed  General  Grant  to  Lynchburg.  I  liave 
given  up  the  chase  till  he  comes  here,  where  he  is  expected  every 
day. 

"President  Lincoln  was  liere  yesterday,  and  rode  tlirough  the 
principal  streets  of  the  city.  He  took  refreshments  at  Gen.  Weit- 
zel's  residence. 

"  Richmond  is  a  beautiful  place,  situated  on  a  number  of  hills 
overlooking  the  river.  I  send  you  some  confederate  money. 
There  is  any  amount  of  it  lying  around  with  '  no  takers.'  What 
a  harvest  for  John  Bull ! 

"I  havn't  time  to  write  another  word. 

James  M.  Bradley, 
Major-General  Terry's  Staff." 


"  Wilmington,  N.  C,  Feb.  25,  1865. 

"Friend  Cothren  ;— Here  we  are  in  Wilmington.  We  drove 
the  last  of  Hoke's  troops  through  this  place  on  the  birthday  of 
Washington  (Feb.  22).  Well,  I  have  felt  elated  and  proud  of  our 
successes  before  this  day  ;  but  as  I  rode  with  Gen.  Terry  at  the 
head  of  the  advance,  and  saw  that  '  hotbed  of  secession  '  get  down 
on  its  knees  before  our  veteran  troops — Avords  cannot  express  my 
feelings.  Neither  can  I  express  my  horror  and  indignation  as  I 
saw  the  union  prisoners  that  they  had  left  in  this  town,  because 
they  could  not  carry  them  away.  May  God  f^W-give  them  for  such 
fiendish  work,  for  I  cannot  and  never  will.  I  will  not  try  to  tell 
you  of  their  misery  ;  my  pen  is  not  equal  to  the  task.  From  ex- 
posure and  hunger  they  were  crazy,  idiots,  living,  moving  skele 


niSTOEY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  Il77 

tons.  Five  dead  bodies  of  our  men  (prisoners)  were  burned  by 
the  rebels,  because  (as  they  said)  there  was  no  place  to  bury  them. 
So  tliey  set  fire  to  the  house  they  were  in,  and  burned  it  to  the 
ground.  We  have  about  1,000  of  the  Union  prisoners  who  esca- 
ped from  the  rebs  as  they  were  marched  out  of  the  place. 

"  We  followed  Hoke  twelve  miles  from  here  towards  Goldsbo- 
ro,  and  pressed  him  so  hard  that  we  captured  his  pontoons  and 
many  prisoners. 

"  We  find  a  great  many  Union  men  here  in  this  former  paradise 
for  blockade  runners.  These  men  are  Union  to  the  heart.  The 
rebs  burned  most  of  the  cotton,  so  that  we  captured  but  little  of 
the  boasted  '  Southern  king.' 

"  It  is  so  dark  that  I  cannot  see  to  write  more  at  this  time. 
You  will  hear  from  me  again,  as  we  expect  to  go  on  with  this  job, 
and  may  wish  to  tell  you  how  it  was  accom{)Iislied. 

"  James  W.  Bradley,  Lt.  and  A.  D,  C, 

Maj   Gen.  Terry's  Staff, 
Wilmington,  N.  C." 

Capt.  Walter  Burnham,  having  been  the  Captain  of  the  Wood- 
bui'y  Company  I  during  its  "  fighting  period,"  furnishes  the  Avri- 
ter  the  following  record  of  his  brave  com[)any  with  no  unbecom- 
ing pride. 

"  We  were  finally  ordered  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, — 
which  junction  was  made  at  Spoltsylvania,  Va.,  where  we  joined 
our  tbrtunes  with  the  "  fighting  Gth  Cori)s,"  on  the  night  of  the 
16th  of  May,  just  in  time  to  witness,  on  the  evening  of  the  17th, 
the  last  grand  charge,  which  was  to  cover  the  flanking  movement 
of  the  extreme  left  of  Grant's  line  ;  though  not  participating  in 
the  charge,  yet  in  fair  sight  of  it — the  siglit  of  which  did  not 
sharpen  our  desire,  I  assure  you,  inv  a  like  encounter,  which  was 
likely  to  occur  at  any  time ;  at  least  I  am  free  to  confess  it  did  not 
mine. 

"From  the  night  of  the  19th,  till  June  Isf,  (the  day  of  the  Cold 
Harbor  battle,)  the  marches  we  made  were  rai)id  and  sevei'e,  and 
between  marching  and  throwing  up  breastworks  at  every  camp- 
ing ]»lace,  our  rest  but  short.  On  the  morning  of  June  1st,  we 
made  a  forced  march  of  some  fourteen  or  sixteen  miles,  reaching 
Cold  Harbor  about  12  o'clock,  completely  exhausted — Company 
I,  with  one  other  company,  being  immediately  detailed  to  throw- 
up  a  breastwork  in  our  front, — completing  the  work  about  four 


1278  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

o'clock,  P,  M.,  having  just  time  to  make  a  cup  of  coffee  before  the 
charge  was  ordered,  which  was  at  half-past  four,  the  result  of 
which,  to  company  I,  was  a  loss  of  16  killed  and  wounded,  being 
a  larger  number  from  company  T  than  any  company  in  the  3d 
battalion — company  1  being  the  left  center  company. 

"  Company  I  was  the  first  to  enter  the  rebel  works,  and  held 
them  for  nearly  an  hour  before  any  other  company  joined  them. 
In  fjict,  the  regiment  was  so  broken  up,  and  companies  so  disor- 
ganized, that  no  company,  as  a  company,  joined  us  during  the 
night,  though  by  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  nearly  the 
whole  regiment  that  were  left  were  in  the  breastworks.  Indeed 
so  eager  were  some  of  the  men  for  an  advance,  at  the  time  of  the 
charge,  that  two  of  the  Woodbury  boys,  went  quite  a  distance  in 
advance  of  the  regiment  and  company,  and  took  up  fighting  on 
their  own  account — Hubbard  Hotchkiss  and  Roraayn  Hard — and 
from  Hotchkiss'  account  of  their  exploit,  there  was  one  less  rebel 
General  in  the  field  ;  and  as  his  account  corresponded  with  a  sub- 
sequent account  in  a  Richmond  paper,  that  came  into  our  lines  a 
few  days  after,  giving  an  account  of  the  battle,  and  of  a  promi- 
nent Rebel  General  having  been  killed,  just  at  the  right  of  the 
Cold  Harbor  road,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Hubbard  had 
killed  his  man. 

"  Were  you  an  old  soldier,  you  would  realize  more  fully  than  it 
is  possible  for  you  to  do  now,  the  tremendous,  heavy,  and  contin- 
uous musketry  tiring  the  regiment  was  under  at  this  battle,  when 
I  tell  you  that  of  all  the  battles  during  the  war,  the  musket- 
ry fire  just  at  the  right  of  the  Cold  Harbor  road,  on  June  1st, 
1864,  was  the  most  continuous  and  severe  of  them  all.  Yet  this, 
I  am  told  by  an  officer  high  in  rank,  connected  with  'Freedman's 
Bureau,'  at  Richmond,  Va.,  is  an  acknowledged  fact,  both  by 
Union  and  Rebel  Generals. 

"From  this  time  forward  I  took  more  pride  in  my  company 
than  I  had  done  previou'^ly,  and  the  company,  as  a  company,  took 
more  pride  in  themselves,  reporting,  on  most  accasions,  more  men 
for  daily  duty,  -arriving  in  camp  at  the  end  of  those  hard,  wea- 
risome marches,  with  more  men  than  any  other  company  in  the 
regiment. 

"  From  Cold  Harbor,  another  flanking  movement  was  made, 
which  brought  the  6th  Corps  near  Bermuda  Hundred,  on  the 
James  river,  where  we  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  from  thence 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODHURY.  12T9 

to  Petersburg,  where,  upon  a  skirmish  line,  June  2Gth,  company  I 
lost  two  men,  neither  of  them  fi'om  Woodbury. 

"  July  9tli  were  ordered  to  Washington  to  repulse  Early's  threat- 
ened attack  upon  that  city.  Early  retreated  by  way  of  Snicker's 
Gap,  our  Corps,  of  course,  following  hard  upon  him.  About  this 
time  commenced  a  series  of  marchings  up  and  down  the  valley, 
which  was  anything  but  agreeable.  The  first  battle  in  which  our 
regiment  was  engaged,  was  at  Winchester,  on  the  19th  of  Sept.? 
1864,  in  which  Co.  I  lost  some  twenty-eight  men,  out  of  some- 
where from  seventy  to  eighty — this  being  a  larger  number  lost 
than  from  any  other  company  in  the  regiment. 

"The  2d  fight  in  the  valley  was  at  Fisher's  Hill,  on  the  22d  of 
September — the  regiment  losing  but  few  men  ;  Company  I  but 
one  man. 

"Oct.  19th  wns  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek — Company  I  again 
losing  more  men  than  any  company  in  the  regiment — some  twenty- 
eight  or  thirty  men  men,  out  of  say  about  fifty.  So  you  see  that 
Company  I.'s  recoi'd  is  all  that  could  be  desired. 

"  The  official  report  of  the  casualties  of  a  regiment  or  company 
subsequently  to  a  fight,  shows  pretty  conclusively  the  valor  and 
bravery  of  its  men,  and  Company  I,  in  my  estimation,  stands  sec- 
ond to  no  other. 

"Please  pardon  my  egotism  in  giving  you  here  a  compliment, 
which  I  received  from  Colonel,  now  Brig.  :ind  Brev.  Major  Gen. 
Mackenzie,  who  called  me  to  his  quarters  the  day  previous  to  the 
Cedar  Creek  battle,  and  said:  '  Capt.  Burnham,  I  consider  your 
company  one  of  the  best  companies  in  my  regiment.  You  may 
have  thought  that  I  have  found  a  good  deal  of  fault  with  you 
officers,  and  been  too  strict.  Gen.  Sheridan  tells  me  that  I  have 
one  of  the  best,  most  reliable  regiments  in  his  command.  The  re- 
giment is  one  of  the  best  drilled  and   best  disciplined  I  ever  saw.' 

"I  considered  mj'self  highly  complimented  in  having  one  of  the 
best  companies,  and  belonging  to  one  of  the  best  Ilegiments  in 
Sheridan's  command;  and  Company  I's  record  of  the  following 
day  certainly  did  not  detract  from  it." 

The  expressions  of  these  letters  are  not  extravagant,  when  we 
remember  what  it  cost  "our  boys"  to  be  able  to  say  tliem. 

"Connecticut  troops  witnessed  the  capitulation,  The  1st  cavalry, 
under  Col.  Ives,  acted  as  an  escort  to  Gen.  Grant,  when  he  went 


1280  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

forward  to  the  conference  with  Lee.  The  14th,  under  Col.  M(iore, 
was  hard  by,  within  sight  of  the  memorable  liouse.  The  2d  Artil- 
lery, under  Col.  James  Hubbard,  was  with  the  6th  Corps,  a  short  dis- 
tance north  ;  and  the  10th  was  a  mile  west,  where  it  had  helped  to 
turn  back  the  desperate  charge  of  Gordon. 

"  The  armies  were  foes  no  longer,  and  the  victors  shared  their 
rations  with  the  vanquished.  Among  tlie  paroled,  there  was,  be- 
sides the  mortification  of  defeat,  a  feeling  of  relief  from  a  terrible 
and  sanguinary  combat.  Among  the  Union  troops  there  was,  su- 
peradded to  the  delight  of  victory  and  the  joyful  foreshadowing 
of  peace,  an  exultant  consciousness  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
often  censured  and  always  disparaged,  had  at  last  won  a  title  to 
the  nation's  gratitude."  '■ 

We  have  already  said,  that  Woodbury  was  substantially  a  unit 
in  support  of  the  war.  There  were  a  few  exceptions,  of  no  ac- 
count. No  leading  man  refused  his  support.  It  became  neces- 
sary for  U.  S.  Marshal  Carr  to  write  letters  of  warnii^g  to  a  few 
disloyal  persons,  who  discouraged  enlistments.  There  were  one 
or  two  instances,  also,  in  which  the  people  took  the  matter  into 
their  own  hands.  The  most  notable  case  was  that  of  Burr  B.  At- 
Avood,  residing  in  Upper  Nonnewaug.  He,  with  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  himself,  wife,  one  or  two  daughters  and  as  many  sous, 
living  at  home,  though  he  had  a  sou  honorably  serving  in  the 
union  armies,  was  quite  tree  in  expressing  disloyal  sentiments, 
and  finally  displayed  a  rebel  flag  from  his  house,  inscribed  with  a 
disloyal  sentiment.  Without  concert,  in  utter  ignorance  of  each 
other's  movements,  a  large  company  of  the  leading  young  men  of 
Waterbury,  .and  another  from  Woodbury,  proceeded  to  Atwood's 
house,  meeting  just  beCoie  they  arrived  at  his  house.  The  pur- 
pose of  this  journey  was  to  compel  Atwood  to  take  down  his 
rebel  flag.  He  however  had  seen  the  procession  approaching,  and 
took  down  and  hid  the  flag.  They  demaiuled  it,  but  he  refused 
to  produce  it,  and  his  whole  family  denied  that  tliey  knew  where 
it  was,  A  thorough  search  revealed  its  hiding  place  among  i  efuse 
articles  in  the  sink.  It  was  taken  possession  of,  and  carried  away. 
Atwood  was  asked  to  recant  his  treasonable  words,  but  he  would 
not.  The  production  of  a  rope,  and  a  threat  to  hang  him  up  to  a 
neighboring  tree,  woi-ked  repentance  in  his  heart,  and  he  mounted 
his  horse  block,  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  from  a  magistrate 

'  Brofut  &  Morris. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1281 

present.  All  tlie  ineinbers  of  his  family  then  followccl  suit  in 
taking  the  oath  upon  the  block.  A  noisy  relative  of  the  same 
family  appeared  upon  the  scene  about  tliis  time,  made  some 
careless  and  unhappy  remarks  in  regard  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
patriotic  assemblage,  and  was  not  over  entlmsiastic  in  expressing 
his  love  and  admiration  for  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  the  cause  of 
the  union.  He  was  therefore  ordered  to  mount  the  block,  and 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  which  he  stoutly  refused  to  do,  and 
continued  liis  resistance  till  the  tiglitening  of  the  rope  about  his 
neck  assured  him  the  "  boys"  wei-e  deadly  in  earnest,  when  he  re- 
luctantly took  the  oath.  But  on  being  released,  disloyal  words 
again  found  utterance,  when  the  oath  upon  the  block  was  again 
administered  to  him.  And  it  is  related  to  the  writer,  who  was 
not  present  on  tliis  solemn  occasion,  that  it  became  necessary  to 
administer  the  oath  to  him  six  times  before  his  rebellious  spirit 
was  quelled,  and  he  became  a  quiet  union  man. 

The  "  Vigilants"  next  visited  the  house  of  Chauncey  Atwood, 
who  was  reported,  also,  to  have  used  disloyal  words.  lie  utterly 
denied  speaking  ihe  words,  and  declared  for  the  union  cause.  As 
his  veracity  had  never  been  doubled,  his  word  was  taken  for  truth  ; 
but  the  "'boys"  said  that  they  would  call  again  on  F"riday,  and 
suggested  tlie  propriety  of  his  having  a  Hag  bearing  the  stars  and 
stripes  floating  from  his  house  on  that  occasion,  to  assure  his 
neighbors  of  the  falsity  of  the  injurious  reports.  The  committee 
had  previously  required  of  Burr  B.  Atwood,  that  he  should  have 
the  United  States  flag  floating  from  his  house  on  the  same  Friday, 
wlien,  they  assured  him,  they  would  return  to  see  if  their  ordei' 
had  been  complied  with. 

Friday  came,  and  with  it  the  said  committee,  with  a  lai-ge  pro- 
cession uf  the  leading  citizens,  led  by  Sherifi"  H(  nry  Minor,  and 
preceeded  by  music,  and  the  national  flag.  A  twenty-Hve  dollar 
silk  flag  was  floating  over  the  premises  of  Mr.  C.  Atwood,  and  he 
iiad  provided  refreshments  under  the  shade  of  the  fruit  trees  in 
his  ddoryard,  in  ample  abundance  for  all  his  visitors,  which  were 
part.iken  of  in  great  good  feeling, — after  which  there  was  music, 
and  speeches  were  made  by  several  of  the  prominent  gentlemen 
present,  closing  with  a  patriotic  poem  from  Mr.  Atwood. 

After  giving  three  cheers  for  tlie  flag  and  three  more  for  the 
host  and  hostess,  the  }>rocession  moved  on  to  Burr  B.  Atwood's. 
A  small  United  States  flag  was  floating  over  his  "  tabernacle,"  as 
per  order,  but  no  one  was  to  be  seen  on  the  premises.     After  dili- 


1182  UlSTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

gent  searcli,  the  proprietor  was  found  in  a  small  lot  in  rear  of  his 
barn,  mournfully  ruminating  over  the  sad  necessity  of  appearing 
to  be  in  favor  of  the  union — the  government  under  which  he 
lived.  He  was  encouraged  to  come  forward,  and  receive  the  con- 
gratulations of  h\>^  friends,  who  had  so  eagerly  sought  his  conver- 
sion to  patriotic  principles.  This  he  did,  was  handsomely  re- 
ceived, and  advised  to  continue  loyal.  The  convocation  then  de- 
parted for  their  homes,  and  there  was  never  again  a  sign  of  dis- 
loyalty in  the  town.     One  example  had  been  sufficient. 

With  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox,  the  war  was  sub- 
stantially closed,  and  Johnston  very  soon  capitulated  to  Sherman, 
and  the  leader  in  the  south  west  soon  after  him.  The  war-worn 
veterans  now  began  to  return  home,  and  be  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  in  which  they  had  won  such  glorious  laurels. 

As  the  rebellion  collapsed,  and  it  was  seen  that  the  war  was  to 
come  to  a  close,  there  had  been  much  solicitude  in  the  minds  of 
the  thoughtful  patriot*  at  home,  as  to  the  course  that  would  be 
taken  by  the  soldiers  on  their  muster  out.  Would  they  noiselessly 
and  naturally  return  to  their  old  habits  of  life,  and  quietly  sink 
into  the  i)ursuit  of  the  arts  of  peace,  willingly  laboring  in  their 
old  avocations  to  obtain  a  livelihood  ? — or  liad  they  imbibed  tastes 
and  habits,  in  their  army  life,  that  would  preclude  their  engaging 
in  their  former  avocations,  and  leave  them  an  idle  and  violent 
class,  preying  upon  the  communities  they  should  afflict  with  their 
presence  ? 

The  result  of  the  disbandment  of  our  armies,  and  the  return  of 
the  veterans,  was  peaceable  beyond  the  expectations  of  the  most 
hopeful.  Every  soldier,  on  his  return,  was  almost  painfully  eager 
to  take  off  the  blue,  and  assume  the  sober  garb  of  private  life. 
The  whole  army  dissolved  into  their  original  places  in  the  com- 
munity as  naturally,  as  they  could  have  done,  if  they  had  only 
been  on  a  week's  visit  among  friends !  Not  a  jar,  not  a  ripple  dis- 
turbed the  vast  bosom  of  society,  and  everything  socially  passed 
on  as  smoothly  as  though  the  war  had  never  existed. 

The  brave  men  now  rai)idly  returned  home,  and  they  were  re- 
ceived by  the  people  with  ovations,  and  acclamations,  never  ex- 
ceeded in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  people  fully  appreciated 
their  heroic  services,  and  expressed  their  appreciation  with  bound- 
less joy. 

And  now  the  Woodbury  soldiers  returned  to  their  firesides 
and  homes,    which   had    missed   their   presence  for  mouths    and 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODRURY 


1283 


years.  The  people,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  ladies,  prepared 
to  give  them  a  fitting  reception.  The  following  is  a  brief  account 
of  the  reception,  as  given  in  the  "  Waterbury  American  "  at  the 
time : — 

"  On  Wednesday  night,  August  IGth,  1865,  the  citizens  of  An- 
cient Woodbury  had  one  of  the  pleasantest  reunions  ever  held  in 
the  old  town,  on  the  occasion  of  the  reception  of  our  returned 
soldiers.  For  days,  the  ladies,  who  gave  the  reception,  had  been 
busy  in  decorating  the  Town  Hall,  and  preparing  refreshments  for 
the  soldiers  and  their  families,  and  the  families  of  the  deceased. 
The  weather  was  delightful,  and  when  the  eve  came,  a  better  dec- 
orated hall  or  more  sumptuous  tables  have  never  been  seen  in 
Litchfield  county.  The  ladies  fully  sustained  their  high  reputation 
as  caterers  on  our  public  local  occasions, 

"At  sunset,  the  soldiers  assembled  at  the  house  of  William 
Cothren,    at    which,    nearly     every    one    who    had    gone  to  the 


war  liad  been  enlisted  and  gone  forth.  His  house  was  beau- 
tifully decorated  in  red,  white  and  blue,  with  a  large  transparency 
over  the  main  entrance,  api)ropriately  dressed  in  evergreens,  bear- 
ing   the  motto  : — "  Soldiers,  we  greet  you  !     Welcome^  home  !  " 


1284  HISTORY      OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  the  house  was  brilliantly  ilhuiiinated  in 
every  part.  Chinese  lanterns  filled  the  trees  and  verandahs,  and 
"Lincoln  torches"  covered  the  fences.  Under  the  direction  of 
Capt.  Sperry,  the  soldiers  formed  and  marched  through  the  whole  of 
Main  street,  from  Thomas  Bull's  to  James  Green's,  the  distance  of 
a  mile  and  a  half,  and  for  the  whole  distance,  nearly  all  the  houses 
were  illuminated.  The  soldiers  clieered  every  illuminated  hosue, 
and  were  cheered  in  return.  Many  of  the  houses  had  appro- 
priate transparencies  and  lanterns.  Among  these,  the  houses  of 
landlord  Kelly,  C.  G.  Judson,  Esq.,  Enos  Benham,  Esq ,  Henry 
Minor,  Esq.,  Alexander  Gordon,  Esq.,  Mrs.  John  P.  Marshall  and 
Col.  Smith,  were  conspicuous.  The  Old  Parsonage,  built  in  1700, 
was  very  conspicuous,  from  its  antique  structure." 

The  Town  Hall  was  beautifully  decorated  with  everoreens  and 
flags.  The  name  of  each  deceased  soldier  was  encircled  with  a 
laurel  wreath,  placed  upon  the  walls,  and  the  names  of  the 
battles  in  which  our  soldiers  had  borne  a  part,  were  likewise 
wreathed  with  evergreens. 

"  After  performing  this  march,  headed  by  the  Woodbury  Drum 
Band,  the  soldiers  entered  the  hall,  when  the  following  ode  of 
welcome  was  sung  by  the  Woodbury  Glee  Club: — 

soldiers'  welcome BY  AVM.  COTHREN. 

Home  from  the  war,  from  Southern  hill  and  plain — 
Home  from  freedom's  battles  on  the  land,  on  the  main  ; 
Home  from  the  tented  field,  the  wounded,  and  the  slain — 
Ye  battle-scarred  heroes,  we  greet  you  again. 
Chorus — Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  home — 

Ye  battle-scarred  heroes,  we  welcome  you  home. 

Brave  went  ye  forth  on  that  fair  Sabbalh  day. 
Ready  for  the  battle — ready  for  the  fray — 
Ready  to  meet  sorrows  then  soon  to  come; 
Ye  battle-scarred  heroes,  we  welcome  you  home. 

Home  from  the  conflict,  your  duty  well  done ; 
Home  from  the  war  with  proud  victory  won. 
Covered  with  honor,  permitted  to  come ; 
Ye  battle.scarred  heroes,  we  welcome  you  horaej 


HISTOET      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1285 

"P.  M.  Trowbridge,  Esq,  then  made  the  following  presentation 
address  to  the  hidies,  who  were  present  in  great  force: — 

ADDRESS— BY  MR.  TROWBRIDGE.     . 

"  Ladies  of  Woodbury  : — Here  are  the  gncsts  I  promised  you 
a  little  more  than  a  week  ago.  They  are  my  fiiends — yea,  more : 
comrades,  brothers;  for,  during  these  long,  sad,  weary,  bloody 
years,  I  have  been  one  of  them.  The  pestilence  of  camp,  the  ex- 
hausting march,  the  horrid  battle-field,  though  far  away,  I  have 
shared  with  them. 

"Constant  communion  with  them  has  made  me  familiar  with  the 
individnal  history  of  each,  and  I  now  present  them  to  you  as  true 
men.  They  have  been  tried  and  are  not  found  wanting.  They 
stood  firmly,  unflinchingly,  and  warded  off  the  '  leaden  rain  and 
iron  hail,"  from  you  and  your  loved  ones.  They  have  followed 
that  Old  Flag,  the  flag  which  had  its  conception  beneath  the  dark 
portals  of  the  Star-Chamber,  which  was  ushered  into  existence 
aiuid  numberless  prayers  and  floods  of  tears,  which  was  baptised 
in  rivers  of  blood,  which  was  consecrated  to  God  and  Liberty, 
which  has  been  a  terror  to  evil-doers  and  a  praise  to  such  as  have 
done  well ;  I  say  they  have  followed  that  Old  Flag  from  victory 
to  victory,  till  its  protecting  folds  now  wave  over  tha  whole  of 
this,  our  much  loved  land.  Their  work  is  done.  They  come 
crowned  with  honor,  purchased  with  self-consecrated  patriotism. 
It  is  meet  tiien  that  you,  noble  women  of  Woodbury,  should  thus 
publicly  say,  '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants,'  welcome  to 
the  sweets  of  home. 

Ladies:  there  are  others  here  whom  I  also  promised  you  as 
guests  tills  evening.  They  are  the  husbandless,  the  fatherless,  the 
sonless,  the  brotherless.  Made  so  by  what?  Go  to  Heaven's  re- 
cord and  there  read  :  '  These  gave  their  husbands,  their  fathers, 
their  sons,  tlieir  brothers,  to  crush  the  most  impious  rebellion  earth 
lias  known  since  Satan  was  cast  over  tlie  battlements  of  this  Most 
Holy  City.'  Could  you  have  gone  with  me  when  those  winged 
messengers  came,  telling  of  the  fall  of  one  after  another,  and 
broken  the  sad  intelligence  to  anxious  hearts,  you  would  iiave  wit- 
nessed scenes  that  would  have  dwelt  with  you  so  long  as  memory 
was  yours.  You  would  have  seen  a  father,  a  mother,  bowed  to 
the  earth  because  the  stay  of  their  declining  years  had  fallen  ; — 
you  would  have  seen  the  heart-broken  wife  bathing  with  tears  her 


1286  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

little  ones,  as  they  wore  clustering  about  her,  and  crying,  'Mama, 
niaran,  won't  dear  papa  come  home  any  more?  ' 

"  I  have  raised  the  curtain  only  partially,  because  the  scenes  are 
far  too  sacred  for  the  world's  eye.  But  you  have  seen  enough, 
and  you  will  surely  greet  these,  too,  and  bid  their  sad  hearts  be 
glad  ;  and  you  will  as  surely  smooth  their  lonely  pathway  till  they 
are  welcomed  to  the  Heavenly  Home,  where  war  and  its  sorrows 
are  unknown." 

At  the  close  of  the  address,  Mr.  A.  N.  Lewis  made  a  response 
for  the  ladies,  and  intioduced  Mi\  Trowbridge  as  the  chairman  of 
the  evening. 

In  this  response,  which  was  a  poetic  one,  occurred  the  follow- 
ing beautiful  passage : — 

"  I  envy  you,  soldiers,  your  welcome  to-night ; 
Fair  cheeks  have  grown  fairer,  eyes  dimmed  have  grown  bright 
At  your  coming — all  welcome  you  here. 
And  would,  if 'twere  proper,  most  heartily  cheer. 
In  the  midst  of  my  speech  ;  not  at  what  I'm  reciting. 
But  for  you — your  bold  deeds,  your  marching  f.nd  fighting, 
Of  which  we,  your  admirers,  are  proud  and  delight  in! 
Yes,  soldiers !  brave  veterans  of  '  Company  I,' 
I  dare  to  assert,  what  none  can  deny, 
Of  all  the  battalions  that  rushed  to  the  fray. 
There  were  none  that  knew  better  to  fight  and  obey. 
There  were  none  that  loved  better  the  battle's  dread  noise, 
Than  '  the  2d' — especially  Woodbury  boys." 

"  'Tis  well,  on  a  festive  occasion  like  this, 
To  think  of  the  loved  ones  whose  faces  we  miss. 
Black  bonnets  and  dresses  are  worn  here  to-night 
For  those  who  went  in,  but  came  not  from  the  fight! 
Tall  pine  trees  are  rustling,  magnolias  wave, 
Over  many  a  hero  and  soldier-boy's  grave! 
From  the  '  Father  of  Waters '  to  Potomac's  strand, 
Ay,  down  to  the  banks  of  the  far  Rio  Grande, 
The  soil  of  the  South  is  dotted  w^lh  graves 
Of  natneless,  yet  noble  and  canonized  braves!  " 

"  Prayer  was  then  oifered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Purves. 

"The  Chairman  then  introduced  William  Cothren,  who,  by  ap- 
pointment of  the  ladies,  gave  the  welcoming  address: 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1287 


ADDRESS— BY  MR.  COTHREJf. 

"  Soldiers  of  Ancient  Woodhury  : — It  has  become  my  pleas- 
ing duty,  at  the  request  of  the  hidies  who  now  receive  you,  and 
speaking  tlieir  sentiments  as  well  as  my  own,  to  give  you  a  hearty 
welcome  home.  This  beautifully  decorated  room,  these  tables, 
groaning  under  tlie  weight  of  refreshments,  the  happy  faces  of 
worth  and  beauty  you  see  all  around  you,  all  testify  with  mute 
eloquence  the  deep  fervor  of  this,  your  joyous  welcome.  We 
welcome  you  as  patriots,  who  for  love  of  country  went  foi'th  to 
endure  all  the  privations  of  the  camp,  in  the  tented  field,  and  to 
meet  the  shock  of  battle,  to  save  your  im|)eriled  country.  Some 
of  you  went  forth  from  the  humbler  pursuits,  some  from  higher 
walks,  all  with  great  hearts  throbbing  with  the  desire  to  save  and 
protect  the  vital  interests  of  liberty  and  humanity.  You  went- 
forth  as  only  lovers  of  their  country  can  do,  to  battle  for  the  right, 
perchance  to  die. 

"We  well  remember  that  fair  May  morning  in  1861,  in  the  very 
opening  of  the  great  rebellion,  when  the  first  company  of  our 
Woodbury  patriots,  in  the  red  uniform,  went  fortli,  with  earnest 
zeal,  amid  the  hurrahs  of  the  men  and  the  waving  of  handker- 
chiefs by  our  honored  ladies,  bound  to  the  front,  to  pass  to  battle, 
promising  as  they  went,  with  solemn  vow,  to  go  to  the  defense  of 
our  nation's  capital  through  the  streets  of  Baltimore^  where,  just 
then,  the  northern  martyrs  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  had  freely  of- 
fered their  lives  in  the  defense  of  their  country.  I  see  here  now 
a  remnant  of  that  patriotic  band  who  went  to  the  war  from  my 
grounds,  and  from  whom  I,  a  childless  man,  parted  as  from  my 
own  children.  The  members  of  Company  E,  of  the  glorious  old 
oth,will  never  be  by  us  foi-gotteu.  l)oys,  with  earnest  emotion, 
we  greet  you.  With  full  hearts  we  welcome  you  home.  Nor  can 
we  ever  forget,  while  reason  liolds  its  throne,  that  beautiful  morn 
of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  when  there  were  anxious  hearts,  and  a 
hurrying  to  and  fro.  When  the  [)eaceful  stillness  usually  devoted 
to  prayers  and  praise  to  God,  was  broken  by  the  not(^s  of  war 
the  shrill  cry  of  the  fife,  and  the  fierce  rattle  of  the  drum;  when 
religious  sei  vices  were  suspended  in  all  our  churches,  and  every 
citizen  was  ready  to  aid  the  warrior,  marching  to  tlie  relief  of  the 
thrice  beleagured  capital  of  his  country.  Oh,  there  were  sad  and 
hun-ied   partings   from    wives  and    children,    from    kindred   and 


1288  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WO  OD  BU  RY  . 

friends,  when  Company  I,  19lh  Conn  Vols.,  departed  for  tlie  war, 
that  beautiful  summer's  day.  While  terrors  thickened,  the 
heavenly  Father  seemed  to  smile  on  the  saddened  earth.  Well 
do  I  remember  the  sad  foreboding  with  which  one  of  that  patri- 
otic band,  one  ever  to  be  remembered,  parted  from  his  wife  and 
children.  Solemnly  he  said,  the  tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  I 
shall  not  survive  this  war;  never  again  reside  in  Woodbury;  but 
it  is  my  duty  to  go,  and  I  will  die  fighting  for  my  country.  Sadly 
prophetic  words.  He  died  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of 
Winchester.  Do  his  comrades  need  that  I  speak  the  name  of 
Sergeant  Walter  J.  Orton  ? 

"Another  noble  spirit  I  must  also  mention,  as  I  hurry  over  the 
record  of  our  heroes.  Young,  with  all  the  better  aspirations  we 
know  in  life,  of  high  intellectual,  social  and  moral  qualities,  libe- 
rally educated,  and  beloved  in  the  home  circle,  he  felt  it  his  duty, 
leaving  all  his  advantages,  to  go  forth  and  do  his  share  for  the  sal- 
vation of  his  country.  He  met  his  fate,  and  ascended  to  his  God 
from  Cedar  Mountain,  dying  instantly  on  the  field  of  battle.  I 
speak  the  name  of  Lieut.  Henry  M.  Button. 

''  And  there  was  another  noj)Ie  spirit,  reared  and  educated  by 
the  honored  man  and  soldiers'  friend  during  all  this  dreadful  war, 
who  this  evening,  by  the  appointment  of  the  ladies,  so  fitly  pre- 
sides over  these  ceremonies.  He  served  as  a  private  ||i  the  three 
months  campaign,  and  again  in  the  glorious  llih  Obnn.  Vols, 
rising  by  merited  promotion  for  deeds  of  valor  on  the  battle-field 
to  the  post  of  Adjutant,  and  A.  A.  A.  G.  of  his  regiment  and 
brigade,  and  gave  up  his  young  life  in  the  great  cause,  dying  from 
wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor.  A  pure  and  pat- 
riotic soul  passed  thus  to  heaven. 

"All  were  worthies.  Time  would  fail  me  to  speak  of  their 
merits  individually.  I  must  hurry,  that  you  may  enjoy  other  pleas- 
ures in  store  lor  you.  Others  besides  those  I  have  mentioned  in 
the  companies  went  by  squads,  and  singly  joining  all  the  various 
regiments  of  our  State;  but  they  all  went  for  the  same  great  pur- 
pose, and  did  well  their  duty  in  tlie  broad  field  of  conflict  to  which 
they  were  called; 

''Soldiers  of  Woodbury!  Survivors  of  forty-three  pitched  bat- 
tles, survivors  of  2G2  enlisted  men,  who  left  your  homes  in  our 
midst  to  vindicate  the  honor  of  our  country,  and  preserve  our 
free  institutions,  we  greet  with  grateful  hearts  your  glad  return. 
Saviours  of  your  country,  forever  hail ! 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1289 

"  No  time  is  left  nie  to  name  in  detail  the  glorious  battles  in 
wliich  yon  have  triumphed.  Your  country  and  the  friends  of  lib- 
erty have  not  forgotten  them.  You  could  not  well  forsret  the  suc- 
cessful battles  in  which  tlie  illustrious  'Old  fighting  Sixth  '  parti- 
cipated. You  will  never  forget  those  bloody  carnivals  of  death 
and  ghastly  wounds  at  Cold  Harbor,  where  you  lost  eighteen  of 
your  number;  at  Winchester,  where  you  lost  twenty-six  out  of 
seventy-eight;  at  Fisher  Hill,  where  you  lost  twenty-nine  out  of 
about  fifty  men,  in  killed  and  woimded,  who  went  into  battle. 
You  cannot  well  furget  how  you  stood  like  a  wail  of  fire  around 
threatened  Washington  for  many  weary  months.  You  will  never 
forget  your  marches  under  the  illustrious  Grant,  your  forced 
marches  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  under  the  glorious  Phil.  Sher- 
idan, nov  how  you  snufl^ed  out  Jeff.  Davis'  last  attempt  to  erect 
his  throne  in  the  capital  city  of  the  Union.  You  never  will  for- 
get the  most  splendid  march  in  all  history  performed  by  you,  of 
over  100  miles  in  twenty-two  maching  hours,  ending  in  Lee's  sur- 
render, the  close  of  the  war,  the  establishment  of  peace.  Such  is 
but  part  of  the  history  of  your  company  in  the  famous  2d  Conn. 
Artillery. 

'*  And  you,  our  old  and  first  beloved  of  Company  E,  in 
the  war-woi-n  5th,  who  rushed  early  to  the  war,  you  will  never 
forget,  nor  shall  we,  your  many  bloody  and  victorious  battle-fields 
nor  that  splendid,  unpai'alleled  march  under  the  intrepid,  perse- 
vering, victorious  Sherman,  from  Washington  to  Nashville  from 
Nashville  through  all  the  Atlantic  States,  to  the  sea,  helpino-  in 
Lee's  surrender  and  forcing  that  of  Johnston.  A  soldier  who  has 
fought  under  Sherman  may  count  himself  truly  blessed.  In  the 
fiime  of  Sherman  and  his  troops,  our  ancient  town  has  a  right  to 
take,  as  she  does,  a  modest  and  l)ecoming  pride.  His  ancestor  in 
the  Sherman  line  was  born  in  this  very  street,  in  a  house  now 
standing  just  above  the  hall  in  which  we  are  assembled. 

"  Soldiers  all !  you  will  never  forget  the  fifty  dead  heroes  of 
your  number,  nor  the  foity-seven  other  comrades,  who  this  day 
bear  honorable  scars  received  in  the  service  of  your  countrv.  You 
will  nevei-  forget  the  foity-three  decisive  battles,  whose  names  are 
inscribt'd  on  the  dear  old  llag  hanging  yonder,  for  which  you  and 
your  dead  comrades  have  so  bravely  fought.  Give  three  times 
three,  for  yourselves,  for  posterity,  for  history. 

"Brave  men  !  ye  lia\e  wr(.iight  well,  gladly  we  greet  you  here. 
But  you  are  not  all  here  in  bodily  presence.     We  sadly  miss  the 


1290  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

familiar  faces  of  the  heroic  dead.  Those  dear  forms,  dear  to  us 
and  dear  to  their  families  beloved,  have  '  fallen  out,'  one  by  one, 
on  the  hurried  march,  on  the  southern  hills  and  plains,  in  loath- 
some prisons,  in  the  deadly  camp,  by  the  more  merciful  missile  of 
death  in  all  your  glorious  campaigns.  If,  as  orderly  sergeant,  I 
should  call  the  names  of  this  pi'oud  roll  of  lionor,  (here  exhibiting 
the  names  of  the  deceased  soldiers,)  not  one  would  respond  in 
voices  audible  to  human  ears.  Roll  of  honor!  Let  their  names 
be  spoken  with  heads  uncovered  by  all  the  living  present.  These 
fifty  martyrs  have  stood  between  us  and  desolation  and  horrors 
indescribable.  These  names  are  indellibly  engraved  on  the  tablets 
of  our  hearts.  Did  I  say  this  glorious  list  was  not  here  ?  I  re- 
call the  words.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  believe  that  in  the  dis- 
embodied form  they  are  present^  and  look  down  kindly  on  these 
our  efforts  to  do  fitting  honors  to  their  manly  deeds,  and  those  of 
the  servivors  present,  and  that  if  permitted  by  an  All  wise  Crea- 
tor, they  would  whisper  to  us,  in  spirit  voices,  their  approbation 
of  our  reverence  and  veneration.  It  is  a  beautiful  thought,  that 
those  war-worn  spirits  are  guardian  angels  still  to  us  in  time  of 
peace,  as  before  they  were  our  bulwarks  in  battle.  Happy  is  the 
lot  of  the  children  of  the  soldier  here  to-day.  Long  shall  they 
and  the  succeeding  generations  point  with  pride  to  the  heroic 
deeds  of  their  fixthers,  and  trace,  with  becoming  aSection  their 
lineage  to  the  heroes  of  this  hour. 

"  There  is  another  class  here  to-night  whom  we  greet  kindly, 
tenderly,  affectionately.  It  is  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those 
who  have  fallen  in  this  great  contest  for  human  liberty.  We 
would  cherish  you  all  in  your  future  lot  in  life.  We  would  cher- 
ish you  for  the  good  acts  of  those  you  held  most  dear,  and  whom, 
amid  tears,  you  gave  to  your  country. 

"  And  now,  soldiers,  returned  to  us  thus  happily,  thus  honora- 
bly, we  will  only  add  the  devout  aspiration,  that  in  resuming  the 
avocations  of  civil  life,  you  may  be  blessed  in  all  your  lawful  un- 
dertakings, and  may  still  continue  to  show  the  same  high  and  en- 
nobling qualities  in  the  arts  of  peace  as  you  did  in  the  arts  of 
war ;  and  may  still  be,  as  in  the  proud  ])ast,  heroes  in  the  defence 
of  liberty  and  law." 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Cothren's  address,  the  soldiers  and 
their  guests  partook  of  the  banquet  of  good  things  prepared  by 
the  fair  hands  of  the  ladies,  which  were  worthy  of  the  joyful  occa- 
sion." 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1291 

Patriotic  and  appropriate  speeches  were  then  made  by  Capt.  Eli 
S perry,  first  Captain  of  Company  I,  and  by  James  Huntington, 
Esq.  Other  gentlemen  were  invited  to  speak,  but  courteously 
waived  the  privilege,  that  the  boys,  so  long  without  the  sight  of 
pleasant  faces,  or  the  sound  of  gentle  voices,  might  have  the  more 
time  to  look  at  the  one  and  to  listen  to  the  other,  and  revel  in  at- 
tractions very  opposite  to  "  hard  lack." 

"The  exercises  were  kept  up  till  a  few  sliort  hours  '  ay  ant  the 
twal,'  when  all  separated  to  their  homes,  well  pleased  with  the 
evening's  entertainment." 

Thus  have  we  recounted,  at  some  length,  the  brave  and  self- 
sacriticing  conduct  of  our  brave  men  in  the  field.  But  there  were 
indispensable  duties  to  be  performed,  and  sacrifices  to  be  borne 
by  those  who  remained  at  home,  in  order  to  provide  for  and  sus- 
tain the  vast  armies  of  the  union.  The  absolute  cost  of  this  war 
will  never  be  known,  or  correctly  estimated.  It  is  only  by  ob- 
serving tlie  contributions  of  each  little  town  and  hamlet,  where 
they  are  known,  that  we  can  draw  an  inference  of  the  grand 
total. 

Woodbury  was  not  behind  any  other  town,  in  proportion  to  its 
number  of  inhabitants,  of  which  the  writer  has  heard.  The  ladies 
of  the  town,  more  if  possible  than  the  men,  seemed  to  be  imbued 
with  the  patriotic  desire  of  foreseeing  and  providing  for  the  wants 
of  our  brave  volunteers.  From  the  first  hour  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  "  Woodbury  Reds,"  till  the  close  of  the  war,  their 
labors  were  assiduous  and  unreinitting  It  has  been  already 
stated,  ihat  under  their  au.spices,  in  good  part;  the  pi'eparation  of 
that  company  to  take  the  field  cost  at  least  11,000.  Ever  after, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  they  were  making  up  boxes 
of  good  articles  and  sending  to  our  sohliers  in  the  field  every  de- 
sirable thing  of  which  they  could  thirds,  and  often  packages  of 
great  value.  They  raised  money  by  fairs,  sociables,  and  private 
contril>utions.  They  added  everywhere  the  labor  of  their  own 
hands.  They  became  connected  with  every  association  formed 
for  the  benefit  of  the  soldier,  and  rendered  efiicient  aid  to  all.  In 
the  autumn  of  1862,  they  became  connected  with  the  New  Haven 
S()ldiei-s'  Aid  Society,  formed  under  the  auspices  of  Alfred  Walk- 
er, who  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  zealous  efforts  for  the 
welfare  of  the  soldiers.  That  society  furnished  the  materials  for 
garments  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  soldiers,  and  our  ladies 

29 


1292  HISTORY      OF,   ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  made  them  up,"  and  returned  them  to  the  Society,  to  be  for- 
warded to  their  several  destinations.  During  that  fall,  they  sent 
this  society,  $246.20,  in  cash,  besides  all  the  garments  they  manu- 
factured. As  a  specimen  of  their  benefactions,  while  doing  this, 
in  the  month  of  December,  1862,  they  sent  to  Woodbury  soldiers 
sixty-four  pairs  of  mittens,  cash  value  estimated  at  $32.00,  which 
were  distributed  as  follows  : — forty-one  pairs  to  the  19th  Conn., 
eight  pairs  to  the  5th,  and  fifteen  pairs  to  the  8th  and  11th.  Jan. 
6,  1863,  they  sent  l<20  worth  sf  supplies  to  the  5th  Conn. — *30 
worth  to  the  8th  and  11th — 125  worth  to  the  19th,  and  $40  in 
cash — besides  $20  worth,  in  addition,  to  the  New  Haven  Society. 
They  also  sent  money  and  supplies  to  the  United  States  Sanitary 
Commission,  and  numerous  private  boxes  to  individual  soldiers. 
As  a  specimen  of  what  they  were  doing  during  the  year  1863,  it 
may  be  mentioned,  that  they  manufactured  for  the  New  Haven 
Society  12  surgical  shirts,  126  pairs  of  drawers,  12  sheets,  63 
shirts,  65  skeins  of  yarn  and  12  flannel  shirts.  To  the  Sanitary 
Commission  they  sent  78  cushions,  10  fans,  23  ring-pads  113  hand- 
kerchiefs, 1  feather  pillow,  20  linen  towels,  1,374  yards  of  ban- 
dages, 23  rolls  of  bandages,  18  lbs.  dried  currants,  30  gals,  black- 
berry cordial,  22  needle-books,  3  bottles  of  wine,  2  hospital  quilts, 
a  large  quantity  of  sage,  hops,  dried  peaches,  jam,  jars  of  fruit, 
14  lbs.  mixed  rags,  bundles  of  old  clothes,  1  linen  coat,  together 
with  $163.84  in  money.  And  so  they  went  on,  those  noble-heart- 
ed women,  during  the  whole  w^ar. 

"  On  Thanksgiving  day,  1864,  with  final  victory  close  at  hand, 
the 'United  States  Sanitary  Commission  sent  to  the  soldiers  in  the 
field  a  dinner,  consisting,  among  other  things,  of  six  hundred 
tons  of  turkeys,  in  number  about  200,000.  Connecticut  furnished 
her  full  share  of  these.  For  one  day,  at  least,  in  camp  and  field 
and  hospital,  the  quiet  bird  which  plain  Ben.  Franklin  wished  to 
see  inscribed  upon  our  armorial  field,  stood  forth  supreme,  and 
effectually  supei-seded  the  proud  "  bird  of  freedom."  ' 

It  is  estimated  that  the  ladies  were  enabled  to  send,  in  money 
and  articles  of  use  to  the  soldiejs,  in  the  value  at  least  of  $5,000. 

The  town,  as  a  corporation,  paid  to  volunteers,  substitutes,  and 
for  recruiting  expenses,  $47,231  •39.  In  addition  to  this,  military 
subjects  of  the  town  paid  for  their  own  substitutes  $10,300.00  In 
a  thousand  other  w^ays  than  has  been  recounted  in  this  history, 

'  Crofut  &  Morris,  p.  472. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     AVOODBURY. 


1293 


the  people  were  called  on  to  pay  expenses  that  became  necessary 
on  account  of  the  war.  So  that,  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt, 
the  people  of  Woodbury  paid  not  less  than  $100,000,  as  their 
quota  towards  the  su]>pression  of  the  rebellion,  or  about  one 
twelfth  of  its  grand  list  at  the  commencement  of  the  War.  In 
this  estimate,  no  account  is  taken  of  the  increased  taxation  neces- 
sary to  pay  our  part  of  the  State  and  national  taxes  for  the 
siapport  of  the  military  expenses  of  the  nation.  It  is  by  such  re- 
views as  this  that  we  begin  to  appreciate  the  money  cost  of  the 
abolition  of  slavery,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  slaveholders'  re- 
bellion. 

During  the  existence  of  the  war,  the  following  persons  furnish- 
ed, or  helped  to  furnish  substitutes  for  themselves  : — 


Lewis  H.  Atwood, 

Wheeler  Atwood, 

Roderick  Atwood 

George  M.  Allen, 

Henry  M.  Allen, 

George  P.  Allen, 

Willard  P.  Abernethy, 

Stanley  E.  Beardsley, 

Plenry  C.  Buckingham, 

Charles  N.  Booth,  was  draft- 
ed and  paid  commutation 
of  $300. 

Jesse  B.  Burton, 

Nathan  B.  Burton, 

Horace  D.  Curtiss, 

James  G  Curtiss, 

Walter  S.  Curtiss, 

Sheldon  B.  Castle, 

Samuel  D.  Castle, 

Oliver  Cowles, 

David  Cowes 

William  Cothren, 

John  J,  Fowler, 

Edgar  Galpin, 

John  Galpin, 

William  S.  Isbell, 


Henry  C.  Judson, 
Hermon  W.  Judson, 
James  H.  Linsley, 
George  B.  Lewis, 
John  H.  Minor, 
Nathaniel  D,  Minor, 
Truman  S.  Minor, 
Charles  D.  Minor, 
Edward  F.  Nichols, 
John  S.  Nichols, 
Omar  E.  Norton, 
Newell  Osborn, 
Albert  C.  Peck, 
Samuel  F.  Peck, 
Robert  Peck, 
George  E.  Pierce, 
Benjamin  S.  Russell, 
Samuel  B.  Scott, 
William  Smith, 
Herman  W.  Shove, 
Henry  P.  Summers, 
Homer  S.  Tomlinson, 
Ambrose  H.  AVells, 
Truman  E.  Wheeler, 
Frederick  Ward.— 49. 


Since  the  close  of  the  war,  an  organization  of  the  soldiers  who 


1294  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

served  in  the  union  armies  has  been  formed,  called  the  "  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic."  This  is  not  a  political  organization,  but 
simply  an  association  for  mutual  aid,  and  for  keeping  alive  the  re- 
membrances and  patriotic  feelings  which  led  them  to  battle  for 
thoir  country.  Under  the  auspices  of  these  associations,  for  the 
most  part,  but  in  Woodbury,  under  the  auspices  of  the  ladies,  a 
beautiful  custom  has  been  introduced,  of  decorating  the  graves  of 
their  deceased  comrades  on  the  30th  of  May,  annually.  The  cer- 
emonies usual  on  these  occasions  are,  a  procession,  and  the  deck- 
ing of  the  graves  profusely  with  the  bright  spring  flowers,  after 
which,  speeches,  poems,  and  patriotic  songs  follow. 

This  custom  was  first  observed  in  Woodbury  in  1869,  and  has 
since  been  continued.  In  1870,  under  the  direction  of  Deacon  P. 
M.  Trowbridge,  who,  during  all  the  war  was  preeminently  the 
soldiers'  friend,  the  ceremony  was  made  very  beautiful.  After  the 
procession  and  decoration  of  the  graves,  prayer  was  offered  by 
Rev,  Gurdon  W.  Noyes,  pastor  of  the  1st  Congregational  church* 
An  original  hymn,  written  by  Mrs.  Emily  G.  Smith,  was  then 
sung.  Then  followed  short  addresses  by  Rev.  John  Purves,  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Colonel  N.  Smith,  the  writer,  and  others.  To 
give  an  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  addresses  on  these  occasions, 
the  remarks  of  the  author  on  "  Decoration  Day,"  1870,  are  re- 
corded here : — 

The  vernal  season  of  the  year  has  come,  with  its  flowers  and 
its  perfumes.  Beauty  gleams  forth  from  every  side.  The  carol  of 
birds  at  early  dawn  and  dewy  eve,  fill  the  melodious  air.  The  old 
earth  itself  is  tremulous  with  joy.  The  manly  heart,  the  tender 
bosom  throbs  with  great  emotions.  Human  nature,  for  the  hour,  is 
ennobled,  and  kindly  sympathies  encircle  all  with  a  vast  compre- 
hensiveness. We  are  in  this  beautiful  valley,  with  its  lovely  out- 
look— heaven's  chosen  place  for  the  dispensation  of  munificent 
gifts!  We  are  standing  in  this  silent,  peaceful  city  of  the  dead  ! 
It  is  the  votive  hour.  It  is  the  day  of  sacred  memories!  With 
uncovered  heads. 

Come  we  with  our  offerings, 
All  our  dear  and  holy  things, 

to  decorate  the  lowly  graves  of  the  tried,  the  true  and  the  brave. 
It  is  a  sad  but  pleasing  duty.  Beautiful  and  graceful  is  the  act, 
when  blooming,  youthful  forms,  strew  these  graves  with  flowers, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1295 

cheered  on  by  the  approval  of  an  entire  community.  How  appro- 
priate to  revive  in  each  revolving  year,  with  the  fragrance  of  flow- 
ers, and  the  fragrance  of  a  pei'ennial  honor,  a  fond  remembrance 
of  those  we  loved  in  life,  who  wrought  well,  and  have  ascended 
into  glory.     In  doing  this,  we  prove  the  saying  true : — 

"  On  the  cold  face  of  death  the  roses  are  blending, 
And  beauty  immortal  awakes  from  the  tomb." 

We  come  with  our  floral  oflTerings,  and  tributes  of  praise,  to 
honor  the  heroic  men  who  gave  their  lives  for  us  ;  who  stood  like 
a  wall  of  fire  between  us  and  our  foes;  who  saved  the  nation's 
life.  We  come  to  honor  the  men  who  went  out  from  our  pleasant 
hills  and  sweet  valleys,  leaving  fathers  and  mothers,  brothers  and 
sisters,  wives  and  children,  the  endearments  and  comforts  of  home, 
— all  that  men  hold  dear  in  life,  to  battle  for  the  right,  to  execute 
the  will  of  God,  to  wipe  out  a  glaring  iniquity  from  the  face  of 
the  earth.  No  venial  men  were  they.  All  that  loving  friends  and 
kind  government  could  do  for  them,  was  a  mere  trifle,  compared 
with  the  great  sacrifices  they  willingly  made.  No  malice,  no  thirst 
for  blood,  no  love  of  carnage  entered  their  manly  bosoms.  They 
went  forth  with  high  resolve,  influenced  alone  by  a  stern  and  hon- 
est sense  of  duty.  They  endured  toils  and  privations  and  suffer- 
ings which  no  tongue  can  tell,  and  no  pen  can  adequately  describe. 
"  On  the  perilous  edge  of  battle,"  the  muskets  of  their  foes  pufiing 
sulphurous  death  and  deadly  missies  into  their  faces ;  amid  the 
storm  of  shot  and  shell ;  in  the  desperate  charge,  steel  clashing 
with  steel,  while,  each  second,  comrade  dropped  silently,  ormoan- 
ingly  down  in  the  death  agony ;  in  the  exhausting  march,  in  the 
hasty  bivouac,  resting  on  their  arms  in  the  dense  woods,  or  upon 
the  open  plain  ;  in  the  loathsome  hospital ;  in  the  horrid  prison 
pen  ;  these  gallant  men  breathed  out  their  lives  in  a  noble  cause, 
and  obtained  a  martyr's  crown. 

We  miss  these  gallant  men  from  our  social  gatherings,  and  from 
our  firesides.  We  hear  no  more  their  pleasant  greetings  in  the 
bustle  of  active  life.  It  is  a  sad  and  yet  a  glorious  roll-call  we  make 
here  to  day.  Harnum,  the  gentle  of  soul,  yet  bold  as  a  lion  ;  Dut- 
ton,  the  chivalrous,  dashing  and  patriotic,  yielding  up  his  life  in 
the  deadly  charge,  and  heat  of  battle  at  Cedar  Mountain  ;  Orton, 
the  faithful  and  true,  victim  of  Winchester's  bloody  field  ;  Whit- 
lock,  the  genial  and  the  brave;  the  soldierly  Hurd,  Fluslimen  and 
Galpin  ;  the  patient  and  modest  Briggs  and  Wheeler,  who  receiv- 


1296  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

ed  their  death  wounds  at  Cold  Harbor ;  time  fails  me  to  charac- 
terize all — these  are  but  types  of  the  whole  patriot  baud,  who 
served  their  country  during  these  four  dark,  lurid  years  of  civil 
war,  and  gave  their  lives  for  ther  country.  With  palpitating 
hearts  we  call  the  roll  of  our  honored  dead  to-day.  We  place 
their  names  on  our  Roll  of  Honor,  and  treasure  them  in  our 
heart  of  hearts.  We  miss  these  more  than  fifty  stalwart  forms, 
but  we  garland  their  memories.  We  magnify  their  fame.  Well 
have  they  earned  the  guerdon  we  so  gladly  accord  to  them,  while 
they  find  other  and  more  glorious  employment  on  the  heavenly 
plains.  We  will  teach  our  children  and  children's  children  their 
honored  names,  and  hand  them  down  to  the  latest  posterity. 

"  He  never  dies, 
Who,  when  the  battle's  won,  lays  down 
His  armor,  and  takes  furlough  of  his  God." 
Memories  bright  shall  guard  their  fame, 
Spread  it  from  shore  to  shore, 
The  cypress  droop  above  their  graves. 
Softly  whispering  evermore. 

In  1866,  the  people  of  the  town  began  to  agitate  the  question 
of  erecting  a  suitable  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  brave  men 
who  had  died  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  A  public  meeting  was 
called  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  two  political  parties, 
and  an  association  formed  to  lead  in  the  enterprise,  which  took 
the  name  of  the  "  Woodbury  Soldiers'  Monument  Association." 
The  following  officers  were  appointed, — who  devoted  themselves 
zealously  to  the  work,  often  to  the  great  detriment  of  their  pri- 
vate business,  till  their  labor  became  a  success  : 

President, — Lewis  Judd. 

Vice  Presidents, — Rev.  John  Purves,  Rev.  George  Little,  Rev. 
.John  Churchill,  Rev.  Mr.  Pullman,  and  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Bacon. 

Executive  Committee, — Thomas  Bull,  R.  J.  Allen,  James  Hun- 
tington, David  C.  Porter,  and  P.  M.  Trowbridge. 

Corresponding  Secretary, — William  Cothren. 

Mecordiiig  Secretary, — W.  A.  Gordon, 

Treasurer, — Benjamin  Fabrique. 

Mr.  Judd  died  in  1869,  and  P,  M.  Trowbridge  was  elected  Pres- 
ident in  his  stead,  Dec.  28,  1869.     At  the  same  meeting-  Rev.  Gur- 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOO  1>  BURY.  129*7 

don  W.  Noyes  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resig- 
nation of  Rev.  Mr.  Little  ;  Rev.  A.  N.  Lewis,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Bacon,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Gihnati,  to  fill  the  vacancy  of 
Rev  Mr.  Pullman.  Horace  D.  Curtiss  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  promotion  of  Mr.  Trowbridge;  William 
Cothren,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  R.  J. 
Allen,  who  had  never  been  able  to  cooperate  with  the  Committee, 
on  account  of  ill  health — and  Ileman  Botsford  and  Frederick  C. 
Orton,  were  added  as  additional  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

Then  followed  a  series  of  festivals,  sociables,  concerts,  &c.,  du- 
ring four  years,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  necessary  funds  to 
accomplish  the  work.  The  people  with  one  accord  manifested 
great  interest  in  the  undertaking,  and  gave  generous  aid.  By  the 
autumn  of  1870,  the  funds  thus  collected  amounted  to  about  the 
sura  of  $1,500.  Previous  to  this  time,  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  had  passed  a  law  authorizing  towns  to  appropriate 
monies  from  the  treasury  to  aid  in  such  laudable  undertakings, 
and  to  assist  in  raising  monuments  to  the  memory  of  the  heroic 
dead.  It  therefore  became  the  general  wish  of  those  who  had 
borne  the  chief  labor  thus  far,  and  it  was  deemed  fitting,  that  the 
whole  community  by  tax  should  contribute  to  the  praiseworthy 
object.  Accordingly,  at  their  solicitation,  the  following  action 
was  taken  : — 

NOTICE. 

"  The  legal  voters  of  the  town  of  Woodbury  are  hereby  noti- 
fied that  a  special  meeting  of  said  town  will  be  holden  at  the 
Town  Hall  on  Saturday,  the  23d  day  of  April,  1870,  at  2  o'clock 
P.  M.,  to  take  such  measures  as  may  be  deemed  expedient  in  re- 
gard to  erecting  a  monument  to  the  memoi-y  of  all  soldiers  and 
seamen,  resident  of,  or  belonging  to  said  town  at  the  time  of  their 
enlistment,  and  who  have  died  in  the  military  or  naval  service  of 
the  United  States,  in  the  late  war  against  the  government  of  the 
United  States. 

G.  B.  LEWIS.      ) 

S.  B.  MINOR,      y  Selectmen. 

J.  G.  CURTISS,  ) 

"At  a  special  town  meeting  held  pursuant  to  the  above  notice, 
on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1870, — Present,  W.  A.  Strong,  Clerk, 
William  A.  Cothren  was  chosen  Moderator. 


1298  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the  1st  Monday  ia 
October,  at  9  o'clock,  A.  M. 

W.  A.  STRONG,  Town  Clerk. 


"  At  a  special  Town  Meeting  held  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
Oct.  3d,  1870,  for  the  purpose  of  appropriating  money  from  the 
town  treasury  to  build  a  monument  in  memory  of  the  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  who  fell  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  against  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States — Present,  W.  A.  Strong,  Clerk, — Wm. 
Cothren,  Moderator,  the  following  votes  and  resolutions  were 
passed. 

"  Voted,  To  appropriate  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  to  be 
drawn  from  the  town  treasury  by  the  Selectmen,  and  laid  out  and 
expended  by  them,  in  addition  to  the  sum  of  about  fifteen  hundrrd 
dollars  raised  by  individuals,  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  monu- 
ment to  the  memory  of  all  soldiers  and  seamen  who  were  resi- 
dents of  said  town,  or  belonging  thereto  at  the  time  of  their  en- 
listment, and  who  have  died  in  the  military  or  naval  service  of 
the  United  States,  in  the  war  against  the  government  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  Said  ajjpropriation  to  be  expended  in  conformity  with 
Sections  39,  40,  41  and  43  of  a  statute  law  of  Connecticut,  enti- 
tled An  Act  concerning  Communities  and  Corporations,  and  that 
the  location  of  said  monument  be  fixed  by  a  Committee,  consist- 
ing of  Hon.  Origin  S.  Seymour  and  Hon.  John  H,  Hubbard,  of 
Litchfield,  and  Hon.  Robbins  Battell,  of  Norfolk. 

"  Voted,  That  the  above  vole  be  passed  upon  by  ballot.  All 
legal  voters  of  said  town  who  desire  to  vote  in  favor  of  said  pro- 
posed vote,  will  deposit  in  a  box  under  the  supervision  of  the 
moderator  of  this  special  meeting,  a  ballot  with  the  word  "  Yes  " 
written  thereon.  All  voters  who  are  opposed  to  the  passage  of 
said  vote,  will  deposit  a  ballot  with  the  word  "  No "  written 
thereon.  And  said  box  shall  be  kept  open  in  this  special  town 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  balloting  upon  said  vote,  until  4  o'clock 
P.  M.,  when  said  votes  shall  be  counted  and  declared. 

"  The  votes  in  said  box  having  been  counted  by  the  moderator. 
Clerk,  and  one  of  the  Constables  of  the  town  (Stephen  H.  Crane), 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1299 

after  the  closing  of  said  box,  the  following  result  was  declared, 
by  the  moderator,  in  open  meeting: 

For  the  ai)])ropriation,  .  .  ,  158 

Against  the  same,  .  .  .  .61 

"The  resolutions  were  therefore  declared  to  be  j^assed. 
"Voted,  to  dissolve  this  meeting. 

Attest:  W.  A.  STRONG,  Clerk. 


Sufficient  funds  being  now  provided  to  accomplish  the  work  in- 
tended in  a  creditable  manner,  plans,  specifications  and  prices 
were  solicited  from  contractors,  and  in  due  time  the  Plymouth 
Granite  Company  were  engaged  to  furnish  the  monument.  Mean- 
while, the  surviving  members  of  the  2d  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery, 
of  which  a  large  number  of  the  dead  soldiers  had  been  members, 
had  been  invited  to  hold  their  annual  re-union  here,  at  the  time 
the  monument  would  be  erected,  and  assist  in  the  solemn  cere- 
monies of  its  dedication.  Everything  was,  therefore,  made  ready. 
The  whole  town  engaged  in  the  work  of  preparation  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  invited  guests.  Not  only  the  2d  Heavy,  but  all  the 
surviving  soldiers  of  the  town,  from  all  the  regiments,  together 
with  the  near  relatives  of  the  deceased  soldiers,  were  invited  to 
attend,  and  take  part   in  the  honors  of  the  day. 

The  dedication  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  to  its  patriotic  pur- 
pose, occurred  on  the  26th  of  September,  1871.  The  surviving 
soldiers  above  mentioned  by  special  invitation,  provided  an  escort 
and  guard  of  honor,  to  the  long  procession  of  distinguished  in- 
vited guests,  near  relatives  of  the  deceased  soldiers,  whose  mem- 
ory the  monument  perpetuated,  and  civilians,  who  swarmed  in 
from  the  counties  of  Litchfield,  Fairfield,  New  Haven  and  Hart- 
ford. It  rained  in  the  early  morning,  l>ut  the  clouds  broke  away, 
and  the  ceremonies  proceeded  as  arranged.  Woodbury  has  had 
many  public  celebrations,  but  none  lias  ever  been  conducted  with  a 
more  hearty  enthusiasm  and  general  acquiescence,  than  this.  Pre- 
vious to  the  march  of  the  Regiment,  Deacon  P.  M.  Trowbridge, 
who  was  very  nearly  interested  in  the  soldiers'  welfare  during  the 
war,  addressed  the  surviving  veterans.  When  the  procession  to  the 
monument  moved,  the  entire  street,  some  two  hundred  feet  wide, 
was  packed  from  fence  to  fence,  from  Deacon  Linsley's  house  to 


1300  HISTORY     or     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

that  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith,  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile.  Thare  could 
not  have  been  less  than  seven  thousand  persons  present.  Good 
judges  estimate  the  number  as  a  larger.  Everything  proceeded 
in  accordance  with  the  pre-arranged  plan,  at  the  monument,  which 
is  erected  in  the  south  central  portion  of  our  extended  village,  on 
a  beautiful  eminence  at  the  intersection  of  four  ways,  a  most  lovely 
place  for  the  purpose,  being  the  same  place  which  had  formerly  been 
occupied  by  the  Second  Ancient  Church  for  the  period  of  nearly 
seventy  years.  The  monument  was  built  by  the  Plymouth  Granite 
Company,  of  Waterbury,  B.  P.  Chatfield,  President,  from  pure 
white  granite  from  their  Quarry  at  Plymouth.  The  lower  base  is 
six  feet  square  and  twenty  inches  high,  surmounted  by  the  sub- 
base,  four  and  a  halt  feet  square  and  fourteen  inches  high.  *  Over 
this  is  the  die,  three  feet  square  at  the  base,  and  three  feet  ten 
inches  high.  At  the  corner  are  ornamental  consoles,  and  the  plane 
surface  is  paneled,  the  panels  being  finely  polished,  and  containing 
the  names  of  the  deceased  soldiers.  The  pediment  cap  is  three 
feet  ten  inches  square,  and  one  foot  high.  The  plinth  on  which 
the  shaft  rests,  is  three  feet  square,  and  two  feet  seven  inches  high. 
On  the  front  side,  the  State  coat  of  arms  is  handsomely  chiseled 
in  bold  relief  Above  this  rises  the  shaft,  beautifully  proportioned, 
and  twenty  feet  in  heighth,  making  the  total  altitude  thirty  feet. 
It  tapers  gracefully,  terminating  at  a  point.  The  general  order  of 
ai'chitecture  is  Corinthian,  the  outlines  are  sharp,  and  the  whole 
effect  is  excellent,  reflecting  great  credit  on  the  taste  of  the  design- 
er, R,  W.  Hill,  Esq.,  of  Waterbury,  as  well  as  on  the  Plymouth 
Granite  Company. 

The  exercises  at  the  monument  opened  with  a  dirge  by  the 
Newtown  Cornet  Band.  This  was  followed  by  an  introductory 
address  by  the  writer,  President  of  the  day,  as  follows : — 

Soldiers  and  Friends  : — It  was  a  beautiful  custom  of  the  abo- 
riginal inhabitants  of  this  lovely  valley,  when  the  chief  of  their 
people,  or  a  distinguished  brave  died,  to  make  his  grave  beside 
some  rippling  water,  or  some  ever  inurmtn-ing  cascade,  and  lay 
their  forest  paths  beside  his  resting  place,  and,  ever  after,  each 
hunter  in  pursuit  of  game,  and  each  warrior  on  the  war  path,  cast 
a  stone  upon  it,  as  a  mark  of  reverence  and  respect  to  the  honored 
dead.     Thus  in   process  of  time  a  notable  monument  arose  from 

'  On  the  sub  base  is  the  inscription,  "  Erected  to  the  ISoldiers  of  Woodbury 
who  died  in  the  Rebellion  of  1861." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1301 

these  individual  and  reverential  offerings.  In  like  manner  do  we 
to-day  raise  this  monument  of  stone,  beautified  by  the  hand  of  art, 
and  erected  on  the  very  place  occupied  by  an  ancient  church  of 
God  for  nearly  seventy  years ;  to  the  good,  and  true,  and  brave 
men,  who  went  forth  from  among  us  to  suffer  and  to  die  in  de- 
fence of  the  dearest  rights  possessed  by  any  people.  It  is  a  sub- 
lime— a  glorious  honor,  when  a  whole  community  assembles,  with 
its  highest  and  loveliest  ones,  to  do  honor  to  its  martyred  dead. 
It  is  a  scene  sublime,  and  an  act  historic,  that  will  be  handed 
down  the  ages  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us.  It  shall  stand  as 
an  example  of  all  that  is  tender  and  noble  in  a  people's  gratitude. 

It  is  with  solemn  awe  that  we  approach  the  ceremonies  of  the 
day.  We  would  do  fitting  honors  to  the  loved  and  lost.  We 
would  tread  lightly  over  the  sacred  dust  of  our  slumbering  heroes. 
We  would  perpetuate  their  deathless  fame.  We  can  never  forget 
what  they  dai'ed  and  suffered  for  us.  They  have  written  their 
names  on  a  scroll  of  bright  memories.  We  will  ever  revere  those 
who  fell  in  the  strife.  W^e  have  carved  their  names  in  enduring 
granite.  Never,  till  the  hills  melt  with  fervent  heat,  shall 
this  memorial  which  our  hands  have  made,  cease  to  remind  us  and 
our  descendants  of  the  glorious  dead.  Till  then,  the  successive 
generations  will  never  cease  to  remember  the  brilliant  deeds  of  an 
honorable  ancestry. 

Shall  we  call  the  Roll  ?  Shall  we  recount  the  names  and  deeds 
of  this  glorious  Roll  of  Honor?  Shall  we  sj)eak  of  Barnum,  who, 
tenderly  and  carefully  reared  in  our  midst,  in  the  first  bloom  of 
glorious  manhood,  when  the  first  cannon  thundered  forth  its  trai- 
torous threat  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  and  Fort  Sumter  made 
a  feeble  reply,  rushed  eagerly  to  the  front  with  the  first  volunteers, 
and  who,  after  an  honorable  career,  and  after  deserved  ])romotion, 
received  his  death-wound  in  the  bloody  vale  of  Cold  Harbor? 
Shall  we  speak  of  Dutton,  young,  educated,  socially  connected 
with  the  best  in  the  State,  established  in  the  profession  of  the  law 
at  Litchfield,  with  high  hopes  and  brilliant  prospects,  who  left  all, 
and  came  to  Woodbury,  when  the  first  insult  was  offered  to  the 
flag  at  Sumter,  drilled  the  awkward  squad  on  our  North  Cemete- 
ry Plains,  day  after  day,  went  gladly  to  the  front,  and,  finally,  in 
that  cruel  and  unnecessary  massacre  of  Cedar  Mountain,  after 
deeds  of  daring  equal  to  the  boldest,  and  after  the  eighth  man 
who  bore  the  colors  in  the  van,  had  been  shot,  seized  the  standard 
of  the  Union  and  fell,  covered  with  many  wounds,  breathing  out 


1302  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

his  young  life  in  the  flame  and  smoke  of  disastrous  battle  ?  He 
lies  sweetly  sleeping  with  the  "  unknown  dead,"  though  his  hon- 
ored fjither,  the  late  Governor  Button,  while  guei'illas  swarmed 
thickly  around,  sought  his  body,  with  tears.  Shall  we  speak  of 
Whitlock,  the  genial  and  whole-souled  friend,  one  who  went  out 
and  in  among  us,  admired  and  beloved  of  all,  one  who  would  go 
further,  and  do  more  than  most,  to  fulfil  a  social  duty,  who,  patri" 
otic,  to  the  full  degree,  incensed  by  his  country's  wrong,  volun- 
teered as  a  private,  won  his  way  to  promotion,  and  while  in  the 
article  of  death  received  his  Lieutenant's  commission,  too  late  to 
comprehend  that  his  just  ambition  had  been  rewarded  ?  Shall  we 
speak  of  Conrad,  the  gentle  and  the  true,  enlisting  in  that  drear 
winter,  when  hearts  were  faint,  and  many  thought  the  issue  doubt- 
ful, serving  with  equal  fidelity  and  hope,  whether  in  the  old  13th 
Conn.  Vols,  or  the  1st  Louisiana,  and  at  last  falling  by  severe  dis- 
ease in  the  far  south,  and  giving  up  his  life  in  the  holocaust  of  the 
Union,  receiving  his  commission  on  his  death-bed,  and  now  sleep- 
ing in  a  patriot's  grave  in  the  National  cemetery  on  GeneralJack- 
son's  battle-ground  of  1815,  below  New  Orleans?  Shall  we  speak 
of  the  next  in  rank,  though  non-commissioned,  the  true,  the  faith- 
ful Orton,  who,  from  all-controlling  conscientious  motives,  bade 
adieu  to  wife  and  children,  and  all  the  hopes  and  roseate  tints  of 
life's  young  morn,  served  faithfully  in  the  field,  and  fell,  mortally 
wounded,  at  Winchester's  bloody  field  ?  Shall  we  speak  of  his 
comrades,  whose  life-blood  enriches  the  same  ensanguined  plain, 
and  wooded  slopes  ?  Then  name  with  honor  the  patriotic  Barney, 
Bunnell,  Flushmen,  and  Locklin  ?  Do  we  remember  Newbei*ne  ? 
Castle,  Cogswell,  and  Patterson,  ascended  thence  to  their  rest. 

Do  we  recur  again  to  Cold  Harbor,  with  its  fire  ot  Hell  from 
the  left?  There  fell  Briggs,  Crommey,  Galpin,  Kane  and  Wheeler. 
At  Hatcher's  Run,  Allen  and  Walsh  breathed  out  their  heroic 
lives.  At  New  Orleans,  James  L.  At  wood  and  Abram  A.  War- 
ner were  a  patriotic  sacrifice.  In  the  death- giving  swamps  of 
Alexandria,  Harvey  H.  Fox,  Polley,  Charles  and  Horatio  Thomas, 
and  White,  oflfered  up  their  lives  that  the  country  might  be  saved. 
Do  we  call  to  mind  Sherman's  glorious  march  to  the  sea,  and  the 
scaling  of  Kenesaw  mountain?  Then  we  shall  never  forget  those 
two  brave  and  noble  boys,  who  went  out  with  the  Woodbury 
Reds,  Myron  G.  Bishop  and  Charles  A.  Squire,  who  went  down 
amid  the  glare  and  smoke  of  battle  on  that  bloody  mount.  He 
who  remembers  the  Heights  of  Fredericksburg,  will  never  forget 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT.  1303 

Frank  G.  and  Seth  W.  Percy.  Root  and  Holmes  perished  in  the 
far,  forbidding  mountains  of  Arkansas.  Port  Hudson  received  the 
sacrificial  lives  of  Tracy  and  Wellman ;  and  Johnny  Tiittle,  brave 
as  the  bravest,  fell,  pierced  through  the  heart,  in  the  bloody  vale 
of  Antietam.  Do  Ave  remember  with  a  shudder  the  prison  pen  of 
Salisbury?  Bubser  died  there.  Do  we  tremble  when  we  con- 
template the  fiendish  horrors  of  Andersoiiville?  It  was  thence 
the  spirit  of  Gosley  ascended  to  its  rest,  from  a  scene  of  intolera- 
ble suffering.  In  these  commemorative  services,  we  will  not  for- 
get the  deeds  of  the  colored  soldiers.  We  will  not  forget  Free- 
man, who  died  at  Annapolis.  We  will  remember  Rice,  who  fell 
at  the  seige  of  Petersburg.  We  will  not  forget  that  some  of  the 
colored  29th  Connecticut  were  the  first  infantry  to  enter  Rich- 
mond. Has  any  patriot  forgotten,  can  anybody  ever  forget  the 
murderous  conflict  in  the  deadly  gorge  of  Cedar  Creek,  when  glo- 
rious Phil.  Sheridan,  after  his  desperate  ride  from  Winchester,  ral- 
lied his  men,  and  with  clarion  voice  uttered  that  electric,  prophetic 
command:  "Steady  boys!  You  are  going  back  to  your  camps! 
Forward,  March  !"  Does  anybody  forget,  that  the  victory  which 
followed  was  the  salvation  of  Washington?  Dwight  S.  Atwood, 
Brady  and  George  E.  Judson,  gave  up  their  lives  in  that  deadly 
charge,  to  aid  in  this  great  salvation  ! 

Soldiers  and  friends!  We  have  now  called  our  Roll  of  Honor. 
We  have  engraved  it  on  this  beautiful  memorial.  We  invite  you 
to  assist  in  its  dedication.  Kindred  of  the  immortal  dead  !  The 
dust  of  your  beloved  rests  peacefully  on  many  a  glorious  battle- 
field of  the  Union,  carefidly  guarded  by  the  Eye  that  never  sleeps! 
Soldiers!  the  fame  of  your  comrades  is  secure,  and  that  secures 
your  own  !     Their  reward  is  on  high  ! 

"  They're  mustered  out;  the  grizzled  sire, 
The  son  in  boyish  beauty  ; 
From  life's  forced  march — from  battle  fire, 
They're  resting  after  duty." 

Prayer  was  then  offered  by  Rev.  John  Churchill,  of  Woodbury, 
which  was  followed  by  the  singing  of  an  original  ode  to  the  mem. 
ory  of  the  dead,  by  Messrs.  Linsley,  Walker,  Gordon,  and  the 
writer,  members  of  the  "Soldiers'  Glee  Club,"  as  a  quartette. 
The  air  was  one  familiar  to  the  soldiers: — "Tenting  on  the  Old 
Camp  Ground  " — 


1304  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

We're  gathered  to-day  to  honor  the  brave, 

Who  fell  in  the  deadly  strife ; 
Who  fought,  who  died,  and  gave  up  their  all 
To  save  the  Nation's  life. 
CeOEUs — Many  are  the  graves  of  the  soldiers  at  rest, 
On  mountain,  glen  and  vale ; 
And  they  peacefully  sleep  on  the  earth's  kind  breast; 
They're  tenting  o'er  hill  and  dale — 
Tenting  to-day,  tenting  to-day. 
Tenting  on  the  old  camp  grounds. 

Oh  !  gloriously  sleep  the   honored  brave  ! 

To  them  the  shaft  shall  rise ; 
And  the  storied  urn,  and  marble  bust, 
Shall  e'er  salute  the  skies. 
Chorus — 

'Tis  ours,  through  all  time,  to  honor  the  men, 

Who  died  in  the  mortal  fight ; 
The  men  whose  valorous  actions  brought 

The  triumph  of  the  right. 

COORUS— 

Then  followed  an  interesting  and  eloquent  dedicatory  address, 
by  Colonel  Augustus  H.  Fenn,  of  Plymouth.  It  was  peculiarly  ap- 
propriate that  Colonel  Fenn  should  be  invited  to  deliver  this  ad- 
dress, aT?i,  for  a  time,  before  his  deserved  promotion  to  a  1st  Lieu- 
tenancy in  Company  K,  he  was  a  private  in  the  Woodbury  Com- 
pany I,  under  Capt.  Eli  Sperry,  of  Woodbury.  He  left  his  right 
arm  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  could  feelingly  speak  of  his  dead  com- 
rades of  Company  I. 


SPEECH    OP    COL.    A.    H.    FENN. 

"Fellow  Citizens  and  Fellow  Soldiers  : — I  feel  to-day  as  if 
the  heavy  stone  had  been  rolled  away  from  the  door  of  the  sepul- 
chre of  our  dead,  and  the  two  angels  in  white  were  sitting,  the 
angel  of  love  at  the  head,  and  the  angel  of  gratitude  at  the  foot, 
where  the  bodies  of  our  comrades  have  lain.  The  country  for 
which  they  died,  the  community  from  which  they  went  forth, 
have  taken  these  our  brothers  in  its  bosom,  and  bears  them  forever 
upon  its  great  heart  of  love. 

"It  is  my  privilege  to-day  to  speak  to  you  in  a  double  capacity, 
as  a  citizen  and  as  a  soldier.  As  a  citizen — as  one  of  those  for 
whom  these  brave  men  have  toiled  and  struggled  and  died.     As 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1305 

one  who,  while  they  have  labored,  has  entered  into  the  fruits  of 
their  labors.  As  a  citizen  of  this  great  republic,  knowing  the  love 
which  they  bore  to  it,  the  peril  from  which  they  rescued  it,  by 
blood  and  with  their  lives.  I  tell  you  that  what  you  consummate 
to-day  in  the  dedication  of  this  beautfiil,  appropriate,  durable  and 
costly  memorial,  they  have  widely  earned  and  fully  merited.  It 
is  but,  the  discharge  of  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  you  owed  to 
them,  and  I  know  that  you  mj  friends  are  very  far  from  consider- 
ing it  anything  more.  It  is  but  an  act  of  simple  justice  to  keep 
in  atfeclionate  and  lasting  remembrance  the  name  and  fame  of 
those  who  from  amongst  us  have  given  their  lives  that  the  nation 
might  live.  It  is  not  for  us  to  honor  them,  but  it  is  they  who 
have  honored  us,  and  beautiful,  appropriate  and  generous  is  the 
act  which  we  here  complete.  It  finds  its  highest  symbolism  in 
the  lives  of  those  it  commemorates,  in  the  fact,  that,  after  all,  it  is 
not  so  much  for  them  as  for  others  we  have  done  it,  even  as  they 
laid  down  their  lives,  not  for  themselves,  but  for  their  country 
and  for  us.  They  whose  names  are  inscribed  upon  that  monument 
need  no  such  memorial,  but  we  who  stand  here  do.  They  who 
died  gloriously  on  the  field  of  a  nation's  honor,  need  no  witness 
but  God,  but  woe  to  that  nation,  woe  to  that  community  which 
dares  to  forget  them.  The  storied  urn  or  animated  bust  can  never 
call  the  fieeting  breath  back  to  its  mansion.  The  voice  of  honor 
can  never  provoke  the  callous  ear  of  death,  but  when  from  the 
top  of  the  lofty  pyramids  of  Egypt  forty  centuries  looked  down 
upon  the  soldiers  of  Napoleon,  the  hearts  of  the  living  were  made 
valiant,  by  the  silent  witness,  of  the  dead.  And  when  from  the 
top  of  yonder  monumental  shaft,  the  muse  of  history  shall  look 
down  upon  this  favored  community,  the  hearts  of  your  young  men 
shall  be  made  strong,  the  fires  of  patriotism  shall  be  lighted,  and 
from  these  sacred  ashes  and  from  this  hallowed  spot  shall  go  forth 
that  controlling  and  pervading  spirit  that  shall  guard  and  animate 
the  country  of  their  love. 

But  in  that  other  capacity  in  which  I  am  permitted  to  address 
you,  as  a  soldier,  as  the  comrade  of  these  your  guests  to-day,  as 
the  comrade  of  these  others,  your  honored,  silent  guests  to-day, 
speaking  in  behalf  of  these  my  brothers,  and  of  those  dead  lips, 
that  now  cold  and  still  in  the  silence  of  the  grave,  will  never 
speak  to  you  themselves  again,  I  have  to  thank  you  and  to  bless 
you.  I  thank  you  in  behalf  of  the  living,  that  in  the  rich  and 
generous    welcome,  in  the  full  and  overflowing  hospitality  with 


1306  HISTORY    OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

which  you  have  greeted  us,  you  have  embraced  these  also,  our 
dear  ones  and  yours.  I  remember  how  in  those  dark  days  which 
are  gone  forever,  after  the  smoke  of  battle  had  died,  and  its  thun- 
der was  stilled,  we  have  sat  down  together  in  the  twilight  shad- 
ows and  talked  of  those  who  had  gone  up  higher.  I  remember 
we  said  that  in  the  days  to  come,  when  this  cruel  war  should  be 
ended,  we  might  meet  again  amid  the  dear  familiar  scenes  of  chikl- 
hood  and  of  home.  That  we  might,  meet  but  that  they  no  more 
should  come  with  their  soft  voices  to  greet  us.  They  had  gone 
before,  they  had  passed  from  death  unto  life,  they  couki  not  come 
to  us,  but  we  should  go  to  them.  But  as  I  stand  here  to-day  it 
almost  seems  to  me  as  if  the  old  familiar  forms  had  come  back 
again,  and  stood  in  their  accustomed  places.  As  if  the  thinned 
and  decimated  ranks  were  full  again,  and  Kellogg,  our  master  and 
our  king,  stood  before  us  in  majesty  and  waved  us  on  to  battle. 
I  hear  the  thunder  of  the  cannon,  the  roar  of  the  musketry,  the 
trumpet  sounding  the  charge. 

"  But  the  vision  passes,  and  I  stand  in  this  peaceful  place  and 
mingle  my  tears  with  yours  beside  the  memorial  of  the  dead.  I 
thank  you  also  in  behalf  of  these  my  dead  brothers  for  what  you 
have  done  for  them.  I  was  their  comrade,  and  I  tell  you  their 
last  thoughts  were  of  you,  the  loved  ones  at  home.  Their  last 
prayers  were  oflered  up  for  you,  their  last  blood  was  freely  shed 
for  you.  And  I  tell  you  it  is  a  peaceful  thought,  even  amid  the 
throes  and  agonies  of  death,  to  feel  that  we  shall  not  be  forgotten 
by  those  we  love.  It  matters  not  so  much  perhaps  where  our 
bodies  may  lie,  though  who  would  not  rather  that  his  ashes  should 
mingle  with  the  dust  of  kindred,  but  it  does  matter,  that  some- 
where, away  down  in  the  heart  of  hearts  of  those  we  love,  is  a 
spot  where  our  memory  is  kept  sacred,  and  somewhere  near  the 
dear  place  that  gave  us  birth,  beneath  the  leafy  bower,  or  by  the 
purling  brook,  or  in  the  quiet  church-yard,  is  a  spot  kept  green 
for  us,  and  a  stone  that  bears  our  name  and  keeps  our  memory 
when  we  are  gone.  These  men,  dying  thus  for  you,  never  doubted 
that  you  would  so  remember  them,  and  as  their  comrade,  I  thank 
you,  with  a  full  and  grateful  heart,  that  you  have  this  day  so  fully, 
so  nobly,  so  generously  redeemed  their  trust.  To  you  then,  our 
neighbors,  brethren  and  friends,  you  who  went  forth  from  our 
midst  when  the  call  of  an  imperilled  country  was  heard  ;  you  who 
kept  step  to  the  music  of  the  Union,  but  who  came  not  back  to  us 
with  the  scarred  and   thinned  battalions,  the  rent  and  torn  stand- 


HrSTOUY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1 307 

ards  and  battle-flags,  that  told  of  conflict  and  death  ;  you  who^p 
places  are  left  vacant  in  many  a  quiet  home  and  peaceful  family 
circle;  you  upon  whose  portraits  we  love  to  sxaze,  on  whose  mem- 
ories we  love  to  linger,  but  whose  forms  we  shall  see  no  more  for- 
ever; you  whose  remembrance  comes  back  to  us  out  of  the  mists 
and  darkness  of  the  past  like  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a 
weary  land  ; — to  you  my  comrades,  and  the  comrades  of  these  my 
soldier  brothers,  present  to-day  in  your  honor,  you  who  marched 
with  us  in  the  closed  ranks,  step  to  step,  elbow  to  elbow,  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  you  who  dined  with  us  in  the  same  mess,  who  drank 
with  us  from  the  same  canteen,  who  slept  with  us  under  the  same 
blanket,  the  same  ground  beneath  us,  the  same  sky  above  us,  the 
same  thoughts  of  home  and  loved  friends  in  our  hearts.  Yon 
went  with  us  from  this  beautiful  place,  you  shared  with  us  the 
privations  of  the  camp,  the  sufferings  of  the  march,  the  perils  of 
the  picket,  the  dangers  of  the  field.  True  comrades  of  the  old 
19th,  brave  boys  of  Company  I,  you  were  always  present  or  ac- 
counted for.  And  though  you  came  not  back  with  us,  when  we 
inarched  in  triumph  and  joy  from  the  hard  fought  fields  you  help- 
ed us  to  win,  though  yours  was  the  sufferer's  cross  and  our's  the 
victor's  crown,  thank  God,  you  are  with  us  here  to-day  in  Glory 
wearing  the  halo  of  martyrdom,  shining  with  the  light  of  God. 

To  you  then,  the  husband,  the  father,  the  son,  the  neighbor,  the 
brother,  the  comrade,  the  friend,  we  dedicate  this  monumental 
shaft,  this  pillar  of  enduring  granite,  erected  by  loving  hands, 
consecrated  by  loving  hearts.  Long  shall  it  continue  to  stand  in 
this  peaceful  place.  Long  shall  it  loom  forth  in  majestic  beauty 
from  its  solid  foundation,  to  guard  with  jealous  care,  and  to  ex- 
lend  and  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  brave.  And  as  the  swift 
recurring  years  shall  circle  over  us,  and  we  your  surviving  and 
scattered  comrades,  shall  grow  old,  and  tottering,  and  gray,  your 
worship  shall  be  forever  fresh  and  young.  And  oft  as  spring  time 
shall  come  with  l)lossoms  and  the  song  of  oirds,  and  shall  bring 
with  it  that  day  which  a  beautiful  and  now  universal  custom  has 
rendered  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  soldier  dead,  the  aged  with 
their  gray  hairs,  and  the  young  and  beautiful,  with  soft  hands  .and 
tender  eye,  shall  gather  around  this  inemori.al  shaft.  They  shall 
garland  it  with  their  choicest  flowers.  They  shall  hallow  it  with 
their  tenderest  associations ;  they  shall  crown  it  with  their  richesr 
blessings.  They  shnll  water  it  with  their  warmest  tears  of  grati- 
tude and  love. 

30 


1308  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  And  when,  in  a  few  short  years  at  the  best,  we  who  knew  you 
and  loved  you  here,  shall  have  followed  you  and  shall  have  entered 
with  you  into  rest,  they  who  shall  live  after  us,  our  children  and 
our  ehildreus'  children  for  generations  and  centuries  to  come,  shall 
gather  here  in  gratitude,  and  reverence  and  awe,  greater  even 
than  what  we  feel  to-day,  for  you  will  then  have  passed  into  the 
immortality  of  history,  you  will  have  become  kings  and  heroes 
and  priests  unto  God,  in  the  temple  of  liberty.  And  if,  which 
may  God  in  His  mercy  forbid  and  avert,  the  day  should  ever  come, 
when  this  beloved  land  of  ours,  should  fall  again  into  peril  as  be- 
fore, and  the  strong  arm  and  courage  of  her  sons  be  required 
again  in  her  idefence,  be  sure,  oh  my  friends,  this  monument  which 
we  dedicate  here  shall  stand  as  a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  as  a  wall 
of  fire  by  night.  It  shall  be  a  shaft  of  living  flame  from  heaven, 
which  shall  light  the  smouldering  ashes  on  the  altars  of  patriotism 
in  the  hearts  of  the  young.  Every  stone  in  that  monumental  pile 
shall  cry  out  "  Where  art  thou?"  and  every  young  man  within 
your  borders  shall  answer,  "  Here  am  I." 

"The  wonted  fires  of  the  living  shall  glow  again  in  the  ashes 
of  the  dead.  The  hand  that  held  the  trained  musked  in  the  deadly 
charge  at  Cold  Harbor ;  the  feet  that  marched  uufiinching  'mid 
the  grape  and  canister  at  Winchester ;  the  voice  that  shouted 
'  Victory '  on  the  afternoon  of  Cedar  Creek,  shall  yet  inspire  the 
Battle  cry  of  Freedom  for  generations  still  unborn,  and  be  the 
motive  power,  which  shall  sweep  away  the  future  enemies  of  the 
Nation,  as  they  swept  the  flying  minions  of  Jubal  Early  from  the 
Valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 

"  And  now,  in  His  hands,  with  whom  are  the  issues  of  life  and 
death,  we  leave  you,  our  honored  and  lamented  dead — thankful 
that  in  this  beautiful  place,  in  the  midst  of  all  those  loved  ones 
who  keep  your  memory  sacred,  after  the  fitful  fever  of  life  is  over, 
He  has  given  'his  l)eloved  sleep.'  " 

At  this  point  the  flood  gates  of  Heaven  were  opened  and  a 
severe  thunder  storm  passed  over  the  town  in  lieu,  as  the  lawyers 
Bay,  of  a  salvo  of  artillery  in  memory  of  the  dead.  By  direction 
of  the  President  of  the  day,  there  was  now  an  intermission  in 
the  exercises,  except  the  beautiful  ceremony  of  the  decoration  of 
the  monument  during  the  repeating  of  the  following  wordg  by 
him : 

And  now  we  come  to  the  last  solemn  and  grateful  act  of  dedi- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1309 

ciitiiig  this  monument  of  stone  to  the  perennial  memory  of  the 
heroic  names  it  bears.  We  dedicate  it  as  a  sacred  shrine  before 
which  the  patriotic  heart  shall  do  reverence  in  all  the  coming  ages. 
We  dedicate  it  to  the  memory  of  the  men  who,  in  the  cannon's 
mouth,  in  the  deadly  charge,  on  many  a  gory  field,  in  the  fierce 
fight,  hand  to  hand  with  desperate  foes,  in  the  forced  march,  in 
bivouac,  in  hospital,  far  from  comrades  and  friends,  and  in  the 
loathsome  prison  pen,  gave  up  their  glorious  lives,  a  patriotic  sac- 
rifice, for  their  firesides,  their  homes,  their  native  land  !  As  of  old 
we  have  come,  with  surviving  comrades,  with  the  battle  scarred 
flags  under  which  ihey  nobly  fought,  and  with  appreciating 
friends,  in  solemn  procession  to  this  sacred  place,  to  dedicate  this 
beautiful  work  of  art  as  our  votive  oflfering,  as  our  tribute  of  affec- 
tion, and  as  an  enduring  evidence  of  our  appreciation  of  their  ser- 
vices. We  dedicate  it,  that  their  and  our  children  and  children's 
children  may  learn  the  lesson  of  patriotism  to  the  latest  genera- 
tion. We  dedicate  it  to  the  memory  of  those  who  sealed  the 
covenant  of  freedom  with  their  blood,  and  taught  the  bright  les- 
son of  liberty  to  the  remotest  nations.  We  dedicate  it  to  the  ab- 
Bent,  the  loved,  the  lost,  whose  mortal  remains  are  scattered  on 
battle-plain,  in  dismal  swamp  and  gorge,  on  hill  and  mountain  fast- 
ness, all  over  our  land,  who  have  no  other  earthly  memorial  save 
the  brilliant  deeds  of  their  own  good  right  arms.  We  garland 
their  memory.     We  perpetuate  their  fame  in  enduring  stone. 

Bring  flowers,  bright  flowers,  ye  friends  of  the  heroic  dead. 
Bring  garlands,  fiideless  garlands,  and  deck  the  graves  of  the 
martyred  heroes,  who  have  passed  away  to  the  blue  empyrean. 
Embalm  their  nremories  with  floral  showers,  and  with  the  abiding 
evergreen.  Never  for  a  moment  let  their  good,  their  immortal 
deeds  glide  from  your  memories.  Let  them  rest  as  a  halo  of  glory 
on  all  your  pathways  in  life.  And  thus  we  leave  them,  gloriously 
resting,  in  silence,  in  peace,  in  the  smile  of  Heaven. 

Four  young  ladies  dressed  in  white  advanced  and  suspended 
three  intertwined  garlands  of  evergreen  upon  each  of  the  four 
corners  of  the  die  of  the  monument.  This  was  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  the  advance  of  a  number  of  young  ladies  similarly  hab- 
ited, equal  to  the  number  of  names  upon  the  monument,  who  cast 
garlands  of  evergreen  and  flowers  upon  it.  It  was  a  touching 
and  beautiful  sight,  thus  to  see  the  youth  and  beauty  of  the  vil- 
lage amid  the  pitiless,  pelting  storm,  standing  bravely  up  to  per- 
form a  reverential  duty. 


1310  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

A  double  quick  then  took  soldiers  and  families  and  invited 
guests  to  the  refreshment  tent,  where  the  munitieent  hospitality  ot 
the  ladies  of  Woodbury. which  had  never  yet  been  found  wanting 
on  any  similar  occasion,  was  taxed  to  its  uttermost.  But  it  did 
not  fail.  A  more  beautiful  and  satisfactory  collation  was  never 
spread  on  a  similar  occasion  in  our  old  town.  The  ladies  sustained 
their  former  reputation  of  bountiful  hosts.  An  adjournment  then 
took  place  to  the  1st  Congregational  church,  where  the  2d  Heavies 
had  their  social  reunion,  and  an  interesting  time.  Capt.  Marsh, 
now  of  Bridgeport,  presided.  Brief,  patriotic,  and  appropriate  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Gov.  Jewell,  Gen.  Noble,  of  Bridgeport, 
Cols.  Wooster  and  Torrance  of  Derby,  Col.  Smith,  of  Woodbury, 
Capt.  Marsh,  President  of  the  soldiers  reunion,  and  the  writer. 
President  of  the  day,  for  the  citizens.  In  the  midst  of  these  Rev. 
W.  T.  Bacon,  of  Derby,  recited  a  brief  and  exceedingly  beautiful 
poem,  having,  at  short  notice,  obeyed  the  call  of  duty.  That 
grand  old  soul-stirring  hymn,  "  America,"  was  then  sung  by  the 
crowded  church,  the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  G. 
W.  Noyes,  of  the  1st  Church,  and  the  delighted  audience  sepa- 
rated to  their  several  homes.  Complimentary  letters  in  reply  to 
invitations  to  be  present  were  received  from  Ex-Gov.  Fnglish^ 
Senator  Buckingham,  Gen.  Hawley,  Judge  Seymour,  Senator 
Ferry,  Chaplain  Winslow,  of  Willimantic,  Mrs.  Wm.  Curtiss 
Xoyes,  who  presented  the  Regimental  flag  to  the  Sd  C.  V.  H.  A., 
the  widow  of  Col.  Kellogg,  Charles^  G.  Judson,  Esq.,  of  New 
York,  and  ''glorious  Phil.  Sheridan,"  Lieut,  Gen.  of  the  army,  un- 
der whose  leadership  the  2d  Heavies  fought  in  the  terrible  battles 
of  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

The  following  is  Woodbury's  Roll  of  Honor.  It  includes  all  of 
our  soldiers  who  died  during  the  war,  and  all  those  who  have 
died  since,  to  this  date,  in  consequence  of  wounds  received,  or 
diseases  contracted  in  consequence  of  service,  and  for  which  most 
oi'  them,  till  death,  received  pensions.  The  iioU  of  Honor,  upon 
the  monument,  does  not  contain  this  whole  list.  Several  names 
were  not  inscribed,  for  the  reason  that  the  statute  authorizing 
town  aid,  confines  appropriations  for  the  erection  of  monuments 
to  the  memory  of  those  who  died  during  the  existence  of  the  rebel- 
lion. Two  or  three  others  were  left  ofi"  tor  no  conceivable  reason 
the  writer  can  think  of,  except  that,  from  a  given  state  of  facts, 
tlie  human  mind  will  not  always  draw  the  same  inference.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  each  member  of  the  Committee  (for  the  town  an- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOOPBURY 


1311 


thorities  left  the  decision  of  the  roll  to  the  committee)  inteiiried  to 
do  exactly  right  in  the  matter.  But  the  writer,  who  knew  the 
exact  history  of  every  act  of  Woodbury  in  the  war,  and  of  everv 
enlistment  during  it,  having  given  more  than  half  of  his  time  to 
its  requirements,  knows  full  well  that  there  were  several  unfortu- 
nate omissions  from  the  memorial  tablet.  But  they  will  not  bi' 
omitted  here.  The  author  will  at  least  pay  his  debt  of  gratitude 
and  duty  to  every  brave  defender,  who  went  forth  in  our  name, 
and  battled  to  his  death  in  our  cause. 

The  first  omission  to  which  attention  is  drawn,  (and  the  onlv 
one  space  allows  for  remark)  is  that  of  Lieut.  Henry  M.  Dutton. 
At  the  time  time  Fort  Sumter  was  fii-ed 
upon,  he  was  a  practicing  lawyer  .at  Litch- 
field. He  was  unmarried,  and  had  made 
good  progress  ir)  his  chosen  profession. 
At  the  first  call  to  arms,  Woodbury  was 
more  prompt  in  raising  volunteers  than 
neighboring  towns.  Obedient  to  the  call 
of  patriotic  duty,  lie  closed  his  office  and 
business,  came  to  Woodbury,  and  cast  in 
his  lot  with  the  Woodbury  boys,  resided 
here  for  weeks,  assisted  in  recruiting,  drilled  the  recruits,  received 
the  only  bounty  with  which  the  first  volunteers  were  furnished, 
red  flannel  shirts,  Havelocks,  and  necessary  articles  for  a  soldier 
in  camp,  and  marched  from  here  as  Orderly  Sergeant,  the  town 
receiving  the  credit  of  his  enlistment,  and  the  fame  of  his  heroic 
deeds  in  service,  till  his  death  at  Cedar  Mountain.  He  chose  to 
unite  his  military  destiny  and  fame  with  the  Woodbury  Boys,  and 
the  History  of  Woodbury  will  not  forget  to  mention  his  namt' 
with  honor. 

He  was  buried  on  the  field.  His  father,  Ex  Gov.  Henry  Dut- 
ton, sought  in  vain  to  recover  his  remains,  and  he  lies  with  the 
"  unknown  dead."  He  had  been  commended  for  gallantry  in  ac- 
tion at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  May  25,  1 862. 

Crofut  and  Morris,  in  their  "  History  of  the  Recent  War,"  have 
the  following  account  of  Lieut.  Dutton. 

"Lieut.  Henry  Melzar  Dutton,  was  a  son  of  Ex  Gov.  Dutton  of 
New  Haven,  whei-e  he  was  born,  in  1830.  He  graduated  at  Yale, 
in  1857;  after  which  he  studied  law,  and  commenced  a  promi- 
sing practice  at  Litchfield.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he 
was  one  of  the  young  Democrats  who  threw  thetnselves  earnestly 


1312  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

into  the  contest.  Inducing  scores  to  join  him,  he  went  to  Hart- 
ford as  a  private  '  in  the  5th  Regiment ;  but,  he  received  his  Lieu- 
tenant's Commission  for  his  services  in  recruiting.  Once  in  th  e 
field,  he  was  popular  with  officers  and  men  ;  being  conspicuous  for 
sociality,  generosity,  buoyancy  of  spirits,  and  fortitude  amid  dis- 
comfort. At  Cedar  Mountain,  after  Capt.  Corliss  was  wounded, 
Lieut.  Dutton  led  the  Company,  urging  them  on,  while  men  were 
falling  on  every  side.  The  color  guard  were  all  either  killed,  or 
wounded.  Lieut.  Dutton  is  reported  to  have  seized  the  colors 
more  than  once  from  some  fallen  hero,  and  to  have  borne  it  along 
to  the  hands  of  others  still  able  to  bear  it  aloft.^  During  this  he- 
roic and  hopeless  struggle,  his  commanding  form  could  not  long 
escape  unscathed ;  and  he  fell,  pierced  by  a  volley  of  rebel  musk- 
etry.    He  was  very  kind  to  his  men,  and  much  beloved." 

At  the  soldiers'  reception,  on  their  return  from  the  war,  one  of 
the  garlanded  names  surrounding  the  hall  was  that  of  Dutton. 
This  garland  was  afterwards  sent  by  the  Committee  to  Gov.  Dut- 
ton, and  a  letter,  full  of  grateful  appreciation  and  sorrowful  re- 
membrance was  received  in  reply,  thankful  that  bis  son  had  made 
so  noble  a  record  in  the  cause  of  his  country. 

*  This  is  a  mistake.     He  went  from  Woodbury  as  Orderly  Sergeant. 

'  A  comrade  informed  the  author,  that  the  last  time  he  took  the  colors,  waa  af- 
ter the  eighth  man  bearing  them  had  fallen,  and  he  fell  with  them  in  his  hands, 
while  cheering  on  his  men. 


IIOLL    OF    HONOR. 


RANK. 

let  Lieut.  Samuel  C.  Barnum,  A.  A.  A-  G.,  died  June  19th,  1864. 
Ist  Lieut.  Henry  Melzar  Button,  died  Aug.  9tli,  1862. 
2d  Lieut.  Henry  S.  Conrad,  died  January  9th,  1868. 
2d  Lieut.  Frederick  Whitlock,  died  January  24th,  1863. 
Com.  Serg't  Walter  J.  Orton,  died  Oct.  7th,  1864. 
Serg't  Myron  G.  Bishop,  died  July  38th,  1865. 
"      Andrew  B.  Candee,  died  Sept.  30th,  1863. 

Oliver  B.  Cuatfield,  (Colored),  died  Dec.  13th,  1869. 
"      Geo.  E.  Judson,  died  Oct.  31st,  1864. 
"      Charles  A.  Squire,  died  June32d,  1864. 
"      Timothy  F.  Walsh,  died  Feb.  6th,  1865. 
Corp.  Edward  Bell,  died  Oct.  17th,  1864. 
"      Patrick  Brady,  died  Nov,  1st,  1864. 
"      Charles  F.  Flushmen,  died  Sept.  31st,  1864. 
"      John  T.  Glazier,  died  Oct.  19th,  1864. 
"      Henry  F.  Hard,  died  Dec.  15th,  1863. 
"      Frederick  Holmes,  died  January  4th,  1865. 
"      Horatio  S.  Thomas,  died  Feb.  20th,  1864. 
"     John  S.  White,  died  Nov.  13th,  1863. 
Private  Patrick  Allen,  died  March  8th,  1865. 

Dwight  S.  Atwood,  died  Oct.  19th,  1864. 
"       James  L.  Atwood,  died  June  5th,  1863. 
"       Charles  Barney,  died  Sept.  19th,  1864. 
"       Isaac  Briggs,  died  June  33d,  1864. 
"       Ferdinand  Bubser,  died  Dec.  31st,  1864. 
"       Joseph  Bunnell,  died  Oct.  7th,  1864. 
"       Matthew  M.  Castle,  died  March  28th,  1864^^ 
"       Weston  Cogswell,  died  March  30th,  1864>-^ 
"       Owen  Crommey,  died  July  30th,  1864 

Harry  H.  Fox,  died  Feb.  4th,  1363. 
"       Henry  F.  Fox,  died  Nov.  27th,  1863. 
"       John  R.  Freeman,  (Colored),  died  April  Ist,  1864. 
Peter  Flannagan,  died  Dec.  27th,  1866. 
Almond  D.  Galpin,  died  June  1st,  1864. 
Hugh  S.  Gosley,  died  Aug.  33d,  1862. 
Edgar  Gibson,  died  May  6th,  1869. 
"    ^  Friend  F.  Kane,  died  June  1st,  1864. 

George  W.  Locklin,  died  Oct.  20th,  1864. 


1314  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

RANK. 

Private  John  McDivitt,  died  June  1st,  1869. 

"       Samuel  M.  Mallory,  died  April  17th,  1867. 

Joseph  Miller,  died  Aug.  24th,  1868. 
"       Charles  Patterson,  died  March  14th,  1862. 
*'       Arnold  Peterson  (Colored)  died  Aug.  15th,  1865. 

Prank  J,  Percey,  died  Dec.  13th,  1862. 
"       Seth  W.  Percey,  died  Aug.  2d,  1864. 

James  C.  Polley,  died  Nov.  19th,  1862. 

Thomas  Rice  (Colored)  died  April  15th,  1865. 

George  H  Richardson,  (Colored),  died  Oct.  27th,  1865. 

Joseph  F.  Root,  died  Oct.  9th,  1863. 

Gardner  Stockman,  died  May  28th,  1864 

Charles  L.  Thomas,  died  January  16th,  1864. 

Thomas  Tracey,  died  May  29th,  1863. 

John  E.  Tui'TLE,  died  Sept.  17th,  1862. 

Abam  a.  Warner,  died  Aug.  12th,  1862. 

Joseph  Wellman,  died  July  23d,  1863. 

CoRTiss  Wheeler,  died  June  14th,  1864. 


Complete  List  of  Woodbury  Soldiers 


WAR    OF     THE    REBELLION. 


ABERNETHY,  WILLIAM  J.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  15th  Conn.  Vols.,  28th 
July,  1862.  Promoted  Corporal.  Fought  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment. 
Was  never  wounded  ;  and  was  mustered  out  at  the  end  of  the  war  at  New- 
bern,  N.  C. 

ADDISON,  DAVID  E.,  (Colored.)  Enlisted  in  Co.  A.,  29th  Conn.  Vols. 
30th  Nov.,  1863  ;  was  mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

ALLEN,  CHAUNCEY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  D,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  17th Dec, 
1861,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  29th  July.  1862. 

ALVORD,  EDGAR  A.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  April  27th,  1861 ;  mustered 
at  Hartford.  22d  July,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  5tn  Conn.  Vols ;  re  enlisted  Veteran 
Volunteer,  21st  Dec,  1863;  promoted  Corporal  and  mustered  out  19th  July, 
1865.     It  is  to  be  noted  hero,  that  no  one  could  be  received  as  a  Veteran  Vol- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1315 

unteer  unless  he  had  honorably  served  for  the  period  of  two  years.  He  was 
slightly  wounded  in  the  left  thigh  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  but  was  never  in  hospital. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Cedar  Mountain,  the  "Aceldema"  of  our  forces, 
Aug.  9th,  1862  ;  confined  in  the  Libby  Prison  and  on  Belle  Isle,  and  was  ex- 
changed in  Nov.,  1863. 

ATWOOD,  ABIRAM  A.  Enlisted  2d  Sept.,  1862,  in  Co.  H.,  23d  Conn. 
Vols.  He  was  made  prisoner  at  Brasbear  City,  La.,  and  was  exchanged  4th 
Sept.,  1863,  nearly  three  months  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment. He  was  mustered  out  with  hi*  regiment,  though  still  in  captivity, 
31st  Aug.,  1863. 

ATWOOD,  EUGENE.  Enlisted  at  the  age  of  15  in  Co.  A,  15th  Conn. 
Vols.,  14th  July,  1862.  Was  taken  prisoner  8th  March,  1865,  and  kept  in 
Libby  Prison  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Was  mustered  out  at  Newberne,  N. 
C,  27th  June,  1865. 

ATWOOD,  JAMES  L.  Enlisted  19th  Nov.,  1861,  in  Co.  F,  12th  Conn. 
Vols.  Died  of  Chronic  Diarrhea  at  Marine  Hospital,  in  New  Orleans,  La., 
5th  June,  1863.  Buried  in  Monument  National  Cemetery  at  Chalmette,  La.,  six 
miles  below  New  Orleans,  on  the  old  New  Orleans  Battle  Ground,  War 
of  1812. 

ATWOOD,  DWIGHT  S.  Enlisted  Ist  Feb.,  1864,  in  Co.  D,  2d  Conn.  Heavy 
Artillery.     Killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  19th  Oct.,  1864. 

ATWOOD,  OLIVER  W.  Enlisted  in  the  133d  New  York  Vols.  Served 
the  period  of  his  enlistment  and  was  honorably  discharged. 

AVERY,  WALTER  W.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  April,  1861,  mustered  in 
at  Hartford,  22d  July,  1861.  Re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Volunteer  in  the  field, 
21st  Dec,  1863.  Wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gulps'  Farm,  Ga.  Mustered  out 
19th  July,  1865. 

ALLEN,  PATRICK.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  E.  15th  Conn.  Vols./ 
25th  Aug.,  1864.     Killed  at  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,  8th  March,  1865. 

BACON,  J.  KNIGHT.  Was  Assistant  Surgeon  on  board  of  a  Ship  of 
War,  and  for  a  long  time  Medical  Cadet  in  the  Knight  General  Hospital  at 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

BACON,  WxM.  T.,  Ju.  Enlisted  in  Co.  1, 12th  Conn.  Vols.,  23d  Nov..  1861. 
Discharged  for  disability  at  New  Orleans,  July,  1862. 

BALDWIN  CHARLES  N.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery,  13th 
Oct.,  1862.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

BANKS,  DANIEL  C.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery,  22d 
May,  1861,  and  discharged  for  disability  7th  Oct.,  1862. 


1316  HIST  OK  Y     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

BARNUM,  SAMUEL  C.  Enlisted  in  the  three 
months  troops  7th  May,  1861,  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  Enlisted  the  second  time 
in  Co.  E,  11th  Conn.  Vols.,  27th  Nov.,  1861. 
For  good  conduct  in  battle,  he  was  promoted 
successively  to  be  2d  Lieutenant,  1st  Oct.,  1861, 
and  1st  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  June  16th, 
1862.  For  a  time  he  acted  as  A.  A.  A.  G.  of 
Brigade.  He  was  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  3d 
June,  1864,  and  died  of  secondary  hemorrhage 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  19th  June,  1864.  He  sent 
for  liis  foster  father,  Dea.  P.  M.  Trowbridge,  to 
attend  him,  and  he  was  with  him  when  he  died.  He  was  very  cheerful  under 
his  sufferings,  endured  them  with  great  fortitude,  and  finally  died  almost  in- 
stantly, a  true  Christian  patriot. 

BARNEY,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  18th  Aug. 
1862,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept.,  1864.  He  was 
standing  at  Sergeant  M.  D.  Smith's  left  hand.  A  piece  of  shell  went  entirely 
through  his  breast,  making  a  hole  as  large  as  one's  fist.  He  lay  where  he 
fell  till  next  morning,  when  he  was  buried  upon  the  field. 

BASSETT,  EDWIN  W.     Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept., 

1861.  Re  enlisted  as  Veteran  Volunteer,  24th  Dec,  1863.  Like  many  others 
disliking  to  be  retained  in  service  after  the  war  was  over,  and  understanding 
his  enlistment  to  be  for  "  during  the  war  "  only,  he  went  home  without 
leave — i.  e.  deserted — Aug.  39th,  1865. 

BAY,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  11th  Jan.,  1862,  and 
was  discharged  Jan.  6th,  1865,  on  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

BARRY,  WILLIAM  C.     Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  18th  Aug., 

1862,  and  was  discharged  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  for  disability,  31st  Jan.,  1863. 

BELL,  EDWARD.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  6th  Conn.  Vols.,  4th  Sept.,  1862,  and 
was  discharged  for  disability  the  latter  part  of  1862.  Enlisted  the  second  time 
in  Co.  1, 2d  Heavy  Artillery,  7th  March,  1863.  Promoted  Corjioral,  and  died  at 
Martinsburg,  Va.,  17th  Oct.,  1864,  of  Chronic  Diarrhea,  being  the  same  dis. 
ease  whicli  caused  his  discharge  from  his  former  enlistment.  He  was  a  good 
soldier,  and  fought  bravely  at  Cold  Harbor  and  Newbern. 

BELL,  ROBERT.  Was  mustered  in  as  a  substitute  for  Samuel  B.  Scott, 
Co.  C,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  17th  Aug.,  1863.  Wounded  20th  July,  1864,  and 
mustered  out  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  19th  July,  1865. 

BELMONT.  WM.  R.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  12th  Conn.  Vols.,  19th  Feb., 
1864.     Transferred  to  Co.  A,  and  deserted  18th  March,  1865. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1317 

BETTS,  GEORGE  E.  Enlisted  July,  1862,  in  Co.  I,  3d  Heavy  Artillery, 
Promoted  2d  Lieut.,  Aug.  18th,  and  resigned  on  account  of  disability,  25th 
Nov ,  1863. 

BETTS,  GILBERT  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  14th  Conn.  Vols.,  11th  June, 
1862.  Deserted  13th  Sept.,  1862.  Enlisted  under  the  name  of  Frederick 
Gilbert,  for  bounty,  21st  Oct.,  1862,  in  Co.  G,  24th  Conn.  Vols.  Was  dig- 
charged  2l8t  March,  1863,  to  enlist  in  a  regiment  of  Massachusetts  Cavalry. 

BENHAM,  WILLIS  M.  Enlisted  29th  July,  1862,  in  2d  Conn.  Battery. 
Was  promoted  Sargeant,  and  mustered  out  at  New  Haven,  9th  Aug.,  1865. 

BISHOP,  MYRON  G.  Enlisted  in  the  "  Woodbury  Reds,"  Co.  E,  5th 
Conn.  Vols.,  April  32d,  1861.  Mustered  July  22d,  1861.  Promoted  Sergeant. 
Re-enlisted  Veteran  Volunteers,  21st  Dec,  1863.  Wounded  20th  July,  1865, 
at  Battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  otherwise  calledj  Battle  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek.  Left  leg  was  amputated  at  the  hip,  and  he  died  of  his  wounds  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  28fh  July,  1865,  the  U.  S.  Roll  of  Honor  says:  The 
Conn.  Adj.  says,  July  24th  :  "  He  now  lies  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery, 
at  Chattanooga,  in  Grave  No.  100." 

BISHOP,  EDWIN  D.  Enlisted  April  3l8t,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols., 
Mustered  at  Hartford,  July  22d,  1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Veteran  Volunteers 
31st  Dec,  1863.     Mustered  out  19th  July,  1865. 

BLACK,  JOHN.  Mustered  into  Co.  B,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  as  substitute  of 
Albert  C.  Peck,  18th  Aug.,  1863,  and  mustered  out  at  Hartford,  19th  June, 
1865. 

BLACKMAN,  CHARLES  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  26th 
Aug.,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865.  He  had 
previously  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  23d  Conn.  Vols.,  1st  Sept.,  1862,  and  was  must 
ered  out  3l8t  Aug.,  1863. 

BLACKMAN,  CHARLES  G.  Enlisted  in  Co.  D,  17th  Conn.  Vols.,  13th 
Aug.,  1862,  and  was* mustered  out  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  19th  July,  1865. 

BOTTSFORD,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  12th 
Aug.,  1863.  Wounded  in  the  thigh  at  Battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept., 
1864.     Mustered  out  at  New  Haven,  18th  May,  1865. 

BOTTSFORD,  EDWARD.  Enlisted  22d  April,  1861,  in  Co.  E.  5th  Conn. 
Vols.     Mustered  22d  July,  1861.     Discharged  for  disability,  17th  Dec,  1862. 

BLACKMAN,  GEORGE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  L.  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  Ist  Feb., 
1864.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

BENNETT,  THOMAS  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H.,  10th  Conn.  Vols.,  as  a  sub- 
stitute, and  immediately  deserted,  Ist  Nov.,  1863. 


1318  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

BRADLEY,  JAMES  MONROE.  Enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  I,  3d  Heavy 
Artillery,  5th  Aug.,  1862.  Promoted  Sergreant.  Discharged  Nov.  5th,  1863, 
for  the  purpose  of  accepting  a  Ist  Lieutenancy  in  the  4th  Regiment  of 
U.  S.  Colored  Troops.  By  good  conduct  in  battle  he  attained  the  rank  of 
Major.  He  was  in  Butler's  expedition  up  the  James  River  to  City  Point,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  six  that  jumped  on  shore,  hauled  down  the  rebel  flag  and 
run  up  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  rebel  officer  commanding  then  surrend- 
ered his  sword  to  him.  He  was  in  nearly  every  battle  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg until  Gen.  Butler's  expedition  to  Fort  Fisher,  among  which  was  the  first 
advance  on  Petersburg,  June  15th,  the  Mine  explosion,  when  two  South 
Carolina  Regiments  were  buried  in  an  instant,  and  a  desperate  and  bloody 
battle  was  immediately  fought — Ream's  Station,  Deep  Bottom,  New  Market 
Heights,  Chapin's  Farm,  attack  on  Fort  Harrison,  and  on  the  North  side  of 
the  James.  He  then  went  out  as  Quarter-master  in  Butler's  Expedition  against 
Fort  Fisher.  Returned  to  City  Point  just  in  time  to  be  ordered  to  report  to 
Maj.  Gen.  Terry  for  Staff  duty.  Went  with  him  to  Fort  Fisher  and  partici 
pated  in  the  taking  of  that  place.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Msjor 
for  his  services  on  that  occasion,  in  accordance  with  the  following  recom- 
mendations : 

"  Head-Quarters,  i 

Department  of  North  Carolina,  f 

"  Lieut.  James  M.  Bradley,  of  the  4th  U.  S.  C.  T.  ;  served  under  me  for  a 
considerable  time  as  Staff  Officer.  He  was  extremely  active  and  efficient  in 
the  performance  of  all  his  duties,  and  in  action  his  conduct  was  always  most 
admirable.  It  was  marked  not  only  by  great  personal  courage,  but  by  equal 
executive  ability. 

"  By  his  gallantry  and  his  services  he  has  fully  earned  promotion,  and  I 
would  respectfully  recommend  him  for  the  rank  of  Major. 

"[Signed]  ALFRED  H.  TERRY, 

Major-General  Commanding." 

"  1  fully  agree  to  what  is  expressed  in  Gen.  Terry's  recommendation,  and 
join  with  him  in  requesting  this  promotion. 

"[Signed]  A.  AMES, 

Major-General  Commanding." 

He  was  personally  commended  by  Gen.  Terry  for  his  services  at  Wilming- 
ton. He  was  next  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Grant's  Head  Quarters,  at  City 
Point,  and  arrived  just  in  time  to  enter  Richmond  with  our  victorious  troops, 
and  witness  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army.  He  remained  in  service  till  May 
13th,  18G6,  when  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service. 

He  was  in  eleven  general  engagements,  and  a  good  many  skirmishes.  He 
was  never  seriously  wounded — hit  once  by  a  piece  of  shell  which  left  its 
mark,  but  did  noi  disable  him.  He  was  never  sick  a  day  in  service.  Was 
two  years  in  the  field  at  the  front,  and  two  years  on  Staff  duty.  He  was  Staff 
Officer  of  five  different  Generals,  and  received  from  all  of  them  written  testi- 
monials for  bravery  and  good  conduct.  He  was  at  the  close  of  his  service 
recommended  for  the  rank  of  Brevet  (Colonel  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
This  is  a  commendable  record  for  a  Woodbury  private. 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1319 

BRADLEY,  GEORGE  C.  Enlisted  in  Co  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  15th  Aug., 
1863.  Promoted  Corporal  and  Sergeant,  and  mustered  out  at  New  Haven, 
12th  July.  1865. 

BRADY,  PATRICK.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug.,  1862. 
Promoted  Corporal.  His  thigh  was  fractured  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
19th  Oct.,  1864,  and  he  died  at  Martinsburg,  Nov.  Ist,  1864.  U.  S.  Roll  of 
Honor,  No.  XV,  says  it  was  24th  Oct.  He  lies  buried  in  the  National  Ceme- 
tery at  Wincliester,  Va.,  Lot  No.  67. 

BRIGGS,  ISAAC  C.  He  enlisted  in  Capt.  Eli  Sperry's  Co.,  2d  Heavy 
Artillery,  25th  July,  1862,  being  the  first  volunteer  of  that  Company.  He  was 
wornded  in  the  foot  by  a  Sharp  Shooter  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  5th,  1864,  as  he 
was  laying  in  his  tent.  The  Company  was  resting,  after  its  three  days  fight, 
under  cover  of  second  line  of  breastworks.  The  ball  went  quite  through  his 
foot.  He  was  lying  near  M.  D.  Smith,  and  uttered  an  explanation  of  pain. 
He  was  taken  to  the  Emory  General  Hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  died 
23d  June,  1864.  He  was  buried  in  Woodbury.  He  was  an  intelligent,  good 
soldier,  a  ready  writer,  hopeful,  and  much  beloved  by  all. 

BRONSON,  PURNETT.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  1st  Conn.  Artillery.  22d  May. 
1861.     Discharged  21st  May,  1864 — term  expired. 

BUELL,  CHARLES  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Regiment  Conn.  Vols.,  25th 
Sept.,  1861.  Discharged  24th  Oct.,  1864 — time  expired.  He  served  two  years 
in  the  field,  and  one  as  Hospital  Steward,  and  one  in  Hospital,  and  was  dis- 
charged from  Finly  Hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Roanoke  Island,  Newbern.  Antietam,  South  Martin,  Fredericksburg,  and  a 
number  of  skirmishes.  Till  his  death  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  John  E. 
Tuttle  was  his  intimate  companion.  They  always  fought  together,  and  he 
fell  by  his  aide,  and  was  by  him  buried  the  next  day.  He  has  always  remem- 
l)ered  him  as  a  soldier  and  friend.  They,  together  with  Charles  Cosier  and 
John  B.  Bunnell,  were  in  the  murderous  though  successful  detail  for  the  lay- 
ing of  the  pontoons  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

BUELL.  FREDERICK  G.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  26th 
Aug.,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug..  1865. 

BULSER,  FERDINAND.  Was  mustered  in  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  I,  8th 
Conn.  Vols.,  11th  Aug.,  1864.  Died  Dec.  31st,  1864,  in  the  Rebel  Prison  at 
Salisbury,  N.  C. 

BUNNELL,  JOHN  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  11th  Aug..  1862. 
Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserved  Corps,  30th  Sept.,  1864.  Mustered  out  1st 
Aug.,  1865.  He  was  one  of  the  four  Woodbury  boys  who  helped  to  lay  pon- 
toons over  the  Rappaliannock  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

BUNNELL,  JOSEPH.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  6th  Conn.  Vols.,  4th  Sept.,  1861 . 
Re-enlisted  in  Veteran  Vols.,  24th  Dec.  1863.  Died  of  wounds  7th  Oct., 
1884. 


1320  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

BUNNELL,  WESLEY.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept., 
1861.  Wounded  at  battle  of  Antietam,  17th  Sept.,  1863.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability 17th  March,  1863. 

BURTON,  JAMES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  20th  Aug., 
1863,  and  deserted  4th  Jan.,  1863. 

BURNHAM,  WALTER.  Was  mustered  in  as  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  3d  Heavy 
Artillery,  7th  Aug.,  1863.  Promoted  Captain  of  Woodbury  Co.  I.  Wounded 
19th  Oct.,  1864,  at  Cedar  Creek.  Honorably  discharged  8th  Feb.,  1865,  and 
was  brevetted  Major  for  gallantry  in  action.  Major  Burnham  wrote  the 
author  in  relation  to  his  discharge,  which  was  given  him  against  his  will,  as 
he  desired  to  see  the  fight  out : 

"  I  was  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek  severely ;  obtained  leave  of  absence  for 
thirty  days,  which  was  extended  to  ninety  days  ;  at  the  end  of  which  time  I 
reported  at  Annapolis  Hospital,  Md..  on  the  crutches,  and  was  discharged 
Feb.  7th,  1865,  under  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  issued  about  this 
time,  that  all  oflBcers  who  were  not  considered  fit  for  duty  at  the  end  of  thirty 
days,  were  to  be  discharged  the  service.  This  was  one  of  the  most  unjust 
orders,  in  my  estimation,  ever  issued  from  the  War  Department." 

CADY,  ARRAH  BEECHER.  Enlisted  in  Co.  F,  37th  Conn.  Vols.,  lOth 
Oct.,  1862,  as  substitute  for  John  I.  Fowler.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  paroled  at  Richmond.  Discharged  27th  July,  1863.  Then 
he  enlisted  3d  Sept.,  1863,  under  his  first  two  names,  Arrah  Beecher,  fearing 
if  again  taken  prisoner,  his  parole  might  give  him  trouble.  He  had  been  in 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  under  his  first  enlistment.  He  now  went  to 
Petersburg,  and  was  present  till  it  was  taken. 

CANDEE,  ANDREW  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  33d  Conn.  Vols.,  37th  Aug., 
1863.  He  was  discharged  the  next  year  with  his  Regiment,  Slst  Aug.,  1863, 
although  he  had  been  left  behind  sick  at  Mattoon,  111.,  where  he  died  of 
Chronic  Diarrhea,  Sept.  30th,  1863.  He  was  son  of  Frederick  B.  and  Mary 
Candee,  born  May  I9th,  1842. 

CAM,  MARSHALL.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  39th  Conn.  Vols.,  (Colored),  14th 
Dec,  1863.    Discharged  for  disability,  15th  March,  1865. 

CAM,  TRUMAN.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  (Colored)  5th 
Jan.,  1864.     Mustered  out  34th  Oct.,  1865. 

CALLENDER,  LEVI.  Enlisted  first  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  5th  June 
1861,  and  was  discharged  24th  Feb.,  1863,  for  disability.  Enlisted  second 
time  5th  Jan.,  1864.  Was  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek,  I9th  October,  1864,  and 
was  mustered  out  lot  June,  1865,  at  Hartford. 

CASTLE,  MATTHEW  M.     Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  37th  Sept. 
1861.     Died  of  Typhoid  Fever,  38th  March,  1863,  at  Newbern,  N  C.     Buried 
in  Newbern  National  Cemetery,  in  No.  13,  of  Plot  No.  117,  and  running  No. 
—.in  Cemetery  2,328.     Aged  21. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1321 

COGSWELL,  WESTON.     Enlisted  in  Co.   I,  8tli  Conn.  Vols..  21st  Sept., 

1861,  and  died  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  of  Typhoid  Fever,  30th  March,   1862.     He 
enlisted  in  same  Co.  with  Castle,  and  died  of  same  fever  two  days  later. 

COSIER,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols..  25th  Sept.,  1861. 
Wounded  at  Fort  Harrison,  29th  Sept.,  1864.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  24th 
Dec,  1 864.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  1  st  June,  1 865,  and  muster 
ed  out  at  end  of  war. 

COMBER,  JAMES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Conn,  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan.. 
1864.  and  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

CONE,  WM.  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April,  1861. 
Mustered  23d  July,  1861,  at  Hartford.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  21st  Dec, 
1863.     Mustered  out  19th  July,  1865. 

COCKFUR,  HORACE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  10th  Feb  ,  1864 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Readville,  Mass.,  18th  May,  1865. 

CONDON,  RICHARD.  Enlisted  22d  April,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols. 
Mustered  22d  July.  Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vols.,  2l8t  Dec,  1863.  Mustered  out 
19th  July,  1865. 

CONNAY,  PATRICK.     Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  12th  Conn.   Vols.,  27th  May. 

1862.  Discharged  for  disability  6th  Jan  ,  1864,  at  New  Orleans 

CONNERS,  EDWARD.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  12th  Conn.  Vols.,  1st  June, 
1862,  and  was  mustered  out  at  New  Orleans,  Ist  June,  1865. 

CONRAD  HENRY  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  Dec,  1861- 
Promoted  Corpoi-al  and  Sergeant.  Was  transferred  to  the  First  Regiment  of 
Louisiana  Volunteers,  and  made  Quartermaster  Sergeant.  He  received  his 
commission  as  2d  Lieutenant  in  the  regiment  while  he  was  sick  in  hospital, 
but  died  before  muster  at  Donaldsonville,  La.,  9th  Jan  ,  1863.  He  lies  buried 
in  Monument  National  Cemetery,  at  Chalmette,  La.,  six  miles  below  New  Or- 
leans, on  the  site  af  the  Battle  of  New  Orleans,  fought  by  Jackson  in  the 
war  of  1812. 

CHATFIELD,  OLIVER  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  (Colored), 
5th  Dec,  1863.  Promoted  Sergeant.  Mustered  out  at  Brownsville,  Texas, 
24th  Oct.,  1865.     Died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  army  Dec.  12th,  1869. 

CRAMER,  EVERTON  R  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept., 
1861.     Deserted  to  Canada,  7th  Oct  ,  1861. 

CRANE,  GIDEON  D.  Enlisted  Aug.  I'ith,  1862,  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artil- 
lery. Promoted  1st  Lieutenant.  Resigned  and  was  discharged  for  disability 
26th  Dec ,  1862. 


1322  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

GROMMEY,  OWEN.  Enlisted  in;  Co.  K,  3d  Heavy  Artillery,  30th  Dec, 
1863.  Died  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  30th  July,  1864, 
and  was  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Alexandria,  Va  ,  Grave  No. 

2,478. 

DAWSON,  HENRY   M.     Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols,  23d  April. 

1861.  Mustered  33d  July,  1861.  Deserted  19th  Jan.,  1863.  Afterwards  en- 
listed in  a  Massachusetts  Regiment,  under  another  name,  and  served  out  his 
time. 

Deforest  CHARLES  p.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  ISt^i 
Aug,  1862.  Discharged  for  disability  at  New  Haven,  8th  April,  1865.  He 
served  as  waggoner. 

Deforest,  GEORGE  a.  Son  of  above.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy 
Artillery,  23d  Aug.,  1862.     Promoted  Corporal,     Deserted  18th  July,  1864. 

DIBBLE,  ELLIOT  B.     Enlisted  >  Co.   I,   2d    Heavy  Artillery,  3d  Aug,, 

1862.  Deserted  4th  Jan  ,  1863. 

DOLAN,  BARNEY.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  for  William  S.  Isbell,  in 
Co  A,  5th  Conn  Vols  ,  18th  Aug.,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Alexan'^ria, 
Va.,  19tli  July,  1865. 

DOWNS,  JOHN  F.  Enlisted  and  served  out  his  time  in  a  Rhode  Island 
Regiment. 

DUNHAM,  HENRY,  Jr.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  3d  Heavy  Artillery.  13th  Aug., 
1862.     Discharged  for  disability  at  Fort  Worth,  Va.,  12th  Feb.,  1863. 

DUTTON,  HENRY  MELZAR.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  in  the  "  Wood- 
bury Reds,"  29th  April,  1861.  Mustered  into  (Jo.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d 
July,  1861.  Promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant  Was  promoted  and  commis- 
sioned 1st  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  5th  Conn.  Vols.  Was  killed  at  the  Battle  of 
Cedar  Mountain,  9th  Aug.,  1862.  He  was  buried  on  the  field,  and  still  lies 
among  the  "  unknown  dead,"  though  his  father,  Ex-Gov.  Dutton.  went  to 
the  battlefield  and  made  diligent  efforts  to  recover  his  remains.  For  full 
sketch  of  Ids  life,  see  page  1311. 

FLANNAGAN,  PETER  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  9th  Conn.  Vols.,  9th  Oct., 
1861.  Deserted  18th  May,  1862,  at  New  Orleans,  for  the  cause  of  ill-usage  by 
his  officers,  as  he  alleges.  At  any  rate,  he  immediately  re-enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
First  Louisiana  Vols.,  under  the  name  of  Peter  Breene,  his  wife's  siirname 
having  been  Broene.  Served  faithfully  to  the  end  of  the  war,  and  received 
an  honorable  discharge.  After  he  came  out  of  the  army,  "  Commissary 
Whiskey  "  got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  perished  in  a  snow  drift  in  Water- 
bury,  26th  Dec,  1866.  His  wife  received  the  government  bounty  under  the 
name  of  Breeno,  on  a  full  statement  of  the  facts. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1323 

FLUSHMEN,  CHARLES  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  4th 
Aug.,  18fi2.  Promoted  Corporal.  Died  Sept.  21st,  1864,  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  on  the  I9th  of  Sept.,  18rt4.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  abdomen,  and  died  at  Sheriden  Field  Hospital.  Sergeant  M. 
D.  Smith  went  to  see  him  next  morning  after  the  battle.  He  jwas  in  great 
pain,  but  recognized  him.  Capt.  McKinney  says  of  him,  that  he  was  a 
splendid  soldier — bravest  of  the  brave. 

FRANK,  CHARLES.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  F,  8th  Conn.  Vols., 
7th  Aug.,  1864.     Mustered  out  at  City  Point,  Va.,  12th  Dec,  1865. 

FREHRIG,  WILLL\M.  Was  mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  F,  8th  Conn, 
Vols.,  17th  Nov.,  1864.     Mustered  out  at  City  Point,  I'lih  Dec,  1865. 

FOGG,  CHARLES  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  16th  Aug., 
1862.  Promoted  Sergeant.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July, 
1866.  • 

FOWLER,  DeGRASS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols  ,  April  22d,  1861. 
Mustered  23d  July,    1861.     Promoted  2d  Lieut,  at  muster.     Resigned  23d 

Sept.,  1864. 

FOX,  HENRY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  D,  1.3th  Conn.  Vols ,  22d  Dec,  1861. 
Died  22d  Nov.,  1863,  of  Chronic  Diarrhea,  at  Thibodeaux,  La. 

FOX,  HARVY  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  1st  Aug.,  1862. 
Died  of  Typhoid  Fever  at  Fort  Worth,5  Alexandria,  Va.,  4th  Feb.,  1863. 
Buried  at  Woodbury,  Conn. 

FREEMAN,  CROSBY  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  (Colored), 
14th  Dec,  1863.     Mustered  out  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

FREEMAN,  JOHN  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  (Colored),  20th 
Nov.,  1863.     Mustered  out  with  Regiment  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

FREEMAN,  JOHN  R.,  (Rod's  brother).  Enlisted  in  a  Rhode  Island  Regi- 
ment, and  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  1st  April,  1864. 

FREEMAN,  GEORGE,  (Rod's  brother).  Enlisted  into  the  Navy,  and 
served  on  a  gun-boat. 

FREEMAN,  RENSSELLAER,  (Rod's  brother).  Enlisted  into  the  Navy, 
and  served  two  years  on  board  a  gun-boat. 

FREEMAN,  RODERIC  (Colored).  Served  during  the  war  as  cook  and 
waiter  to  Companies,  or  to  the  Regimental  Officers.  He  was  in  the  special 
employ  of  Adjutant  S.  C.  Burnum  while  he  lived,  and  accompanied  his  body 
to  Connecticut  for  burial.  He  was  principally  connected  with  the  11th  Regi- 
ment,  a,nd  was  very  faithful  in  all  his  duties. 

31 


1324  tllSTORV      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

GALPIN,  ALMOND  D.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  25tli  Aug., 
18()2.  He  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  ten  miles  north  of  Rich- 
mond, 1st  June,  18fi4,  falling  dead  by  a  wound  in  the  head.  Immediately 
after  his  enlistment,  he  had  a  sad  presentiment  that  he  should  not  survive  the 
war,  and  should  never  return  to  Woodbury  ;  and  he  never  did,  even  on  fur- 
lough. During  the  twenty  months  the  Regiment  remained  in  the  defences 
of  Washington,  he  often  said  he  should  be  killed  in  the  first  battle.  This 
presentiment  proved  true.  And  yet  a  comrade  told  the  writer,  that  in 
that  first  battle  in  which  he  died,  he  was  as  bold  as  a  lion.  It  will  be  re- 
membered, that  at  the  time  the  regiment  charged  on  the  rebel  works  in  the 
woods,  a  New  York  regiment  broke  and  retreated  in  disorder,  rushing  right 
through  the  ranks  of  the  2d  Connecticut.  At  the  moment  that  Galpin  fell 
dead,  he  was  exclaiming  to  those  frightened  soldiers — "  Go  back  you  devils — 
go  back  to  your  work."  He  was  at  first  buried  with  all  the  others  on  the 
field.  He  has  since  been  removed,  and  now  lies  buried  in  the  Cold  Harbor 
National  Cemetery,  Section  "  A,"  grfive  marked,  "G ,  A.  D.,  June,  1864." 

GALPIN,  DANIEL  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  12th  Aug., 
1862.  Wounded  in  the  ankle  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  1st  June,  1864,  and 
at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept.,  1864,  in  the  leg  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability 3d  June,  1865.     He  receives  a  pension. 

GALPIN,  THOMAS  C.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  10th  Oct.,  1861. 
Wounded  at  the  battle  of  Autietam,  17th  Oct ,  1862.  Discharged  4th  Nov., 
1864,  at  expiration  of  term  of  service.     He  receives  a  pension. 

GILBERT,  WILLIAM  H.  Enlisted  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  H,  8th  Conn. 
Vols.,  5th  Sept.,  1863.     Mustered  out  at  City  Point,  12th  Dec,  1865. 

GROAT,  HENRY.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  2d  Conn.  Vols.,  (3  months),  17th 
May,  1861.     Discharged  7th  Aug.,  1861. 

GLAZIER,  THOMAS  T.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  6th  Conn.  Vols.,  12th  Sept., 
1861.  Promoted  Corporal.  Re-enlisted  as  Vet.  Vol.,  4th  Jan.,  1864.  Died 
19th  Oct,,  1864.  The  U.  S.  Roll  of  Honor  says,  Oct.  19th.  This  probably 
corresponds  with  the  head  board.  He  is  buried  at  the  National  Cemetery  at 
Bristol,  Pa.,  Grave  27.     He  died  at  White  House  General  Hospital. 

GORDON,  GEORGE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  April  22d,  1861, 
and  was  mustered  22d  July,  1861.  Re  enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  21st  Dec,  1863. 
Was  wounded.     Discharged  28th  Jan.,  1865. 

GOSLEY,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April,  1861. 
Mustered  22d  July,  1861.     Discharged  for  disability  22d  Nov.,  1862. 

GOSLEY,  HUGH  S.  Enlisted  April  22d,  IHC.l,  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols. 
Mustered  22d  July,  1861.  Died  at  Ander.sonville  Prison,  22d  Aug.,  1862. 
Some  authorities  say  Belle  Island,  near  Richmond,  Va. 

We  can  never  appreciate  the  horrrors  of  the  rebel  prisons.  Men  were  shot 
for   wandering   over   the  "  dead-line,"   or  for   crossing   the  brook   that  run 


UISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      "Vl'OODIJURY.  1325 

through  the  enclosure.  The  dead  were  piled  just  as  they  died,  one  upon 
another  in  wagon  loads,  carted  out,  thrown  into  a  ditch,  and  covered  with 
earth.  This  was  the  patriot's  burial.  The  men  had  no  bed  but  the  ground  ; 
were  covered  with  filth  and  vermin  ;  had  too  little  food  to  sustain  life,  and 
not  wood  enough  to  cook  even  that ;  clothing  that  did  not  cover  their  naked- 
ness. One  day  a  poor  cripple  deliberately  crossed  the  "  dead-line,"  telling  the 
sentinel  he  wished  to  die.  The  sentinel  shot  the  poor  fellow  dead.  "  The  re. 
leased  soul  could  not  have  found  at  the  hands  of  a  loving  Father  any  worse 
hell  than  that  from  which  it  had  escaped."  As  time  wore  on,  and  great  num- 
bers of  new  prisoners  were  brought  in,  the  rations  were  reduced,  and  suffer- 
ing became  extreme.  Men  died  every  hour,  and  were  carted  off  like  cattle. 
Corpses  were  now  carried  from  the  stockade  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred  a  day. 
The  rains  came  on,  beating  unmercifully  on  the  unsheltered  thousands.  The 
prisoners  had  nothing  to  shield  themselves  from  the  thunder  storms  and  the 
burning  sun.  Many  were  insane.  Hundreds  lost  their  lives  from  scurvy. 
The  ration  was  a  few  teaspoonfuls  of  uncooked  rice,  and  two  ounces  of 
bacon,  to  be  cooked  and  eaten  amid  the  mud  and  desolation  of  the  place. 
One  or  two  could  almost  always  be  seen  at  the  brookside,  whither  they  had 
crawled  to  die.  Every  week  some  were  killed  at  the  dead  line — one  being 
sliot  for  reaching  over  to  get  a  root  with  which  to  kindle  a  fire.  Many 
were  now  too  emaciated  even  if  they  could  have  obtained  wood,  to  cook  the 
bits  of  bacon  on  which  maggots  were  crawling.  A  member  of  the  52d  New 
York  became  corrupt  while  still  conscious  in  life,  and  his  body  was  literally 
devoured ;  parts  became  raw  and  bloody,  and  the  filthy  maggots  could  be 
seen  issuing  from  his  nose  and  mouth.  Thus  perished  twelve  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  of  our  brave  boys  at  Andersonville  prison  alone. 
And  so  the  long,  weary,  hopeless  months  passed  on. 

At  length  the  long  hoped  for  release  came.  In  Febiuary,  Sherman  arrived 
at  Columbia,  S.  C,  and  the  prisoners  were  hurried  off  his  line  of  march  to 
Camp  Asylum,  and  in  March,  1865,  the  officers  were  taken  about  a  mile  from 
Marlborough.  S.  C,  and  exchanged.  Lieut.  Blakeslee's  diary  tells  of  the  joy- 
ful occasion  :  "  As  soon  as  we  were  able  clearly  to  comprehend  that  there  was 
not  somebody  at  our  side  with  a  loaded  musket,  we  swung  our  caps,  cheered 
over  and  over  again,  hugged,  kissed,  rolled  on  the  ground,  sang,  laughed,  and 
finally  cried.  Then  taking  in  another  breath  of  fresh  American  air,  we  flung 
up  our  old  pans,  kettles,  bags  of  meal,  and  bundles  of  all  torts,  and  cheered 
again  for  Lincoln,  Gen.  Grant,  Gen.  Sherman,  and  Qcn.  Exchange;  and 
hugged  the  horse  of  the  Colonel,  who  was  trying  in  vain  to  get  us  into  line." 

GIBSON,  EDGAR.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  23d  Conn.  Vols.,  2r)th  Aug.,  1862. 
Was  discharged  Slst  Aug.,  18t)3,  and  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service 
6th  May,  1869. 

GIBSON,  HENRY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  23d  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Aug.,  1 862. 
and  was  honorably  discliarged  31st  Aug.,  1863. 

HALL,  JOHNS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug.,  1862. 
Promoted  Corporal.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July,  1865. 


1326         '     HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

HALL,  JOHN  T.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  16th  Aug.,  1862, 
and  was  discharged  for  disability  resulting  from  being  run  over  by  a  mule 
team  on  Long  Bridge,  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  mustered  out  20th  Nov,, 
1863. 

HARWOOD,  ANDREW,  Mustered  in  as  substitute  in  Co.  H,  14th  Conn- 
Vols.,  8th  Aug.,  1863.  Had  three  fingers  shot  oflF  in  battle,  and  was  discharg- 
ed  for  disability  11th  March,  1865. 

HAYES,  SAMUEL  D.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug., 
1862,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Hartford,  22d  May,  1865. 

HARD.  HENRY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug.,  1862. 
Was  promoted  Corpora].  Died  of  Diptheria  at  Woodbury,  while  on  recruit- 
ing service,  loth  Dec,  1863. 

HARD,  FREDERICK  R.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug.. 
1862.  Was  wounded  in  the  leg  at  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  9th,  1864,  and 
discharged  for  disability  27th  May,  1865. 

HEINS,  PETER.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  let  Conn.  Cavalry,  27th  Aug.,  1864. 
Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  2d  Aug.,  1865. 

HAWLEY,  AARON,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  14th 
Dec,  1868.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

HAWLEY,  ORRIN,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  141h 
Dec,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

HENSGEAN,  FREDERICK.  Mustered  in  as  siibstitute  for  William 
Smith,  Co.  B,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  18th  Aug.,  1863,  and  deserted  10th  Sept.,  1863. 

HILMER,  FREDERICK.  Mustered  in  as  a  substitute,  Co.  B,  5th  Conn. 
Vols.,  18th  Aug.,  1863,  and  deserted  Oct.  Ist,  1863. 

HOLCOMB,  JOHN  W.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April,  18«1. 
Mustered22d  July,  1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  2l8t  Dec,  1863.  Must- 
ered out  19th  July,  1865. 

HOLMES,  FREDERICK.  Enlisted  first  in  Co.  H,  Ist  Conn.  Vols.,  for 
three  months,  23d  April,  1861.  Was  missing  in  action  at  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
but  came  in  safely  July  21st,  1861.  Enlisted  second  time  in  2d  Conn.  Light 
Battery,  5th  Aug.,  1862.  Was  promoted  Corporal.  Died  4th  Jan.,  1865,  in 
his  tent,  at  White  River  Landing,  Arkansas.  He  lies  buried  in  the  Mississippi 
River  National  Cemetery,  near  Memphis,  Tenn. 

HOLDRIDGE,  DAVID  E.  Mustered  in  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  E,  13th  Conn. 
Vols.,  in  Dec,  1863,  and  deserted  belore  reaching  the  regiment  in  the  field. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1327 

HOTCHKISS,  HUBBARD  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th 
Aug.,  1862.  Promoted  Sergeant.  Wounded  in  the  scalp  and  hand  at 
battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept.,  1864.  MuBtered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
7th  July,  1865. 

HOTCHKISS,  LEVI  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  25th  July, 
1862.  He  was  severely  wounded  in  the  hand  and  arm,  and  entirely  disabled 
at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  Ist,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  for  disa- 
bility 26th  April,  1865.  .         , 

HUBBARD,  CALVIN  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April, 
1861  Mustered  in  at  Hartford,  23d  July,  1661.  Re^enlisted  in  Vet  Vols., 
2l8t  Dec,  1863.  He  was  wounded  in  battle,  in  the  hand,  near  Dallas,  Qa., 
25th  May,  1864,  and  in  the  foot  severely,  June  22d,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  19th  July,  1865. 

HULL,  AMMI  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  1st  Heavy  Artillery,  22d  Oct.,  1861. 
Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  17th  Dec,  186.S.  Promoted  Corporal  and  Ordinance 
Officer  for  good  conduct  in  battle.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  at 
close  of  the  war,  25th  Sept.,  1865. 

HERRINOTON,  GEORGE  F.     Mustered  in  as  substitute  for  Walter  S. 

Curtiss,  Co.  C,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  17th  Aug.,  1863.     Deserted  Nov.  1st,  1863. 

HULL,  ULYSSES  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  12th  Conn.  Vols.,  16th  Feb.,  1864. 
Mustered  out  at  New  Haven,  18th  May,  1865. 

J  ACOBI,  PHILLIP.  Mustered  in  as  substitute  for  Omar  E.  Norton,  Co.  K, 
30th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Aug.,  1863,  and  deserted  11th  Sept.,  1863,  at  Kelley'e 
Ford,  Va. 

JACKSON,  GEORGE,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  29th  Conn.  Vols  ,  30th 
Dec,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

JACKSON,  GEORGE  P.     Served  in  the  Navy,  on  the  War  Ship  Winona 

JACKSON,  HENRY  F,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  29th  Conn.  Vols.. 
14th  Dec,  1863.     Promoted  C'orporal,  and  was  mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

JACKSON,  LOT  N.,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  14th 
Dec,  186:-'.     Mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1866. 

JACKSON,  PHILO,  (Colored).  Enlisted  and  served  in  the  11th  Regiment 
of  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
war. 

JONES,  THOMAS.  Was  mustered  into  the  28th  Conn.  Vols.,  as  the  sub- 
stitute of  Sheldon  B.  Castle.  This  was  a  nine  months  organization,  and  there 
was  so  much  shifting  among  these  regiments,  that  the  writer  has  no  further 
history  of  this  recruit. 


1328  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

JUDD,  CHARLES,  (Colored).  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  30tli  Conn.  Vols.,  lltli 
Jan.,  1864.     Mustered  out  7th  Nov.,  1865. 

JUDSON,  GEORGE  E.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  15tli  Aug.. 
1862.  Was  promoted  Sergeant.  Was  wounded  in  the  left  hip  and  thigh  at 
Cedar  Creek,  19th  Oct.,  1864.  Was  removed  to  Patterson  Park  Hospital, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  wh'^re  he  died  of  his  wounds,  3lst  Oct.,  1864.  He  was 
buried  at  Southbury,  Conn.  Capt.  Sperry  says  of  him — "  He  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  perfect  specimens  of  a  man  and  soldier.  He  could  always  be 
relied  on  for  truth  and  honesty,  and  was  one  of  the  very  few  who  were  never 
influenced  by  bad  company.  He  always  wore  a  pleasant  countenance,  and 
was  one  with  whom  no  body  could  find  any  fault." 

KANE.  FRIEND  P.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  9th  Aug.,  1862 
and  was  instantly  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  Ist,  1864.  Shot 
directly  through  the  head.  Bela  Potter  says,  "  He  simply  threw  up  his  hands, 
sunk  down,  and  all  was  over."  He  was  an  excellent  soldier  and  faithful  to 
all  his  duties. 

KERNER,  JOHN.  Was  received  as  a  substitute  for  the  14th  Conn.  Vols., 
19th  Feb.,  1864,  and  not  assigned  or  not  taken  up  on  the  rolls  ;  which  means 
that  he  deserted  before  he  reached  the  regiment. 

KOCK,  F.  W.  Was  mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  D,  16th  Conn.  Vols., 
24th  Aug.,  1864.  Transferred  to  7th  Conn.  Vols.  Mustered  out  20th  July, 
1865,  at  Goldsboro',  N.  C. 

KNICKERBOCKER,  EDWARD.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d 
April,  1861.  Mustered  22d  July,  1861.  Discharged  for  disability,  4th  June, 
1862. 

KREQAN,  WILLIAM.  Was  mustered  as  a  substitute  for  John  Galpin, 
Oct.,  1862.  into  ^7th  Conn.  Vols.     The  writer  has  no  further  history  of  him- 

LANE,  PERRY  W.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  1st  Heavy  Artillery,  22d  May, 
1862,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  22d  Nov.,  1862. 

LAURY,  JOHN.  Was  mustered  as  the  substitute  of  Lewis  H.  Atwood, 
19th  Feb.,  1864,  for  the  2d  Light  Battery,  but  he  never  reached  the  regiment. 

LEACH,  ALVAH  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept.,  1861. 
and  was  discharged  to  enlist  in  the  regular  army,  which  occurred  26th  Oct., 
1862. 

LEACH,  DANIEL  E.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  12th  Aug., 
1862.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  May  1st,  1865,  and  was  muster" 
ed  out  July  1st,  1865. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1329 

LOCHLIN,  CHARLES  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  Jan.  2d, 
1864.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  8tli  July,  1865. 

LOCKLIN,  DAVIS  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan.,  1864. 
Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1805. 

LOCKLIN  GEORGE  W.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan.,  1864. 
Wounded  in  the  thigh  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept.  1864,  and  died 
of  wounds  and  fever,  at  Military  Hospital,  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  20th  Oct.,  1864. 
Buried  in  Winchester  National  Cemetery,  Lot  66 — grave  marked  "L. — G.  W." 

LOCKLIN,  ISAAC  W.   Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  ArtUlery,  2d  Jan.,  1864. 

Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

LORDWIN,  THOMAS.  Enlisted  Sept.  20,  1863,  as  substitute  for  Oliver 
Cowles.     Deserted  before  a  military  history  could  be  made  of  him. 

LUCAS,  AMOS  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  22d  Aug.,  1862. 
Wounded  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  June  1,  1864,  through  the  knee,  ren- 
dering the  joint  utterly  useless.  Discharged,  on  account  of  this  disability^ 
18th  Dec,  1864. 

LUM,  CHARLES  H.  Enlisted  12th  Aug.,  1862,  in  Co.  1, 2d  Heavy  Artillery. 
Promoted  Corporal.  Deserted  the  first  opportunity  ;  •which  was  loth  April, 
1868. 

LEDGER,  JOHN.  Enlisted  in  Co.  F,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  Jrly,  1861. 
Transferred  to  the  Signal  Corps,  6th  Aug.,  1863 ;  did  effective  service,  and 
came  home  honorably  discharged. 

M  ALLORY,  SAMUEL  M.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery.  7th  Aug.. 
1862,  and  was  discharged  for  disability,  8th  May,  1863,  at  Fort  Worth,  and 
died  in  consequence  of  disease  contracted  with  former  chronic  diseases,  at 
Woodbury,  17th  April,  1867,  aged  46. 

MALLORY,  WILLIS  J.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  9th  Aug., 
1862.  Fought  in  almost  every  battle  of  the  regiment,  up  to  the  final  battle  of 
Sailor's  Run,  7th  April,  1865,  when  Gen.  Ewell  was  taken,  and  some  5,000  othe 
prisoners.  Was  present  at  Lee's  surrender,  and  saw  Lee  and  Grant  pass  by- 
That  night  the  regiment  celebrated  their  anniversary  on  their  own  account, 
and  with  great  enthusiasm. 

MANCHESTER,  OSCAR  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th 
Aug.,  1862.     Discharged  8th  Feb..  1863,  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

MAYNE,  GEORGE  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  Ist  Conn.  Vols.,  (3  mos.)  23d 
Ap.,  1861.  Discharged  31st  July,  1861.  Enlisted  again  in  the  13th  Conn. 
Vols.,  and  was  transferred  to,  and  became  Captain  in  the  Ist  Louisiana  Vols. 

MANVILLE,  JAMES  H.     Served  in  the  Navy.     He  was  2d  Captain  of  a 


1330  HISTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     "VT  O  O  D  B  U  R  T  . 

11  iuch  gun  on  board  of  U.  S.  Ship  Savannah,  and  was  in  the  Newport  News 
engagements. 

MARTIN,  FRANK.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  22d  April,  1861.  Mustered 
22d  December,  in  Co.  D,  13th  Conn.  Vols.     Mustered  out,  19th  May,  1862. 

MERAMBLE,  GEORGE  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April, 
1861.  Mustered,  July  22d,  1862.  Discharged  12th  Feb.,  1862,  at  Hancock, 
Md.  Enlisted  again  in  Co.  I,  20th  Conn.  Vols.,  11th  Aug.,  1862,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  13th  June,  1865. 

McKAY,  WILLIAM  H.     Enlisted  22d  April,  1861.     Mustered  22d  July, 

1861,  at  Hartford,  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.  Promoted  Corporal.  Discharged 
for  disability  12th  Feb.,  1862,  at  Hancock,  Md. 

McDERMOTT,  CHARLES  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5tb  Conn.  Vols., 8th  Aug., 
1863.  Mustered  out  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  23d  June,  1865.  In  a  short  time  after 
this,  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States  for  three  years,  un- 
der the  name  of  Charles  E.  Ellsworth.  The  writer  had  several  letters  from 
him  after  this  enlistment,  but  he  never  gave  him  any  reason  for  enlisting  un- 
der a  false  name.     He  was  a  good  soldier  in  the  old  5th. 

McKINNEY,  HENRY  S.     Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Aug. 

1862.  Promoted  2d  Lieut.,  6th  Feb.  1864,  Isi  Lieut.,  30th  Nov.,  1864,  and  Capt. 
of  Co.  D,  2d  March,  1865.  Was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  23d  Aug., 
1865. 

McDIVITT,  JOHN.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  5th  Jan.,  1864 
Mustered  out  at  Hartford,  1st  June,  1865.  Died,  of  disease  contracted  in  the  ar- 
my, June  1st,  1869.  In  one  of  the  forced  marches  and  sadden  battles  near  Rich- 
mond, this  soldier  fell  out  exhausted.  As  soon  as  he  recovered,  he  pushed 
on  to  find  his  regiment,  but  found  himself  in  battle  in  a  negro  regiment.  He 
had  always  had  a  mortal  antipathy  against  colored  men,  but  when  he  return- 
ed home,  this  feeling  had  all  vanished,  and  he  gave  those  soldiers  full  credit. 
Said  he  to  the  writer  one  day,  in  his  rough  way,  "  Cothren,  there  is  no  use  to 
deny  it — the  d — d  nagers  fought  like  H — 11." 

McCAX,  GEORGE.  Enlisted,  22d  July,  1861,  in  Co.  E.,  5th  Conn.  Vols. 
Wounded  at  Cedar  Mountain  9th  Aug.,  1862.  Discharged  for  disability,  15th 
Nov.,  1862. 

MEYER,  CHARLES.  Mustered,  Sept.,  1863,  as  a  substitute  for  Edgar  Gal- 
pin,  but  forgot,  after  getting  his  bounty,  to  go  to  the  front. 

MYERS,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  27th  Aug.,  1863. 
Mustered  out,  3d  May,  1865,  at  Madison,  Ind. 

MILLER,  JACOB.  Mustered  into  Co.  C,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  as  a  substitute 
for  Samuel  F.  Peck,  17th  Aug.,  1863.  Wounded,  20th  July,  1864.  Mustered 
out  at  Alexandria,  19th  July,  1865. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY.  1331 

MILLER,  JOSEPH.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  20th  Aug.,  1862 
Mustered  out,  July  7th,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Died  at  Woodbury  24th 
Aug.,  1868,  of  enlargement  of  the  spleen, — being  a  disease  which  he  con" 
tracted  in  the  service.  His  spleen  vreighed,  at  the  post  mortem  examination^ 
Ahoatfourteen  pounds,  while  a  healthy  spleen  weighs  but  a  few  ounces. 

MINOR,  FREDERIC  M.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  7th  Aug. 
1862,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  5th  June,  1865- 

MITCHELL,  JOHN.  Mustered  in  as  a  substitute  for  Co.  I,  8th  Conn.  Vols., 
19th  Feb.  1864.     Deserted  28th  May,  1864. 

MITCHELL,  WILLIAM  H.  (Colored.)  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  29th  Conn. 
Vols.,  30th  Nov.  1863.     Mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

MUNROE,  JOHN.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  for  Nathaniel  D.  Minor  in 
Sept.,  1863,  but  failed  to  report  for  service. 

MUNQER,  NATHAN  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  L.,  Ist  Conn.  Cavalry,  5th  Jan. 
1864.  Mustered  out  2d  Aug.,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  afterwards  en_ 
listed  in  the  regular  army. 

MUNGER,  TRUEWORTHY.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  llth 
June,  1862.  Was  wounded  in  the  taking  of  the  rebel  Gunboat,  Cotton,  on  the 
Red  River  Expedition,  and  discharged  in  consequence,  26th  May,  1863. 

MORRIS,  THOMAS.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  19th  Feb.,  1864,  but  failed 
to  report  to  any  regiment,  after  getting  his  enormous  bounty. 

MORRISON,  WILLIAM.  Mustered  into  Co.  A.,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  Henry  C.  Judson,  July,  1863,  and  deserted  llth  July,  1863. 

MORGAN,  THOMAS.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  H.,  10th  Conn. 
Vols.,  2l8t  Nov.,  1864.     Deserted  26th  June,  1865. 

MULLIGAN,  JOSEPH.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  Co.  1, 6th  Conn.  Vols.,  3d 
December,  1864.     Deserted  10th  April,  1865. 

MORROE,  CHAUNCEY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept., 
1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.  24th  Dec,  1863.  Mustered  out,  12th  Dec, 
1865. 

MEIN,  CHARLES.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  to  be  sent  to  the  "  Woodbury 
Reds,"Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  27th  Aug.,  1863,  but  failed  to  put  in  an  appear- 
ance. Probably  he  had  some  prescience  of  the  toils  of  Sherman's  march  to 
the  sea,  soon  to  come,  and  "  foreseeing  danger,  hid  himself." 

NEWEY,  ARTHUR  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  8th  Aug.,  1862. 
Drummed  out  of  the  regiment  for  desertion  and  general  uselessness,  30th 
Oct.,  1863. 

NEWTON,  FRANKLIN.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E.  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April, 
and  mustered  22d  July,  1861.     Promoted  Corporal.     Deserted  3d  Juno,  1862. 


1332  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

ORTON,  WALTER  J.  Enlisted  in  Co.  1, 2d  Heavy  Artillery,  5th  Aug..  1862. 
Promoted  Sergeant  and  Commissary  Sergeant- 
He  was  wounded  by  a  ball  throuofh  the  left 
arm  and  anterior  walls  of  the  thorax,  from  left 
to  right,  at  the  Battle  of  Winchester,  some- 
times called  Opequan.  Was  carried  to  Taylor 
Hotel,  in  Winchester,  where  he  died,  7th  Octo- 
ber, 1864. 

He  wrote  cheerful  letters  to  his  wife,  some 
days  after  his  wound  was  received,  but  finally 
died  of  exhaustion,  in  consequence  of  second- 
ary hemorrhage.  He  was  buried  near  Win- 
chester, at  first,  but  has  since  been  removed  to 
Winchester  National  Cemetery,  and  buried  in 
Lot  No.  87-     For  sketch  of  his  life  see  page  1258. 

PARMELEE,  CORNELIUS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  18th  Conn.  Vols.,  7th  Jan. 
1862.     Discharged  6th  Jan.,  1865  ;  term  expired. 

PARMELEE,  GEORGE  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  7th  Conn.  Vols.,  9th  Sept., 
1861 ;  re-enlisted  in  Veteran  Vols.,  2d  Jan.,  1864.  Mustered  out  2d  Sept., 
1865. 

PATTERSON,  CHARLES.  Enlisted  in  Co.  1, 8th  Conn.  Vols, 21st  Sept.,  1861. 
Died  14th  March,  1862,  of  wounds  received  while  charging  a  rebel  battery, 
when  Newbern,  N.  C,  was  taken. 

PERCEY,  FRANK  J.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  14th  Conn.  Vols.,  9th  Aug.,  1862. 
Killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  13th  Dec,  1862. 

PERCEY,  SETH  W.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  Conn,  Vols.,  2d  Aug.,  1862. 
Wounded  17th  Sept.,  1862.  Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps.  Drowned  2d  Aug., 
1864,  at  Hartford,  in  Conn,  river. 

PETERSON,  ARNOLD.  (Colored.)  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  29th  Conn.  Vols., 
3d  Dec,  1863.  Died  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  15th  Aug.,  1865.  He  lies  buried 
in  the  National  Cem3tery,  near  Old  Fort  Browa,  Brownsville,  Texas,  in  grave 
No.  224. 

PETSON,  THOMAS.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  19th  Feb.,  1864.  It  took 
him  so  long  to  spend  his  large  bounty,  that  his  name  was  never  taken  upon 
the  regiment  rolls. 

PHILLIPS,  LEMAN.  (Colored.)  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  29th  Conn.  Vols.,  Jan 
1,  1864.     Mustered  out  24th  Oct.,  1865. 

POLLEY,  JAMES  C,  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery.  15th 
Aug.,  1832.  Died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Regimental  Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va., 
19th  Nov.,  1882.  He  was  embalmed,  sent  home,  and  buried  in  Woodbury. 
Col.  Smith  gave  the  writer  the  following  account  of  his  sickness  and  death  : — 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBUKY.  1333 

"  The  Surgeon  requested  ma  to  prepare  Mr.  PoUey  for  his  death,  now  rapidly 
approaching.  It  did  not  seem  as  thouo^h  we  could  let  him  die !  He  was  so 
patient,  so  gjntle,  and  every  one  so  interested  in  him.  All  the  officers,  nur- 
ses, and  men  at  the  hospital,  clung  to  the  idea  that  he  would  rally,  and  so  we 
had  hoped  ;  but  alas  !  he  was  shiking  beyond  our  reach.  After  some  conver- 
sation with  him,  he  gatliered  from  my  words  that  he  was  more  ill  than  he 
had  supposed.  He  said,  '  I  know  that  I  am  very  sick,  but  do  yon  think  me 
dangerously  ill?'  So  ill,  Mr.  Polley,  that  I  felt  it  best  yesterday  to  write  to 
your  wife  that  you  could  not  recover. 

"  Then  he  lay  for  several  minutes  motionless,  and  evidently  struggling 
with  his  thoughts.  Then  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  a  calm  look  came  into 
them,  as  he  said,  '  sing  to  me  as  you  sung  for  the  other  men  who  died.'  I 
sang  two  versea  of  '  I  would  not  live  alway.'  He  lay  quite  still  again  for  a 
moment,  then  said  :  '  Read  mo  something  cheering  from  the  Bible.'  There 
was  no  Bible  just  at  hand,  so  I  repeated  from  John  xiv,  1st.  '  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled ;  ye  believe  in  God  ;  believe  also  in  me.  In  my  Father's 
house  are  many  mansions.  If  it  wore  not  so  1  would  have  told  you.  I  go  to 
prepare  a  place  for  you,  &c.' 

"  While  I  repeated  this,  one  of  his  hot,  feverish  hands  held  mine,  and  with 
the  other  he  marked  the  emphasis,  stopping   at  intervals,  as  though  both  - 
mind  and  body  were  too  weak  to  take  in  more  than  a  few  words  at  a  time. 
When  I  had  finished,  he  said  :  '  You  and  I  understand — it  is  all  well,  is  it 
not?'  and  closed  his  eyes,  and  lay  back,  perfectly  tranquil. 

"  When  he  time  came  for  me  to  leave  him  for  the  night,  I  i-oused  him  and 
said,  '  I  am  going  back  to  my  tent.  '  Yes,'  said  he, '  go,  but  try  and  come 
back  to  me  again.  I  am  dying,  and  I  know  it.  I  have  tried  to  live  so  as  not 
to  be  afraid  to  die  ;  I  have  only  to  die,  and  it  will  be  all  well.' 

"  At  daylight,  the  next  morning,  he  raised  himself  in  his  bed,  folded  his 
hands,  and  in  a  loud,  clear  voice,  exclaiming,  '  Let  us  pray,'  fell  back,  and  was 
dead  !  " 

POLLEY,  HEXRY  E.     Enlisted  in  Co.  D.,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  32d  December, 

1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Veteran  Vols.,  8th   Feb.,   18G4.     Transferred  to  Co.  B. 
Mustered  out  25th  April,  1806. 

PRENTICE,  WM.   P.     Enlisted   in  Co.  D..  13th   Conn.   Vols.,  5th   March. 

1862.  Discharged  6th  Jan.,  1865  ;  term  exjiired. 

POTTER,  CHARLES  E.  Enlisted  in  Co.  K.,  llth  Conn.  Vols.,  16th  Feb., 
1864.     Mustered  out  at  City  Point,  2l8t  Dec,  1865. 

PORTER,  BELA.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  29th  July,  1862- 
Promoted  Corporal.  Wounded  in  the  leg  nt  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19th,  1864- 
Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July,  1865. 

PROCTOR,  WILLIAM  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  C,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery, 
23d  May,  1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Veteran  Vols.,  16th  Nov.,  1865.  Enlisted  af- 
ter the  war  was  over  in  the  regular  army. 


1334  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY, 

QUINN,  JOHN  M,  Enlisted,  22d  July,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn,  Vols. 
Deserted  25th  July,  1862. 

REYMER,  PETER.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  of  David  Cowles,  in  Co.  B^ 
5th  Conn,  Vols.,  I8th  Aug.,  1863.     Deserted  28th  Sept,,  1863. 

REYNOLDS,  WM,  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  11th  Aug., 
1862.  Wounded  through  the  knee  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  19th  Sept., 
1864,  rendering  him  a  cripple  for  life.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D,  C.» 
7th  July,  1865. 

RICHARDSON,  GEO.  H.  (Colored.)  Mustered  into  Co.  H.,  29th  Conn. 
Vols.,  as  substitute  for  Dr.  Herman  W.  Shove,  5th  Aug.,  1864,  and  was  mus. 
tared  out  with  the  regiment  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  24th  Oct.,  1865.  Died 
26th  Oct.,  1865. 

RE>^NEIS,  JACOB.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  C,  6th  Conn.  Vols., 
7th  Feb.,  ISGS.     Mustered  out  at  Goldsboro,  N.C.,  20th  July,    1866. 

ROBINSON,  JAMES.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  I,  6th  Conn.  Vols., 
15th  Nov.,  1864.     Mustered  out  at  New  Haven,  2 1st  Aug.,  1865. 

ROGERS,  HENRY  C.  Enlisted  in  Co  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  22d  Aug., 
1862.  Promoted  Corporal.  Was  severely  wounded  in  the  hand  at  the  battle 
of  Fort  Fisher,  March  25,  1865.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th 
July,  1865. 

ROGERS,  JOHN  J.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug  ,  1862, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July,  1865.  During  the 
war  he  received  thirteen  bullet  holes  in  his  clothes,  but  never  a  scratch  on 
his  body. 

ROOT,  GEORGE  W.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2?d  Aug,, 
1862.  Promoted  Corporal.  Wounded  in  the  leg  at  the  battle  of  Winches- 
ter, 19th  Sept.,  1864.    Mustered  out  at  Frederick,  Md.,  26th  May,  1865. 

ROOT.  EDWARD  A.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury  22d  April,  1861.  Mustered 
22d  July,  1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.  2lst  Dec,  1863.  Mustered  out  19th 
July,  1865. 

RAYMAKER,  ARNOLD.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury  22d  April,  1861.  Mus- 
tered 22d  July,  1861 .     Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  6th  May,  1863. 

ROOT,  JOSEPH  F.  Being  in  the  West  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  en- 
listed in  Co  L.  2d  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  and  died  of  chronic  diarrhma  at  Hele- 
na, Arkansas,  8th  Oct.,  1862.  Buried,  on  removal  after  the  war,  in  Missis- 
sippi National  Cemetery,  near  Memphis,  Tenn.  See  Roll  of  Honor  xxi,  p 
260. 

ROSWELL,  GEORGE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  8th  Conn.  Vols  ,  27th  Sept., 
1861,     Discharged  for  disability  at  Washington,  D.  C,  24th  Dec,  1862. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1335 

ROWLEY,  CHARLES M.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  12th  Aug., 

1862.  Promoted  Corporal.     Mustered  out  18th  May,  1866,  at  Hartford. 

ROBERTS,  JAMES.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  in  2d  Conn.  Light  Battery, 
19th  Feb.,  1864.     Deserted  15th  March,  1864. 

RICE,  THOMAS.  (Colored.)  Enlisted  19th  Feb.,  1864.  Died  15th  April. 
1865,  at  Petersburg,  Va.  Was  buried  in  Hampton,  Va.  National  Cemetery, 
in  Row  20,  Section  D.,  grave  32. 

SCHINDLER,  JACOB.     Enlisted  in  Co    C,  1st  Heavy  Artillery,  15th  Dec , 

1863.  Served  through  the  remainder  of  the  war,  and  was  a  brave  and  faith- 
ful soldier.  Was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Washington,  D.  C,  25th 
Sept..  1865. 

On  his  enlistment,  the  writer  gave  him  the  oath.  After  he  had  taken  it 
he  jocosely  remarked,  in  his  broken  German  way,  "  Cothren,  if  I  see  a 
schmoke  I  shall  run."  But,  though  he  saw  many  fierce  smokes  in  the  ser- 
vice, he  did  not  run. 

SELLICK,  JOEL  F.  Enliste'^  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  at  Woodbury, 
22d  April,  1861.  Mustered  at  Hartford  22d  July,  1861.  Promoted  Regimen- 
tal Commissary  Sergeant,  23d  July,  1861.  Discharged  at  Williamsport,  Md., 
June,  1862. 

SHAW,  THOMAS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  28th  Aug.,  1862. 
Promoted  Sergeant.  He  was  wounded  in  the  arm  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  again 
very  severely  wounded  in  the  arm  at  Cedar  Creek.  He  was  discharged  in  con- 
sequence of  his  wounds,  Ist  June,  1865.  When  he  came  to  the  writer  to  en- 
list, he  stated  that  he  had  served  three  years  in  the  British  army,  and  there- 
fore thought  he  ought  to  be  enlisted  as  a  Captain.  He  was  informed  that  we 
were  only  receiving  privates  and  Major  Generals  at  this  office,  and  asked  if 
he  felt  competent  to  fill  the  latter  place.  He  said  he  did  not  consider  him- 
self competent  to  fill  that  place,  and  so  took  the  oath  as  a  private.  He  was 
a  faithful,  good  soldier,  and  deserved  the  promotion  he  received. 

SIMPSON,  JOHN.  Was  mustered  as  a  substitute  19th  Feb.,  1864.  He 
forgot  to  report  for  assignment. 

SMITH,  MARCUS  D.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug., 
1862.  Promoted  Orderly  Sergeant.  Was  severely  wounded  in  the  forearm 
at  Winchester,  Va.,  19th  Sept.  1864,  while  advancing  under  heavy  fire  to 
take  a  rebel  battery.  Remained  three  months  in  McClellan  Hospital.  Was 
mustered  out  7th  July,  1865. 

SMITH,  NATHANIEL.  Mustered  in  as  Major  of  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  then 
the  19th  Conn.  Vols.,  23d  Aug.,  1862.  Promoted  Lieut.  Colonel,  and  resigned, 
on  account  of  ill  health,  6th  May,  1864. 

SOUTILL,  THOMAS.     Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  30th  July, 


36  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

1862.     Deserted  20th  Oct.,  1862.     He  saw  a  girl  in  Maryland  whom  he  liked 
better  than  the  service. 

SOMMERS,  WILLIAM.  Enlisted  in  Woodbury  22d  April,  1861.  Mustered 
at  Hartford  22d  July,  1861.  Deserted  1st  Aug.,  1861,  in  Maryland.  A  "  De- 
lilah" had  too  seductive  charms,  and  means  of  concealment.  War  presents 
many  phases. 

SMITH,  JOSEPH.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  Co.  H.,  llth  Conn,  Vols.,  19th 
Feb.,  1864,  and  after  spending  his  magnificent  bounties  of  1,200  dollars,  de- 
serted, 26th  June,  1864. 

SPERRY,  ELI.  Mustered  in  as  Captain  of  Co.  I,  19th  Conn.  Vols.,  after- 
wards known  as  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  24th  July,  1862.  After  serving  consci- 
entiously, faithfully,  well,  and  to  the  acceptance  of  his  men,  till  Jan.  1st, 
1864,  he  was  on  that  day  seriously  wounded  in  the  left  forearm,  by  the  acci- 
dental discharge  of  a  revolver,  after  his  return  from  the  "  grand  rounds  of  the 
Defences,"  he  having  acted  as  field  officer  for  the  day. 

In  consequence  of  this  accident,  which  not  only  hindered  him  from  using 
that  arm  to  any  eflfective  purpose,  but  affected  his  general  health,  he  resigned 
his  commission  20th  March,  1864.  He  took  much  pride  in  his  company,  and 
good  care  of  its  members,  though  he  was  sometimes  careless  of  the  safety  of 
himself  and  friends.  As  an  example  of  this,  the  writer,  being  on  a  visit  to 
the  regiment,  Jan.  26,  1863,  by  invitation,  slept  with  him  in  his  bunk  that 
night,  or  tried  to  do  so.  A  most  violent  Virginia  rain,  sleet  and  wind  storm, 
swept  over  the  devoted  hill  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  on  which  the  half  finish- 
ed camp  was  located.  The  storms  of  all  New  England  for  a  year  consoli- 
dated into  one,  could  not  be  worse.  The  Captain's  tent  was  warmed  by  a 
small,  cracked,  cast  iron  stove,  with  the  coals  and  cinders  occasionally  falling 
out,  as  the  fierce  winds  swept  over  the  camp.  The  ground  covered  by  the 
small  tent  was  everywhere  overspread  by  about  six  inches  of  water.  He  had 
in  his  care  5,000  rounds  of  ammunition.  He  had  a  lively  fear  that  it  would 
get  wet.  8o  he  piled  the  packages  all  around  the  stove  and  within  a  few 
inches  of  it,  to  keep  them  dry  !  In  the  foot  part  of  the  bunk  was  an  unexplo- 
dcd  bombshell,  with  the  percussion  end  placed  against  the  side  of  the  canvas. 
During  that  terrible  night,  the  "  fiy-pole  "  became  detached  from  its  fasten- 
ings at  one  end,  and  being  fastened  by  a  rope  at  the  other  end,  as  the  fierce 
gusts  of  wind  came  roaring  along,  the  "  fly-pole  "  acted  like  a  flail,  and  kept 
striking,  during  the  long  night,  against  the  side  of  the  tent  where  the  bomb 
was  located.  The  writer  had  a  rational  desire  to  leave  the  premises,  but  the 
Captain  snored  and  slept  on,  and  as  we  wished  to  be  considered  as  brave  aa 
the  worthy  Captain,  we  decided  to  share  his  fate,  whatever  it  might  be.  The 
night  passed  in  safety. 

In  si)eaking  of  his  men,  the  Captain  says  his  "  Company  I  vvas  afterwards 
distinguished  for  its  skill  in  the  use  of  small  arms,  and  more  particularly  so 
in  handling  heavy  artillery  guns — more  so  than  any  Company  in  the  regi- 
ment. There  was  not  one  of  our  eight  Corporals  who  could  not  put  a  shot 
or  shell  with  precision  at  any  range,  and  was  always  ready  for  a  fight." 

Adjutant  Vaill  remarks  of  the  Captain  : — 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  ISSV 

"  It  will  not  do  to  forget  Captain  Sperry's  speech  to  liis  Company  about  the 
time  of  his  discharge.  It  was  his  farewell.  The  "  nub  "  was  in  the  closing 
up,  which  ran  something  thus :  "  We  none  of  us  know  what  is  in  store  for  us  ; 
the  probabilities  are  that  we  shall  never  all  meet  in  this  world  again.  But 
when  the  great  Arch  Angel  Gabriel's  trump  shall  sound,  and  when  his  Adju- 
tant shall  report,  may  Company  I,  of  the  2d  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery,  be 
reported  'present  or  accounted  for.'  " 

SLADE,  FREDERICK  C.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery.  15th 
Aug.,  1862.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July,  1865. 

SPRING,  RICHARD.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April,  1861. 
Mustered,  22d  July,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vols.,  21st  Dec,  I860.  Was 
wounded  in  his  side  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  25th  May,  1864,  and  again  22d  June 
1864,  in  foot,  at  Keusaw  Mountain.     Mustered  out  22d  July,  1865. 

STAMMER,  WARDEN.  Enlisted,  first,  in  Co.  G.,  28th  Conn.  Vols.,  18th 
Nov.,  1862.  Discharged,  28th  Aug.,  1863.  Enlisted,  secondly,  in  Co.  I,  2d 
Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan.  1864.  Promoted  Sergeant.  Wounded  in  the  leg  at 
('edar  Creek,  19th  Oct.,  1864.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  18th  Aug.  1865. 

STARR,  GEORGE.  (Colored.)  Enlisted  in  Co.  H,  127th  regiment  of  Uni- 
ted States  Colored  Vols.,  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war.  His  true  name  is 
George  Jackson,  but  from  mere  freak  he  chose  to  serve  under  the  above 
name. 

STOCKMAN,  GARDINER.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury  22d  April,  1 861 .  Mus- 
tered in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  July,  1861.  Was  soon  afier  transferred 
to  Co.  A,  in  same  regiment.  Discharged,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War 
for  disability,  5th  Nov.,  1868.  He  had  had  congestion  of  the  lungs  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  lay  a  long  time  in  hospital  before  his  discharge.  After  discharge 
he  languished,  and  his  disease  degenerated  into  consumption,  of  which  he 
died,  28th  May,  1864,  before  his  regiment  was  discharged.  He  was  buried  at 
Morris. 

SQUIRE,  CHARLES  A.  Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  in  the  "  Woodbury  Reds,'- 
afterwards  Co.  E,5th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  April,  1861.  Mustered  22d  July,  1862. 
Promoted  Sergeant.  Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vols.,  2l8t  Dec,  1863.  He  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  sometimes  called  Culp's  Farm,  22d 
June.  1864.  He  was  shot  through  the  heart.and  died  instantly.  He  was 
buried,  with  two  comrades,  on  the  mountain,  under  a  tree,  and  the  graves 
were  marked.  After  the  war,  his  comrade,  Edgar  A.  Alvord,  at  the  request  of 
Charles'  mother,  went  for  the  remains,  brought  them  back,  and  they  were 
buried  in  Roxbury.  His  mother  erected  a  beautiful  tablet  at  his  grave,  bear- 
ing the  following  inscription  : — "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Charles  A.  Squire, 
son  of  John  A.  and  Eunice  Squire.  Enliste,d  into  Co.  E,  5lh  Regiment  of 
Conn.  Vols.,  April  29,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vol.,  Dec  21,  1863,  and  was 
promoted  Sergeant,  for  good  conduct  in  battle.  Killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Oa.,  Jan,  22d,  1864,  having  been  shot  through  the  heart.     Aged  32."     He  wa.s 


1338  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

a  dutiful  son,  an  affectionate  brother,  a  good  soldier,  and  a  friend  of  all. 
Fired  with  patriotic  zeal,  he  volunteered  at  the  first  call  of  his  country,  and 
fell,  as  the  true  soldier  loves  to  fall,  amid  the  smoke  and  roar  of  battle,  fight, 
ing  gloriously. 

i..  TABER,  DANIEL  D.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  11th  Conn.  Vols.,  Dec.  1,  1861— 
served  his  time  out,  and  was  honorably  discharged. 

TAYLOR,  DANIEL  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug., 
1862.  Wounded  in  leg  at  Cedar  Creek,  19th  Oct.,  1864.  Mustered  out  at 
Hartford  Ist  June,  1865. 

TAYLOR,  JAMES  K.  POLK.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d 
Jan.,  1864.     Deserted  28th  July,  1864. 

TAYLOR,  WILLIAM.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  27th  Mass.  Vols.,  Jan.  2d,  1864. 
Taken  prisoner  at  Kingston,  N.  C,  7th  March,  1865.  Mustered  out  of  the 
regiment,  (technically,)  while  yet  in  captivity,  26th  June,  1865. 

THOMAS,  CHARLES  L.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  11th  Aug., 
1862.  Died  of  lung  fever  in  Regimental  Hospital,  16th  Jan.,  1864.  Sent 
home  and  buried  in  Woodbury. 

THOMAS,  HORATIO  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  25th  July^ 
1862.  Promoted  Corporal  Died  of  congestion  of  the  lungs  at  Regimental 
Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va.,  20th  Feb.,  1864.  Sent  home  and  buried  in  Wood- 
bury. 

THOMAS,  IRA.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  28th  July,  1862,  at 
the  age  of  63  years.  Walter  J.  Orton  dyed  his  whiskers,  after  which  his  ap- 
pearance was  that  of  a  man  of  about  thirty  years.  He,  with  other  Christian 
men  in  his  company,  instituted  a  prayer-meeting  in  his  tent,  which  became 
well  attended,  and  was  the  means  of  great  good  to  the  attendants.  He  was 
mustered  out  for  disability  4th  March,  1864. 

TIERNEY,  ANDREW.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  4th  Aug., 
1862.  Was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  19th  Oct.,  1864.  and  had 
his  arm  fractured,  for  which  he  draws  a  pension.  The  wounded  could  not  all 
be  reached  and  cared  for  on  the  day  of  the  battle.  Many  a  poor  fellow  had 
to  lie  where  he  fell.  Capt.  Marsh,  of  Co.  M,  was  one  of  them.  Tierney  could 
walk,  and  as  the  night  was  cold,  he  sought  the  friendly  lee  side  of  a  horse, 
which  had  been  killed  in  the  battle,  but  which  retained  some  animal  heat. 
Capt.  Marsh  relates  that,  at  intervals,  all  night  long,  Tierney  broke  out 
with  anathemas,  saying  that  the  'd  — d  rebels  fired  carelessly,  or  rather 
they  fired  on  purpose,  and  meant  to  hit  him  ! 

TRACY,  THOMAS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  12th  Conn.  Vols.,  20th  March,  1861. 
Killed  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  29th  May,  1863,  aged  21. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEKT     WOODBURY.  1339 

TRAPPELL,  FREDERICK.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  for  Roderick  At- 
wood,  Co.  G.,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  12th  Aug.,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  City  Point, 
Va.,  12th  Dec,  1865. 

TUTTLE,  ELISHA.  Mustered  as  the  substitute  of  Jolin  Galpin,  28th 
Aug.,  1862,  into  Co.  I,  28th  Conn.  Vols.     Mustered  out  31st  May,  1863. 

TUTTLE,  CHARLES  A.     Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept., 

1861.  Discharged  for  disability  5th  March,  1863,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

TUTTLE,  JOHN  E.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8th  Conn.  Vols.,  25th  Sept.,  1861. 
Shot  through  the  breast   at  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  killed,  17th  Sept., 

1862.  He  did  not  die  instantly.  Charles  S.  Buell  supported  him,  as  he  fell. 
He  desired  him  not  to  leave  him,  but  the  regiment  was  ordered  forward,  and 
he  had  to  be  left  with  many  another,  to  die.  He  was  killed  on  a  charge  in 
three  lines  of  battle,  after  they  were  forced  to  fall  back.  The  men  were  or. 
dered  to  lie  down,  but  it  was  soon  found  that  the  bullets  of  our  own  men, 
from  a  piece  of  woods,  were  striking  near  the  head  of  the  8th  regiment, 
which  then  got  up  and  started  to  retreat.  At  this  moment  Tuttle  fell.  So, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  poor  fellow  was  killed  by  the  bullets  of  his  own 
men.  The  field  where  he  lay  was  lost  and  won  several  times  that  day.  Next 
morning,  when  details  were  made  to  bury  the  dead,  and  bring  in  the  wound- 
ed, John  was  found  by  Buell,  stripped  of  his  clothing,  with  his  hands  under 
his  head,  as  though  sleeping  in  repose,  looking  as  natural  as  when  alive.  He 
was  no  doubt  stripped  by  the  rebels  before  he  died.  He  was  one  of  the  Wood- 
bury boys,  who  volunteered  with  the  100  picked  men  to  lay  the  pontoon 
bridge  across  the  Rappahannock,  previous  to  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  under 
Burnside.  Woodbury  furnished  one  twenty-fifth  of  the  whole  number  volun. 
teering  in  that  hazardous  undertaking.  A  hundred  and  fifty  of  our  cannon 
were  playing  over  their  heads,  and  as  many  more  on  the  rebel  side,  while  the 
bullets  from  the  rebel  sharp- shooters  fell  like  rain  among  the  brave  fellows. 
It  was  a  bold — a  sublime  affair.  They  desisted  from  their  work  several 
times,  but  finally  succeeded.  While  half  of  the  number  volunteering  fell  a 
sacrifice  in  that  bloody  adventure,  neither  of  the  Woodbury  boys  was  hit. 
Forty  of  the  regiment,  among  whom  was  Tuttle,  were  buried  in  a  trench, 
about  half  a  mile  from  Sharpsburg,  on  the  direct  road  to  the  Stone  bridge 
across  the  Antietam  creek,  and  20  rods  West  of  the  house  of  John  Otto.  The 
graves  were  marked  with  head-board  a.  He  was  afterwards  moved,  with  the 
rest,  and  buried  in  the  Antietam  National  Cemetery,  about  a  mile  from 
Sharpsburg.     His  comrade  and  bosom  friend,  Charles  S.  Buell,  says  of  him  : — 

"  John  Tuttle  was  killed  by  my  side  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  nobly  doing 
his  duty.  He  was  always  a  true  and  faithful  soldier, — never  complaining. 
Many  a  sorry  soldier  has  been  compelled  to  cheer  up  faint  heart  by  John's 
merry  way.  Not  one  that  will  count  on  the  rolls  of  old  Woodbury,  can  show 
a  fairer  record  than  he,  in  your  history.  We  were  together  in  many  battles, 
and  I  always  found  him  brave  to  the  uttermost.  Before  the  battle  in  which 
he  lost  his  life,  he  was  impressed  with  the  idea  of  death,  though  never  be, 
fore,  and  yet  was  in  no  wise  daunted." 

32 


1340  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

VOGELLI,  FREDERICK.  Mustered  in  as  a  substitue  for  Ambrose  H, 
Wells,  Co.  K,  30tli  Conn.  Vols.,  35th  Aug.,  1863.     Deserted  30th  Sept.,  1863. 

WAKEMAN,  DANIEL  P.  Enlisted,  2d  Jan.,  1864.  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy 
Axtillery.    Musteaed  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

WALKER,  WILLIAM  P.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan., 
1864.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  18th  Aug.,  1865. 

WALKER,  JOSEPH.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  for  Henry  C.  Buckingham, 
20th  Aiig.,  1863.     Deserted  13th  Sept.,  1863. 

WALSH,  TIMOTHY  F.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  5th  Aug., 
1 862.  Promoted  Sergeant.  Wounded  in  elbow  at  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
19th  Sept.,  1864.  Killed  at  the  battle  of  Hatchet's  Run,  Va.,  6th  Feb.,  1865— 
ten  miles  south  of  Petersburg. 

WARNER,  ABRAM  A.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  9th  Conn.  Vols.,  1st  Nov.  1861. 
Died  at  New  Orleans  General  Hospital,  12th  Aug.,  1862.  Buried  in  Monu- 
ment National  Cemetery,  at  Chalmette,  La.,  six  miles  below  New  Orleans,  on 
the  site  of  General  Jackson's  Battle-ground,  in  the  war  of  1812. 

WARNER,  GEORGE.  Mustered  in  as  a  substitute  in  Co.  0.,  20th  Conn. 
Vols.,  35th  Aug.,  1864,  and  deserted  while  on  the  way  to  the  regiment. 

WARNER,  JAMES  L.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G.,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  29th  July, 
1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Vet.  Vols.,  2lst  Dec,  1863.  Discharged  for  disability 
19th  June,  1865. 

WARNER,  NEWTON  J.     Enlisted  in  Co.  B,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  22d  Dec, 

1861.  Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps,  30th  April,  1864,  and  mustered  out 
at  the  end  of  the  war. 

WELLMAN,  BENJAMIN.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  llth 
Aug.,  1861.  Promoted  Corporal  and  Quartermaster-Sergeant.  Wounded  in 
the  left  cheek  and  back  at  Cold  Harbor,  Jiine  1st,  1864.  Lay  on  the  field  all 
night  by  the  side  of  a  dead  rebel.  Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th 
July,  1865.     For  further  particulars  see  page  1239. 

WELLMAN,  JOSEPH.     Enlisted  in  Co.  D.,  28th  Conn.  Vols.,  8th  Sept., 

1862.  Died  at  Port  Hudson,  La  ,  33d  July,  1863. 

WELCH,  WILLIAM,  Jr.  Enlisted  in  the  regular  army  in  Spring  of  1865, 
at  New  Haven,  Conn.  Was  sent  to  the  Fort  at  New  London,  and  deserted 
soon  after. 

WELLS,  PHILIP.    Enlisted  at  Woodbury,  AprU  22d,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  5th 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1341 

Conn.  Vols.     Mustered  at   Hartford  22d  July,  1861.     Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vole., 
21st  Dec.  1863.     Mustered  out  19tli  July,  1805. 

WEST,  THOMAS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E.  let  Conn.  Cavalry,  2lst  Aug.,  18G1. 
Mustered  out  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  23d  June,  1865. 

WHITLOCK.  FREDERICK.  Enlisteo  in  Co.  I,  20th  Conn.  Vols.,  15tli 
Aug.,  1862.  Was  promoted  Corporal,  and  while  he  lay  sick  and  insen- 
sible at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  a  Government  Hospital,  his  commission  as  2d 
Lieutenant,  arrived  from  Gov.  Buckingham.  But  he  never  knew  of  his 
promotion.  He  died  24th  Jan.,  1863.  His  remains  were  embalmed,  and 
buried  at  Greenwood  Cemetery.     For  a  sketch  of  his  life,  see  page  1216. 

WHITLOCK,  WALTER  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  Ist  Heavy  Artillery,  21st 
Oct.,  1861.  Re-enlisted  Vet.  Vols.,  26th  Jan.,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  25th  Sept.,  1865. 

WHITLOCK,  WILLIAM.  Enlisted  in  Co.  G,  1st  Heavy  Artillery,  22d 
Oct.  1861.    Dircharged  for  disability  18th  Oct.,  1862. 

WHITE,  JOHN  S.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug.,  1862. 
Died  of  typhoid  fever  13th  Nov.,  1863,  at  Regimental  Hospital,  Alexandria, 
Va.     Embalmed,  sent  home,  and  "buried  in  Woodbury. 

WHITE,  DANIEL.  Mustered  as  a  substitute  for  Newell  Osborn,  Sept.  3d, 
1868.     The  writer  has  no  further  account  of  him. 

WHEELER,  CURTIS.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  8th  Aug.' 
1863.  Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  through  both  thighs  by  the  same  bullet. 
Was  removed  to  Armory  Square  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  died* 
14th  June,  1864.  He  was  buried  in  Arlington  National  Cemetery,  on  the  es. 
tate  of  the  rebel  Gen.  Lee,  back  of  his  mansion,  which  was  formerly  owned 
hy  George  W.  P.  Custis. 

WILLIAMS,  GEORGE.  Enlisted  as  a  substitute  for  Frederick  Ward,  in 
Co.  F,  28th  Conn.  Vols.,  at  New  Haven,  Sept.  10th,  1862.  The  writer  has  no 
further  account  of  him. 

WILSEY,  AMBROSE  H.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  12th  Aug., 
1863.     Discharged  17th  Aug  ,  1863,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

WINTON,  ALBERT  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.,  33d  April, 
1861.  Mustered  at  Hartford  33d  July,  1861.  Promoted  Corporal.  Re-enlist- 
ed Vet.  Vols.,  31st  Dec,  1863.     Mustered  out  19th  July,  1865. 


1342  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

WINTON,  EUGENE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  F,  6th  Conn.  Vols.,  7th  Sept.,  1861. 
Discharged  11th  Sept.,  1864 — term  expired. 

WINTON,  JARED  B.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  6th  Aug., 
1862.     Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  7th  July,  1865. 

WORDELL,  WILLIAM.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  2d  Jan., 
1864.     Deserted  6th  June,  1865. 

WOODRUFF,  RODERICK  STEELE.  Enlisted  in  Co.  A,  23d  Conn.  Vols., 
20th  Aug.,  1862.  Promoted  Hospital  Steward.  Taken  prisoner  at  La  Fourche, 
Crossing  Hospital,  La.,  2oth  June,  1863.     Mustered  out  Slst  Aug.,  1863. 

WYANT,  WILSON.  Enlisted  April  22d,  1861,  at  Woodbury.  Mustered 
22d  July,  1861,  at  Hartford,  as  Captain  Co.  E,  5th  Conn.  Vols.  Resigned  for 
disability  31st  Jan.,  1863.— Total,  264. 


Thus  have  we  eudeavored,  with  persevering  toil  and  unwearied 
fidelity,  to  gather  up  the  history  of  the  part  that  Woodbury  took 
in  the  war  of  the  Great  Rebellion — a  rebellion  without  precedent 
in  the  annals  of  the  world.  None  was  ever  so  causeless,  none  so 
malignant,  none  so  all-destroying.  The  most  thoughtful  and  ob- 
servant mind,  after  the  lapse  of  ten  years  from  its  baleful  com- 
mencement, has  scarcely  yet  been  able  to  grasp  a  full  idea  of 
its  frightful  proportions.  It  seems  as  though  there  had  been 
some  horrid  dream  running  through  all  those  dark  and  lurid, 
and  all-devouring  years;  that  those  bitter  years  had  been 
counted  out  of  the  regular  series  of  the  era,  and  had,  so  to 
speak,  become  the  days  of  vengeance,  the  dies  irae  of  an  avenging 
God,  meeted  out  to  an  offending  people — grievously  offending 
in  the  curse  of  human  servitude.  It  was  only  by  such  suffering, 
80  much  blood,  and  the  expenditure  of  such  vast  treasures,  in  the 
way  of  Providence,  that  so  great  a  curse  could  be  expiated. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUBY.  1343 

"  Statistics  during  the  War. — In  a  recent  address,  General 
J.  P.  C.  Shanks,  a  member  of  the  United  States  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, presented  copious  and  very  interesting  statistics  i-elative 
to  the  military  arm  of  the  service  during  the  rebellion,  which  were 
compiled  from  official  records  in  the  War  Department  and  other 
reliable  sources.     From  these  figures  it  appears  that  the  number 
of  white   commissioned    officers   in  service  during  the  war  was 
83,935;  colored  officers,  9 ;  white  enlisted  men,  2,U73, 112  ;  color- 
ed, 178,895  ;  total  officers  and  men,  2,335,951.     There  were  killed 
in  action — officers  of  white  troops,  3,666  ;  white  officers  of  colored 
troops,    91  ;  officers,  regular  army,  93;  general  officers,  51;   total 
officers,  3,931.     Of  troops  killed  in  action  there  were  37,531  white 
volunteers,    1,514   colored  volunteers,  1,262   regular  army;  total 
40,307  ;  grand  total,  officers  and   soldiers,  44,238.     There  died  of 
wounds  received  in  action,  2,069  officers   and  31,924  soldiers,  of 
whom  1,037  were  colored;  total,  38,993.     There  died  of  disease, 
1,728   officers,  of  whom  one  was  colored,  and    147,320   men,  of 
whom   26,211    were  colored;    total,   149,043.     Died   from   other 
known   causes,  388  officers  and   11,457  men — total,  11,485  ;  from 
unknown   causes,  1,203   officers,  54,094  men — total,  55,297.     The 
deaths  from  all  causes  amounted  to  294,416;  119  officers  and  36, 
093  privates  died  in  southern  prisons.     The  number  of  Union  offi- 
cers captured  by  the  rebels   was  7,072,  and  of  soldiers,  179.091. 
There  were  legally  paroled  and  exchanged,  6,477  officers  and  147,- 
851  soldiers;  illegally,  105  officers  and  1,038  men;  there  escaped, 
397  officers  and  2,376  men;  recaptured,  301.     The  number  of  reb- 
els captured  during  the  war  was — officers,  35,872  ;  soldiers,  426,- 
852;  citizens,  15,535;  total,  476,130. 


What  painful  reflections  a  careful  review  of  this  civil  war  must 
ever  bring  to  the  reflecting  mind  and  sensitive  heart.  "  There  are 
torn  and  shattered  bodies  which  are  beyond  the  reach  of  the  sur- 
geon's hand,  and  to  whom  the  Secretary  of  War  can  send  no  as- 
sistance. They  sleep  peacefully  enough  in  the  forty-one  military 
cemeteries  of  the  Nation — three  hundred  and  fifty-five  thousand 
of  them — and  every  mouldering  body  represents  a  human  life 
which,  before  the  rebellion,  was  useful,  active  and  productive. 
There  are  more  to  come,  and  to  these  must  be  added  the  remains 


1344  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 

of  those  who  were  buried  elsewhere  during  and  since  the  war, 
who  died  in  consequence  of  their  service  in  it,  till  the  number 
must  reach  to  more  than  half  a  million  men.  What  a  harvest  of 
death  ?  What  an  expenditure  of  the  virility  of  the  land  !  What 
a  draft  upon  the  production  of  the  future  !  What  a  diminution 
of  the  real  wealth  of  the  country !  But,  putting  aside  the  cold 
calculations  of  the  economist,  every  reader  of  ordinary  sensibility 
will  recall  the  mental  and  physical  suffering,  the  bereavements, 
the  untimely  departure  of  the  dead,  and  the  long  and  sharp  sor- 
row of  the  surviving — of  wives,  of  children,  of  sweethearts,  to 
whom  the  telegram  or  the  letter  bore  intelligence,  which,  if  it  did 
not  palsy  their  souls,  at  least  changed  the  whole  tenor  of  their 
lives,  and  wMle  it  darkened  all  their  future,  left  them  possibly  self 
dependent  and  alone  in  a  bleak  and  busy  world.  There  are 
wouuds  which  pensions  do  not  heal,  and  wants  which  the  Govern- 
ment, however  generous,  cannot  supply.  All  the  laws  in  the 
world  cannot  give  back  the  son  to  his  widowed  mother,  or  restore 
the  husband  to  the  arms  of  his  lonely  wife.  There  is  and  can  be 
no  record  in  the  War  Department  of  broken  hearts — there  is  no 
bureau  of  blighted  hopes,  no  Secretary  to  compute  the  sighs  and 
tears,  the  days  of  distress,  the  sleepless  nights,  or  the  false  and 
mocking  dreams  of  women  whom  the  red  hand  of  war,  stretching 
from  the  far  off  battle  field,  has  remorselessly  smitten,  upon  the 
very  hearth-stone  of  a  blasted  home,  with  all  its  tender  recollec- 
tions, and  may  be,  stern,  material  necessities.  The  Government 
places  a  little  iron  monument  at  the  head  of  a  soldier's  grave;  it 
pensions  his  widow  and  provides  for  his  children.  Can  it  do 
more?  Yes,  more,  much  more!  It  can  remember  in  all  its 
vaunted  policy,  in  all  its  law-making,  in  all  its  care  of  the  present, 
and  in  all  its  provision  for  the  future,  how  much  the  very  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  anything  has  cost  us,  and  by  what  sacrifices  we 
have  earned  the  right  and  the  power  to  shape  the  destinies  of  the 
Republic,  and  to  make  it  indeed  the  guardian  of  all  its  children 
against  every  form  of  oppression.  We  want  no  wasted  lives.  We 
want  no  gratuitous  mortality.  We  want  a  steady  remembi'ance 
of  the  past,  unvexed  by  revengeful  memories  and  perpetuated 
hatreds,  but  always  fresh  when  princiijles  are  at  stake,  or  social 
equities  again  endangered.  So  much  is  due  to  those  who  have 
suffered  and  those  who  have  died." 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


1345 


As  a  result  of  all  the  wild  turmoils  of  the  war,  of  the  untold 
suffering  and  anguish,  and  seas  of  human  blood,  we  have  peace,  a 
disenthralled  race,  brighter  skies  and  a  purer  atmosphere,  Let 
all  join  in  the  devout  aspiration,  that  the  Giver  of  all  Good  will 
evermore  lead  the  hearts  of  all  to  the  ways  of  peace. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY — CONTINUED    FROM   PAGE    307. 

1853  TO  1872;  Rev.  Lucius  Curtis  dismissed;  Religious  revival;  Rev.  Rob" 
ERT  G.  Williams,  settled  ;  Rev.  Charles  E.  Robinson;  Rev.  Charles  Little  ; 
Religious  Revival  ;  Rev.  Horace  Winslow  ;  Rev.  Gurdon  W.  Notes  ;  Mem- 

BERSRIP  AND    BAPTISMS  ;    ReV.    SaMUEL    R.     AnDREW — LIFE    AND  CHARACTER  ;    Hl3 
OWN  ACCOUNT  OF    HIS  SETTLEMENT  ;    DeACON   MaTTHEW    MiNOR  ;    MiNOR  JuBILEB  ; 

Benedict  will  :  Concluding  remarks. 


HE  history  of  the  First  Church, 
in  the  previous  edition  of  this 
work,  closed  in  the  year  pre- 
ceding the  termination  of  the 
ministerial  labors  of  Rev.  Lu- 
cius Curtis  in  Woodbury.  He 
had  proved  himself  a  very  ac- 
ceptable pastor  and  preacher, 
but  ill-health,  the  gi'eat  dis- 
troyer  of  human  usefulness,  intervened,  and  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
sigo  his  charge,  which  he  did  with  reluctance,  and  to  the  great  re- 
gret of  his  people,  on  Sunday,  Jan.  22,  1854.  A  special  meet- 
ing of  the  church  and  society  was  held,  Feb.  4, 1854,  at  which  the 
following  votes  were  passed : — 

'*  Whereas  the  Rev.  Lucius  Curtiss  has  communicated  to  this 
Church  and  Society  his  request  that  thoy  should  unite  with  him 
in  calling  the  Consociation  to  dissolve  the  connection  now  exist- 
ing between  us  and  him  as  Pastor  and  People,  on  account  of  ill 
health  ;  and  said  church  and  society  being  unwilling  to  sunder 
those  bonds  and  be  separated  from  one  in  whom  they  are  so  well 
united,  and  to  whom,  personally  they  are  so  much  attached,  with- 
out some  judicious  effort  on  their  part  to  en.able  the  Pastor  to  re- 
gain his  health,  and  still  remain  with  us ; — therefore  be  it 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1347 

"  Resolved,  That  we  propose  to  him  that,  instead  of  calling  the 
Consociation,  he  take  a  vacation  of  six  months,  with  entire  free- 
dom from  all  pastoral  care  and  labor, 

"  Resolved  That  foi'  the  same  period,  we  continue  his  salary  as 
heretofore,  and  supply  the  pulpit  from  our  resources  as  a  soci- 
ety; ai.d  when  the  period  proposed  shall  arrive,  if  his  health  is 
not  re-established,  we  will  then,  if  he  still  desires  it,  unite  witli 
him  in  calling  the  Consociation." 

Mr.  Curtis  asked  time  to  consider  the  proposal,  and  on  the  9th 
of  April,  he  renewed  his  request  for  dismission.  On  the  2'7th  of 
the  same  month,  the  church  and  society  voted  to  join  with  him  in 
referring  the  matter  to  the  Consociation,  to  be  acted  on  at  its  an- 
nual meeting  in  the  following  June.  William  Cothren  was  ap- 
pointed delegate  on  the  part  of  the  church  to  attend  the  Consoci- 
ation. The  matter  was  duly  submitted,  and  the  request  of  Mr. 
Curtis  granted. 

There  was  an  extended  revival  of  religion  during  the  ministry 
of  ^Ir.  Curtis,  as  a  result  of  which,  forty-seven  persons  were  ad- 
ded to  the  church.  The  whole  number  of  admissions  during  bis 
administration  was  eighty. 

Some  time  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Curtis,  rest  from  pasto- 
ral cares  had  brought  a  decided  improvement  to  his  health,  and 
he  was  settled  over  the  Congregational  Church  in  Colchester, 
Conn.,  where  he  continued  till  about  two  years  ago,  when  he  re- 
moved, and  is  settled  over  a  church  in  Wisconsin. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1855,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Rob- 
ert G.  Williams,  of  Durham,  Conn.,  which  he  accepted,  and  was 
installed  April  25,  1855. 

During  the  administration  of  Mr.  Williams,  in  1857,  the  church 
edifice  Avas  repaired,  and  remoddled,  at  au  expense  of  a  little  more 
than  $4,000.  Thirty-two  persons  were  received  to  membership 
under  hira,  and  the  affairs  of  the  society  were  prosperous. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1859,  Mr.  Williams  tendered  his  resig- 
nation. The  church  and  society  accepted  it,  and  united  with  him 
in  referring  the  matter  to  the  annual  Consociation  in  June,  which 
approved  of  this  action,  and  such  arrangements  were  made,  that 
he  continued  his  pastoral  care  of  the  church  till  after  the  Bi-Cen- 
tennial  Celebration,  July  5th,  1859. 

In  accepting  his  resignation,  the  society  "Resolved,  That  he 
has  our  hearfelt  thanks  for  the  faithful  manner  in  which  he  has 
discharged  his  pastoral  duties  to  us." 


1348  HISTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

The  church  also,  at  the  same  time,  "  Resolved,  That  we 
take  pleasure  in  testifying,  on  this  occasion,  to  our  high  apprecia- 
tion of,  and  full  confidence  in  the  character  of  oui  Pastor,  as  a  man, 
a  Christian,  and  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  our  best  wishes 
and  heartfelt  sympathies  will  follow  him  wherever  he  may  go  to 
labor  in  the  wide  harvest-field  of  the  Lord." 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Williams'  labors,  the  people  of  his  congre- 
gation gave  him  a  farewell  donation.  The  following  is  an  account 
of  the  event,  which  appeai*ed  in  the  public  prints  at  the  time: — 

"  A    PLEASANT    KE-UNION    AT    WOODBURY. 

"The  members  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  and  Society 
in  Woodbury,  in  pursuance  of  a  notice  read  from  the  pulpit  on 
the  preceding  Sabbath,  met  at  the  parsonage  on  Wednesday  eve- 
ning last,  for  tlie  purpose  of  exchanging  sentiments  of  sympathy 
and  kindness  with  their  late  pastor,  Rev.  Robert  G.  Williams,  who 
had  been  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  from  his  pastoral  charge 
over  the  people,  by  the  late  Annual  Consociation  of  Litchfield 
South.  Notwithstanding  a  severe  thunder  storm,  which  came  on 
about  the  time  appointed  for  the  meeting,  a  large  number  con- 
vened at  the  parsonage.  After  an  hour  or  two  spent  in  pleasant, 
social  intercourse,  and  the  exchange  of  kind  congratulations,  Mr. 
William  Cothren,  at  the  request  of  the  assemblage,  presented  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Williams  a  purse  containing  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  contributed  by  individuals,  in  addition  to  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  which  had  been  previously 
given  him  as  a  parting  donation  by  the  Society. 

On  presenting  the  donation,  Mr.  Cothren  remarked  substan- 
tially as  follows : — 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  been  requested,  by  the  friends  here 
assembled,  to  perform  the  pleasing  duty  of  presenting  to  you, 
with  their  kind  congratulations  and  sentiments  of  esteem  and  af- 
fection, a  slight  token  of  their  enduring  regard,  and  also  of  ex- 
tending to  you  their  adieus  at  parting.  The  same  hour  that  wit- 
nesses these  cordial  greetings,  marks  also  the  time  of  separation, 
and  our  paths  diverge  from  this  point  forever.  Thus  it  ever  is  in 
this  changing,  fleeting  life.  We  meet  in  the  rapid  journey  of  our 
pilgrimage  on  earth,  we  take  the  friendly  hand,  pass  some  brief 
moments  in  joyous,  social  intercourse,  and  then  pass  on  our  vari- 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1349 

ous  paths  in  the  great  hibyrinth  of  life.  Perchance  our  paths  may 
sometimes  cross,  and  we  may  meet  again,  but  we  tarry  not  in  our 
hurried  course. 

"  We  meet  this  evening  under  circumstances  of  pleasure,  and 
of  pain — pleasure  in  meeting,  pain  that  we  must  part  so  soon.  I 
am  glad  to  be  present  on  this  occasion,  and  the  more  so,  because 
I  did  not  expect  to  be  here.  It  is  a  happy  interview.  It  gives  us 
an  opportunity  to  see  the  sunny  side  of  human  nature — the  clear 
atmosphere  of  the  heart's  best  affections.  It  is  well  that  there 
should  be  pauses  like  this  in  life's  turmoil  of  contending  interests. 
And  we  congratulate  you,  sir,  that  you  have  been  able  to  perform, 
creditably  and  well,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  your  immediate 
labors  with  us,  for  our  personal  and  spiritual  welfare. — We  con- 
gratulate you  that  you  have  labored  with  so  great  a  meed  of  suc- 
cess. We  would  fain  imitate  your  earnest,  unremitting  and  unsel- 
fish labors  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  and  of  mankind.  We 
would  imitate  your  caution  in  speech —never  retaliating  an  injuri- 
ous word  or  act.  In  this  parting  hour,  we  do  not  ask  you,  if  we 
have  erred,  to  forgive  and  forget,  for  well  do  we  know,  that  in 
your  generous  heart,  it  is  done  already. 

"And  now.  sir,  I  extend  to  you  the  hand  of  fellowship^  never, 
as  1  hope  and  believe,to  be  withdrawn  during  life's  changing  pil- 
grimage. I  do  this,  from  the  dictates  of  my  own  sentiments  and 
emotions,  and  at  the  request  of  the  friends  here  assembled,  and 
others  who  cannot  be  present  on  this  glad  occasion.  I  give  you 
the  hand  of  kindly  greeting,  as  well  as  of  friendly  parting.  We 
extend  to  you  that  hand  of  kindness,  which  is  often  withdrawn, 
even  among  most  intimate  friends, — sometimes  for  real,  but  often- 
er  for  most  imaginary  causes.  We  greet  you  as  one  of  God's  mes- 
sengers of  "peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men."  Our  hearts 
will  follow  you  with  kindly  emotions,  to  whatever  field  of  labor, 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  you  may  be  called.  We  would  hold 
up  your  hands,  and  cheer  you  on  in  the  path  of  duty,  and  of  use- 
fulness. And  now,  with  this  our  final  greeting,  we  bid  you  an 
affectionate  farewell,  in  the  cheering  hope  that  God  will  at  last 
gather  us,  a  happy  and  redeemed  people,  in  the  mansions  of  the 
blest.". 

"  To  this  address,  Mr.  Williams  responded  nearly  as  follows, 
closing  with  a  touching  and  appropriate  prayer : — 

"  I  accept  this  at  your  hand,  and  the  hand  of  these  kind  friends 


1350  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT   WOOD  BURY. 

here  this  evening.  And  while  we  are  to  say  farewell,  let  it  be 
only  as  pastor  and  people.  The  place  you  have  had  in  my  heart 
will  be  an  aching  void,  if  I  may  not  stilt  know  you  as  friends. 
Whao  I  came  among  you,  I  gave  you  ray  heart,  ray  whole  heart, 
and  the  kindness  I  have  experienced  from  you,  has  produced  no 
desire  to  recall  the  gift.  Your  kindness  endures  to  the  last.  I 
can  pledge  you  that  to  the  last  of  life  I  shall  retain  a  deep  impres- 
sion of  it,  and  a  sense  of  gratitude  which  I  know  not  how  to  ex- 
press. 

*'  You  may  remember  I  have  often  preached  upon  the  suscepti- 
bility of  the  heart.  It  is  because  I  know  somewhat  of  its  power 
to  suffer  and  enjoy.  I  have  enjoyed  in  my  heart  your  kindness, 
and  have  felt  more  gratified  than  my  uttered  thanks  have  inti- 
mated. For  all  the  many  acts  and  instances  of  kindness,  I  wish 
again  to  thank  you,  and  especially  for  this  interview,  spontaneous 
on  your  part,  and  for  this  valuable  memento,  not  "  a  slight  token 
of  your  enduring  regard." 

"  I  am  also  commissioned  to  bear  to  you  a  message  of  affection 
and  gratitude  from  my  companion,  who  cannot  be  present  to-night, 
but  who  is  here  in  the  thoughts  of  her  warm  and  loving  heart. 
She  loves  you  very  much,  and  yesterday  morning  repeated  once 
and  again  her  charge  to  me  to  tell  you  how  much  she  loved  you, 
and  thanked  you  for  all  your  kindness  to  her  and  to  us  as  a  family. 

"I might,  not  inappropriately  perhaps,  speak  of  raore  general 
matters,  relating  to  the  Church  with  which  you  are  still  united, — 
an  unbroken  church. — But  there  is  no  need.  You  have  wisdom  to 
see  your  wants  as  well  as  I.  You  have  a  place  of  resort.  Let  me 
urge  you  again  to  apply  to  Hirn,  who  is  able  and  willing  to  give  all 
needed  wisdom  and  aid.  I  commend  you  to  His  guidance.  And 
let  me  beg  at  the  Throne  of  Grace  you  will  all  remember  me,  as  I 
have  every  one  of  you.  There  let  us  feel  our  union,  through  the 
head  of  the  church,  unto  one  another. 

"  And  if  I  have  at  any  time  in  any  manner  given  any  occasion 
of  displeasure  or  offence,  most  humbly  do  I  crave  your  Christian 
forgiveness,  even  as  I  do  most  cordially  forgive  all  who  may  now 
or  at  any  time  feel  that  they  have  injured  me. 

"I  have  often  borne  you  by  name  to  the  Throne  of  Grace.  I 
would  like  again  to  commend  you  to  the  love  and  mercy  of  God, 
through  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ." 

"In  the  prayer  which  followed,  Mr.  Williams  remembered  most 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBUBY.  1351 

especially  and  tenderly,  '  the  lambs  of  the  flock,'  in  whom  he  al- 
ways felt  the  deepest  interest. 

"  The  assemblage  was  then  summoned  to  partake  of  a  most  ex- 
cellent collation,  prepared  with  exquisite  taste  by  the  ladies.  The 
tables  were  loaded  with  viands  and  decorated  with  garlands  and 
rare  bouquets.  We  have  never  seen  a  better  or  more  tasteful  dis- 
pl  ay,  on  any  similar  occasion.  Having  discussed  these  to  the 
heart's  content,  and  passed  a  longer  period  in  agreeable  inter- 
course, the  company  separated,  well  pleased  with  the  evening's  en- 
tertainment." 

As  has  been  seen  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  work,  Mr.  Wil- 
liams served  for  a  time  as  Captain  of  Company  G.,  1st  Conn.  Heavy 
Artillery,  He  was  afterwards  principal  of  a  Female  Academy 
at  Saugerties,  N".  Y.  Still  later,  he  was  for  several  years  principal 
of  the  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  in  Waterbury ;  and  is  now  at  the 
head  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 

The  church  remained  without  a  settled  pastor  till  the  summer 
of  1862.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Robinson  began  to  supply  the  pulpit  in 
the  early  part  of  1861.  He  received  a  call  to  settle  as  pastor, 
April  25,  1862 — accepted  it  May  5th,  and  was  installed  June  10th. 
There  were  seventeen  admissions  to  the  church  during  his  minis- 
try. On  the  27th  of  January,  1864,  he  tendered  his  resignation, 
on  the  ground  of  ill-health. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1864,  the  church  passed  the  vote  which 
immediately  follows,  and  he  soon  after  left,  though  he  was  not 
formally  relieved  of  his  charge  till  the  .3d  day  of  November  fol- 
lowing, by  a  Council  of  churches,  as  he  had  accepted  a  call  to 
settle  over  a  church  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has  since  remain- 
ed, in  the  full  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  ministry.  The  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  Avas  bestowed  upon  him  at  the  late 
Commencement  (1871)  of  Williams  College. 

"  Woodbury,  Feb.  4th,  1864. 

"We,  the  First  Congregational  Church,  having  received  the  re- 
signation of  our  Pastor,  Rev.  C.  E.  Robinson,  feel  ourselves  com- 
pelled, owing  to  the  circumstances  under  tvhich  we  are  providen- 
tially placed,  to  accept  the  same.  We  had  cheriohed  ihe  pleasing 
hope  and  anticipation  that  the  connection,  so  promising  in  its 
commencement ,  would  be  as  lasting  as  life,  and  that  we  should  be 
permitted  to  labor  together  for  our  dear  Lord,  many  years.     Sel- 


1852  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

dom  has  any  pastor  so  entirely  possessed  the  confidence  and  love 
of  an  entire  church  and  society  as  has  our  present  Pastor,  and 
it  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  now  come  to  the  painful  conclusion 
that  we  must  give  him  up  and  dissolve  the  interesting  relation  of 
Pastor  and  People.  Such,  however,  seems  to  be  the  orderings  of 
our  Heavenly  Father,  and  we  would  cheerfully  submit.  We  shall 
follow  our  Pastor  with  great  interest  and  solicitude,  and  our  ear- 
nest prayers,  wherever  his  lot  may  be  cast,  and  shall  feel  that,  that 
church  which  shall  secure  his  stated  labors  among  them  will  be 
peculiarly  favored  of  Heaven." 

Rev.  Charles  Little,  upon  invitation,  begun  to  supply  the  pulpit 
in  the  summer  of  1865.  He  remained  with  the  church  without 
installation,  but  with  the  approval  of  the  Consociation,  about  two 
years,  and  did  a  good,  an  earnest,  and  a  faithful  work.  Thirty 
persons  were  added  to  the  church,  and  two  deacons  were  ordained 
during  his  ministrations;  Philo  M.  Trowbridge,  Nov.  3,  1865,  and 
James  H.  Linsley,  Aug.  31,  1866. 

Mr.  Little  had  spent  most  of  his  professional  life  in  the  mission- 
ary field.  After  serving  the  church  faithfully,  till  the  fall  of  1867, 
he  removed  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  his 
holy  calling.  On  parting  with  him,  the  church  passed  the  follow- 
ing unanimous  vote,  Sept.  22,  1867  : — 

"  Whereas,  Rev.  Charles  Little  has  fiiithfuUy  labored  with  us  for 
the  past  two  years,  and  his  labors  have  been  greatly  blessed  by  a 
good  Providence,  therefore 

"  Resolved^  That  we  take  pleasure  in  testifying  to  our  high  ap- 
preciation of,  and  full  confidence  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Little, 
both  as  a  man  and  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  our  best 
wishes  and  heartfelt  sympathies  will  follow  him  wherever  he  may 
go  to  labor,  in  the  wide  harvest-field  of  the  Lord." 

Oct.  13,  1867,  both  the  First  and  North  Congregational  church- 
es being  without  a  settled  pastor,  the  church 

"  Voted^  That  we  will  unite  with  the  North  church  and  also  the 
Methodist  church,  in  extending  an  invitation  to  Rev.  Mr.  Potter, 
to  labor  with  'is  durinar  the  first  week  in  December." 

Mr,  Potter  came  at  the  time  stated.  He  is  a  "  Revivalist " 
preacher,  who  does  not  settle  over  any  church,  but  goes  wherever 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1353 

he  deems  the  "  Lord  calls  him,"  to  evangelize  the  people.  Great 
good  followed  his  labors  here.  As  a  result  of  it,  about  twenty 
numbers  were  added  to  this  church,  and  various  members  to  all 
the  other  churches,  making  the  total  not  less  than  seventy-tive. 

The  church  gave  a  call,  January  16,  1868,  to  Rev.  Horace 
"Winslow,  then  of  Newington,  Conn.,  to  settle  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  There  were  various  negotiations  in  I'egard  to  the 
matter,  which  resulted  in  engaging  his  services  for  a  year.  He 
did'a  very  acceptable  work,  and  twenty-fonr  members  were  added 
to  the  church.  So  great  was  the  desire  of  the  people  to  retain 
him,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  that  almost  the  entire  congregation 
(every  one  found  at  home  by  the  canvassers)  signed  an  earnest  re- 
quest that  he  would  remain  among  them.  But  believing  a  wider 
field  of  usefulness  opened  to  him  at  Willimantic,  Conn,,  he  re- 
luctantly concluded  to  settle  there,  where  he  still  remains.  He  has 
however,  spent  his  vacations  here,  so  that  the  people  have  not  en- 
tirely lost  the  benefit  of  his  counsel  and  his  services. 

Mr,  Winslow  was  born.  May  18,  1814,  at  Enfield,  Mass.,  to 
John  H.  Winslow  and  wife,  Elizabeth  (Mills),  graduated  at  Ham- 
ilton College,  N,  Y. ;  studied  theology  at  Union  Seminary,  New 
York  city;  settled  first  at  Lansingburg,  N.  Y. ;  second,  at  Rock 
ville,  Conn,,  Oct,  1845,  and  dismissed,  Nov.,  1852;  third,  at  New 
Britain,  Conn.,  Dec,  1852,  dismissed  Dec,  1857;  fourth,  installed 
at  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  in  1858;  and  in  1862,  he  accepted  an 
appointment  as  chaplain  to  the  5tI|Conn.  Vols.,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen,  Banks,  at  Virginia,  After  serving  several  months 
as  Chaplain,  he  resigned,  and  was  installed,  Dec,  1,  18G3,  at  Bing- 
hampton,  N.  Y. ;  preached  next  at  Newington,  Conn,,  then  at 
Woodbury,  as  before  stated ;  and  then  settled  in  Willimantic? 
Conn.,  where  he  at  present  resides. 

He  married  Charlotte  H.,  daughter  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Petti- 
bone,  of  Sirasbury,  born,  July  23d,  1824,  and  married  8th  May. 
1850.  They  have  children,  as  follows: — Fanny  Hamilton,  b.  Oct. 
25,  1851  ;  Lillian,  b,  25th  July,  1854,  and  Mary,  b.  1861,  ' 

Rev.  Gurdon  W.  Noyes,  of  P"'air  Haven,  was  called  by  the 
church,  Oct.,  1869,  to  settle,and  was  installed  over  the  church, 
Dec.  8,  1869,  and  still  continues  his  ministrations,  to  the  accepf 
ance  and  profit  of  the  people.  Fifteen  members  have  been  ad* 
ded  to  the  chureh  under  his  administration. 

'  Andrews'  Hiat,  of  New  Britain,  Conn. 


1354  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Mr,  Noyes  was  born  in  Stoninf^ton,  Conn.,  Aug.  13,  1818,  being 
the  12th  son  of  his  father,  and  one  of  lY  children.  He  is  a  great 
grandson  of  Rev.  James  Noyes,  of  Stonington,  who  was  Mode- 
rator of  Synod  at  the  formation  of  the  Say  brook  Platform,  and 
one  of  the  first  donors  to  the  foundation  of  Yale  College.  The 
latter  was  son  of  Rev.  James  Noyes,  who  came  from  England  in 
1634,  and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Noyes  family  in  Connecticut.  He 
was  born  in  1608,  in  Choulderton,  Wiltshire,  England.  His  father 
was  a  very  learned  man.  He  came  to  this  country  because  he 
could  not  comply  with  the  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Brown,  not  long  before  he  came  to 
this  country.     He  preached  in  Mystic,  Conn.,  and  Newbury  Mass. 

The  family  of  Noyes  is  one  of  Norman  descent,  and  originated 
in  England  with  William  de  Noyes,  one  of  the  followers  of  the 
Duke  of  Normandy  in  his  conquest  of  England,  in  1006.  The 
family  settled  in  Cornwall,  Eng.,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  Wil- 
liam de  Noyes,  of  St.  Barian,  was  Attorney  General,  and  his  son, 
Humphrey,  was  a  Colonel  in  the  Royal  army,  and  married  the 
heiress  of  Lord  Sandys. 

Gurdon  W.  Noyes  was  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  Mass ,  in 
1846,  and  at  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  N.  Y,  in  1849.  He 
was  settled  over  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Porthmouth,  Va., 
Dec.  19th  1849  ;  over  the  Cong,  church,  at  Cornwall,  Vermont, 
in  1852;  over  the  South  Cong,  Church,  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in 
1853  ;  over  the  Second  Cong.  Church  in  Fair  Haven,  Aug.  1861  ; 
and  over  the  First  Church  of  Woodbury,  in  1869,  as  seen  in  the 
preceding  pages. 

This  old  pioneer  church  has  received  into  its  membership  since 
its  origin,  1,535.  Within  its  folds,  3,010  have  been  baptized,  and 
twenty-three  deacons  have  been  ordained,  only  three  of  whom 
sui'vive,  viz:  Eli  Summers,  who  has  held  the  office  forty-two 
years,  Philo  M.  Trowbridge  and  James  H,  Linsley.  Its  present 
membership  is  186,  58  males,  and  130  females.  The  oldest  living 
members,  by  date  of  admission,  are  Mrs.  .Julia  Blackman,  admit- 
ted in  1813,  Mrs.  Truman  Orton  and  Mrs.  James  Preston,  1814. 
The  oldest  male  members  are  Stoddard  Strong,  1821,  and  Deacon 
Summers,  1822.  Edmund  Trawbridge,  aged  85,  is  the  oldest  in 
years.  Forty  seven  persons  were  admitted  in  1850,  of  whom  only 
seven  have  died — a  small  per  centage  for  twenty-one  years. 

At  the  date  of  the  writing  of  the  former  edition  of  this  wqrk, 
Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew,  one  of  the  four  most  revered  and  sue- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODHUliV.  1355 

cessful  ministers  of  this  church,  was  still  liviug,  and  it  was  scarce- 
ly time  to  pronounce  fully  upon  his  life  and  character.  Since  then, 
May  2G,  1858,  he  has  passed  hence  to  a  bright  re-imion  with  "his 
Father  and  his  God,"  to  whom  he  had  rendered  a  life-long  and 
filial  service.  Few  men  have  lived  whose  memory  is  so  embalmed 
in  the  hearts  of  surviving  parishioners  and  friends.  The  follow- 
ing notice  of  him,  which  appeared  in  the  "New  York  Observer," 
after  his  death,  will  give  an  idea  of  his  life  and  character  : — 

"Died,  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  26th,  Rev.  Samuel  R.  7\n- 
drew,  aged  Vl  years.  Mr.  Andrew  was  long  the  lionored  pastor 
of  the  First  Congregational  church  in  Woo'lbury,  Conn.  I-^or  the 
last  twelve  years  he  has  resided  in  New  Haven,  and  for  some 
eleven  years  he  has  been  the  Secretary  to  the  corporation  of  Yale 
College.  His  intellect  was  strong,  clear,  comprehensive  and  dis- 
criminating. His  judgment  was  pre-eminently  sound  and  wise. 
Flis  taste  was  pure  and  classical.  His  stylo  in  writing  and  in  con- 
versation, was  lucid,  chaste,  and  often  elegant.  His  sensibilities 
were  exquisitely  susceptible  to  beauty  in  nature,  in  liteiature,  and 
in  character.  His  thoughts  were  always  just,  and  often  rich  and 
original.  They  were  never  tame  and  com tnonplace;  and  yet  the 
movements  of  his  intellect  were  so  harmonious,  and  its  structure 
so  symmetrical,  that  superficial  observers  failed  to  do  justice  to  it-s 
strength  and  superiority. 

"This  was  conspicuous  in  the  circle  of  clergymen  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments,  when  he  was  in  his  prime;  in 
ecclesiastical  councils,  where  his  opinions  never  failed  to  be  weighty 
and  wise ;  in  brief  conversations  on  important  iliemes,  in  respect 
to  which  he  would  sum  up  all  that  needed  to  be  said  in  a  few  brief 
but  pithy  sentences;  in  his  written  reviews  and  essays,  of  which 
many  were  given  to  the  public,  and  all,  whether  printed  or  not, 
were  carefully  elaborated  and  chastely  expressed ;  and  in  the 
thoughtful  and  elevated  sermons,  by  which  he  moulded  his  people 
by  a  constantly  refining  influence,  and  impressed  them  with  a  well- 
founded  respect  for  his  intellect,  and  an  unchanging  confidence  in 
his  wisdom. 

"He  was  a  labor*  )us  studi^nt,  and  a  close  and  conipr*^''<^nsive 
thinker.  He  pcidered  the  Scriptures  well  and  interpreted  them 
with  an  (mlightened  but  believing  spirit.  He  was  an  indefiendent 
thinker  in  theology.  The  opinions  which  he  held,  he  boldly  but 
quietly  declared   and   defended.     Every  man   who  knew  him  felt 

33 


1356  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

that  he  believed  what  he  spoke.  For  partisans  and  bigots  he  had 
little  sympathy  and  less  respect.  His  respect  for  truth  was  lite- 
rally awful,  to  hot-headed  and  self-confident  sciolists,  however 
holy  were  their  pretensions.  He  was  long  a  member  of  the  South 
Association  of  Litchfield  County,  in  which  Beecher  and  Tyler  and 
Luther  Hart  were  so  conspicuous,  and  in  which  his  own  influence 
was  eminently  useful  and  important.  Few  men  were  more  re- 
vered through  the  whole  State  of  Connecticut  than  he. 

*'  His  sensibilities  were  as  tender  as  his  intellect  was  strong.  He 
sympathized  with  all  that  is  excellent  and  noble.  His  heart  was 
warm  to  the  sufferer  and  the  sorrowing.  He  was  true  to  his 
friends  and  loved  them  warmly  and  well.  His  eye  would  fill  and 
his  lips  would  quiver  with  unfeigned  and  irrepressible  emotion  at 
the  recital  of  the  aflflictions  of  those  whom  he  loved,  but  his  sen- 
sitive decorum  would  never  yield  to  an  outbreak  of  grief.  It  was 
rare,  in  the  last  years  of  his  life,  that  he  listened  to  a  sermon  or 
even  a  brief  conversation  on  any  Christian  theme,  and  was  not 
strongly  and  deeply  moved. 

"  His  piety  was  the  very  beauty  of  holiness,  it  was  so  unaffected, 
so  symmetrical,  so  honest,  and  so  tender.  '  He  was  strong  in 
faith,  giving  glory  to  God.'  When  dreadful  waves  of  sorrow 
broke  over  him,  he  cast  himself  upon  the  promise  of  his  covenant 
God  with  the  simplicity  and  confidence  of  a  child.  When  op- 
pressed by  sad  forebodings,  he  pensively  bowed  his  head  in  prayer. 
In  the  experience  and  conduct  of  ordinary  life,  he  trusted  in  God 
as  his  Father  and  Guide.  He  was  humble,  true-hearted,  ever 
trusting,  ever  thankful,  in  the  varied  experiences  of  a  life  not  ex- 
empt from  the  cares  and  fears  that  were  especially  fitted  to  annoy 
and  depress  a  spirit  so  gentle  and  sensitive. 

"  He  died  as  few  men  die.  He  had  arranged  to  make  a  half- 
friendly,  half-pastoral  visit  to  his  old  friends  and  charge  at  Wood- 
bury, and  had  despatched  a  letter  written  in  a  more  than  usually 
cheerful  tone  to  an  intimate  and  beloved  parishioner  and  friend* 
That  letter  was  received  after  he  had  been  some  hours  dead.  On 
the  morning  of  Wednesday  he  woke  at  his  usual  hour,  and  appa- 
rently in  his  usual  health.  He  spoke  of  being  slightly  chilled,  ad- 
justed the  covering  of  his  bed,  breathed  twice  audibly,  and  in  an 
instant  was  gone.  Such  a  death  had  been  pronounced  by  him  to 
be  beautiful  and  desirable,  and  his  thought  was  fulfilled.  'Mor- 
tality was  swallowed  up  of  life.'  '  He  was  not  so  much  unclothed 
as  clothed  upon.'  •  He  walked  with  God,  and  he  was  not,  for  God 
took  him.' " 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY    .  137 

Never  perhaps  were  two  persons,  pastor  and  deacon,  more  close- 
ly associated  in  all  their  inner  religions  life  an-^  exoeriences,  than 
wera  Mr.  Andrew  and  his  deacon,  Matthew  Minor.  It  was  the 
latter  who  was  able  to  turn  the  scale  in  the  perplexed  young 
preacher's  mind,  as  to  the  question  whether  he  should  accept 
the  call  to  settle  over  this  church,  or  not.  Mr.  Andrew  wrote  an 
article  for  the  Christian  Parlor  Magazine,  in  1845,  which  relates 
this  fact,  in  the  chaste,  beautiful  and  eloquent  style  so  peculiarly 
his  own.  It  is  thought  well  to  give  this  article  entire,  it  is  so 
strongly  characteristic,  and  is  withal  so  fine  a  specimen  of  his 
style  of  thought  and  diction  : — 

''  There  is,  oftentimes,  a  real  and  most  delightful  poetry  in  many 
of  the  incidents  of  one's  life,  specially  so,  when  these  incidents 
are  looked  back  upon,  over  the  space  of  intervening  years  that 
have  since  flown  away.  Here  and  there  at  least,  in  one's  life,  se- 
lect passages  will  be  met  with,  of  surpassing  beauty  and  interest, 
as  one  thus  turns  back  and  reads  over  again  the  variously  colored 
pages  of  that  curious  and  wonderful  book.  Even  in  the  case  of 
those  persons  whose  days  are  spent  in  the  most  retired,  and  quiet, 
and  rural  walks  of  life,  many  of  these  charming  incidents  are  to 
be  found.  Ought  such  incidents  to  be  lost  and  forgotten  ? — 
Those — what  shall  we  call  them  ?  little  episodes  of  God's  peculiar 
love  and  mercy  to  us,  which  seem  to  shed  so  many  a  bright  and 
joyous  a  gleam  over  the  path,  shall  they  be  suffered  to  fade  away 
from  our  minds  and  be  forgotten  ?  They  seem  too  valuable,  too 
precious,  to  be  thus  sufiered  to  pass  away  into  oblivion,  without 
some  pains  being  taken  to  arrest  and  fix  the  fugitive  impressions 
which  they  produce  on  the  mind,  before  these  impressions  and 
scenes  which  produced  them  shall  thus  be  forever  lost  together. 

"The  writer's  lot  has  been  cast  in  one  of  the  loveliest  and  most 
picturesque  and  pleasant  of  New  England's  many  charming  val- 
leys. On  either  side  of  this  pleasant  valley,  stretching  from  north 
to  south,  on  two  opposite  ranges  of  hills,  of  considerable  height, 
approaching  somewhat  near  to  each  other  towards  the  south,  and 
thrs  forming,  in  the  interval  between  them,  is  a  kind  of  basin,  cov- 
ered in  the  summer  season  with  a  carpet  of  the  richest,  deepest 
verdure.  Through  this  valley,  and  about  midway  from  either  side 
of  it,  a  small  stream  of  water  is  seen,  like  a  thread  of  silver,  wind- 
ing along,  in  graceful  meanders,  and  every  now  and  then  covered 
from  view  by  the  fringes  of  trees,  and  wild  shrubbery  which 
grow  on  its  banks.     The  valley  seems  like  a  place  formed  for  med- 


H  I  ST  O  K  Y      OF      A  N  C  I  K  N  T      WOODBURY. 

it.ition  and  repose;  for  tliouglits  of  God,  and  thoughts  of  Heaven. 
This  peaceful  retreat,  away  from  the  great,  and  noisy,  and  jarring- 
world,  has  also  some  historical  associations  connected  with  it,  in 
what  may  be  called,  in  our  young  country,  tlie  olden  times,  which 
seem  to  add  to  it  a  still  higher  and  more  romaniic  interest.  This 
valley  was  once  the  favorite  abode  of  a  tribe,  or  the  fragment  of 
a  tribe,  of  the  red  sons  of  the  forest ;  a  race  of  men  deeply  wrong- 
ed and  injured,  and  now  almost  extinct  on  the  soil,  and  by  thp 
streams  where  they  formerly  exercised  their  own  unquestioned 
rights  of  sovereignty.  And  a  particular  spot  is  shown  to  the  cu- 
rious in  such  matters,where  (as  tradition  says)  the  remains  of  one 
of  their  chiefs  is  now  reposing,  under  a  rude  heap  of  stones. 
The  name  of  that  chief  has  been  rendered  more  imperishable  than 
his  decaying  race,  by  its  having  been  given  to  some  portion  of  the 
natural  scenery  of  the  place  where  he  and  his  tribe  once  enjoyed 
their  own  wild  freedom.  The  river  and  a  neighboring  mountain 
will  be  his  monument  to  the  end  of  time.  Associations  also  of 
vet  deeper,  stranger  interest,  more  hallowed,  more  touching,  and 
scarcely  less  romantic,  press  around  the  good  man's  heart  as  he 
enters  the  smiling  valley,  and  becomes  acquainted  with  the  history 
of  its  early  settlement.  Its  tirst  white  settlers  were  men  of  faith 
and  men  of  prayer.  They  were  eminently  men  of  this  character. 
In  the  eastern  range  of  hills,  skirting  the  village,  as  you  approach 
it  from  the  south,  and  a  short  distance  back  from  the  summit  of 
those  hills,  there  is  a  very  singular  and  almost  sacred  locality.  It 
is  a  {ilace  of  i)rayer—  secluded,  wild,  and  awe-inspiring,  to  which 
the  early  fathers  of  the  village  were  accustomed  to  resort,  to  hold 
seasons  of  retired  communion  with  God,  and  sometimes  to  spend 
together  there,  entire  days  of  fasting  and  prayer.  And  thus  this 
spot,  at  that  time  especially,  must  have  been  well  chosen  for  such 
a  purpose;  so  far  at  least  as  the  stillness  and  solitude,  the  seclu- 
sion and  wildness  of  the  place,  are  iitted  to  awaken  devotional 
feeling,  and  to  prepare  the  soul  to  commune  with  God.  And  to 
this  day,  that  '  pillar  of  stones'  in  the  mountain  is  occasionally 
visited,  as  a  sort  of  sacred  spot,  both  by  the  curious  stranger  from 
abroad,  and  by  those  of  the  villagers  themselves,  who  love  to 
hold  retired  communion  with  God  among  His  works. 

"  It  would  not  be  strange  if,  under  any  ordinary  circuni- 
;-lances  the  writer  should  feel  some  pleasant  interest  in  such  a  spot 
as  this,  and  in  the  character  of  the  peoj)le  who  occupy  the  valley, 
that  spreads  along  jtist  lieneath  this  Tiiteresting  spot.     A  serious. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1359 

devout  mind,  always  loves  to  dwell  upon  incidents,  and  objects 
which  bring  God  into  view,  and  which  tend  to  impart  a  fresh 
impulse  to  its  better,  its  holier  aspirations  and  purposes.  But 
in  the  case  before  us,  there  is  ra.rc  xhan  the  pleasantness  of 
the  natural  scenery  of  the  place,  to  awaken  interest  in  the  writer's 
mind.  There  is  more  than  the  first  historical  associations  of 
the  place;  more  than  the  wild  Mountain  Bethel,  to  which  the 
patriarchal  fathers  of  the  place  (of  blessed  memory)  were  once  in 
the  habit  of  resorting  for  prayer.  Tliere  are,  also,  incidents  and 
reminiscences  connected  with  this  place,  of  a  more  personal  kind, 
to  touch  the  writer's  heart,  and  to  call  forth  some  of  its  sweetest 
and  most  delightful  emotions.  May  he  venture  to  allude  to  one 
or  two  of  these  '  Pleasant  Remembrances  '  of  the  past  ?  They 
seem  obviously  to  bring  into  view,  and  to  exhibit  in  a  pleasing 
light  the  guiding,  gracious  hand  of  God,  in  an  hour  of  some  per- 
plexity and  doubt. 

"  It  was  in  the  spring  of  the  year  18—  that  the  writer  first  enter- 
ed this  valley,  without  any  view  of  spending  much  time  there. 
He  came  by  invitation ;  but  in  much  weakness  and  fear,  and  not 
without  some  painful  doubt  and  misgivings,  as  to  the  point  wheth- 
er, in  coming  thither,  he  was  in  the  path  of  duty  which  God 
would  have  him  pursue.  Does  the  reader  ask  why  ?  He  came 
thither  as  a  professional  messenger  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace.  And 
he  was  afraid,  lest  in  a  place  wliere  contentions  and  divisions, 
heart-burnings  and  jealousies  had  for  a  time  past  existed,  he 
might,  possibly,  through  inexperience  or  inadvertency,  injure  a 
(oause  which  he  would  gladly  serve.  On  some  accounts,  therefore, 
he  would  have  chosen  to  get  away,  as  soon  as  possible,  from  a 
field  of  «o  much  difficulty  and  so  much  responsibility.  After  pre- 
senting the  messages  of  God's  mercy  to  that  peo[»le  for  a  few  Sab- 
baths, he  became  almost  decided,  in  his  own  mind,  to  retire  from 
the  place,  and  to  await  the  call  of  God's  Providence  to  go  to  some 
other  and  more  congenial  field  of  labor.  And  yet  it  was  true  thai, 
in  many  respects,  his  feelings  were  drawn  towards  that  ])eople. 
The  determination  which  he  had  formed  on  his  first  going  there, 
not  to  remain  over  a  few  weeks,  he  felt,  after  a  while,  to  be 
giving  way  within  him.  And  now  the  question  which  oppressed 
him,  and  which  became  the  simple  naked  question  befoi'c  his  mind, 
was  the  question  of  duty  ;  not  what  he  would  like  to  do,  or  would 
not  like  to  do;  but  what,  before  God,  and  all  things  considered, 
he  ought  to  do.     And   when  the  matter  came   to  this  issue,  the 


1360  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

question  seemed  as  far  from  being  decided  as  ever,  and  as  difficult 
of  decision  as  ever. 

Some  other  persons,  possibly,  who  may  re?"-"*  these  remarks,  may 
have  revived  in  their  minds,  by  means  of  them,  the  remembrance 
of  similar  struggles,  which  they  themselves  have  experienced  in 
like  circumstances.  If  so,  they  will  know  something  of  that  state 
of  oppressive  anxiety  in  this  '  straight  between  two,'  into  which 
the  writer's  mind  was  thus  thrown.  He  felt  that  the  question  be- 
fore him  was  to  be,  in  all  probability,  the  turning  point  of  his  own 
future  life.  And  in  addition  to  this,  that  the  spiritual  interest  of 
a  respected  and  beloved  people,  in  their  critical  position,  might  be 
scarcely  less  affected,  the  one  way  or  the  other,  for  good  or  for 
evil,  by  the  manner  in  which  that  question  should  be  disposed  of 
by  him. 

"It  was  a  pleasant  afternoon  of  a  pleasant  summer's  day,  when 
a  venerable  elder  of  the  church  called  at  the  writer's  lodging,  and 
proposed  that  they  should  make  a  visit  together,  to  the  hallowed 
spot  already  mentioned  as  a  place  of  resort  for  prayer.  It  was  the 
first  time  the  writer  had  ever  been  there.  And  the  avowed  object 
of  the  elder  in  proposing  to  the  writer  to  visit  this  resort  was,  that 
he  might  be  his  guide  in  showing  him  the  way  to  the  place.  It 
was  so  secluded,  and  so  embowered  among  the  mountain  shrub- 
bery, that  it  could  not  well  be  found  by  a  stranger,  without  a 
guide.  They  went  together  to  the  spot.  At  the  foot  of  an  over- 
hanging rock,  some  thirty  or  forty  i\  et  high,  on  the  brow  of  which 
stood  an  evergreen  fir-tree,  lay  a  rough  pile  of  stone,  exhibiting 
evident  marks,  by  their  being  discolored  with  smoke  and  soot, 
that  fires  had  often  been  kindled  there.  Some  names  also  were 
rudely  inscribed  on  the  shelving  side  of  the  rook,  though  mostly 
effaced  by  the  dripping  of  water  down  the  rock.  The  whole 
scene,  in  its  external  aspect,  was  indescribably  wild.  At  least,  it 
seemed  so  then,  to  the  eye  and  feelings  of  the  writer.  The  air 
was  bi  eathlessly  still ;  scarcely  a  leaf  on  the  trees  moved.  The 
hum  of  the  village,  though  not  a  half  a  mile  off,  perhaps,  was  not 
heard.  The  inspection  of  no  human  eye  was  feared,  or  thought 
of,  in  that  lonely  mountain  retreat.  To  un  oppresoed  and  sonce- 
Avh&'l,  saddened  spirit,  and  to  an  imagination  beginning  to  hold 
some  not  unwelcome  sympathy  with  the  wildness  of  the  scene,  it 
really  did  seem  as  if  God  was  in  some  special  sense  present  there, 
and  as  if  he  might  be  worshipped  there,  with  a  fullness  and  free- 
ness  of  heart  and  soul,  not  always  experienced  elsewhere,  in  our 


a 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBUKY.  1361 

approaches  to  him.  Indeed,  the  very  feeling  of  the  soul  itself, 
8eeraed  like  a  kind  of  silent,  voiceless  worship.  And  prayer  there 
was  all  adoration,  spontaneous,  irrepressible  adoration.  The  rea- 
son of  this  was,  that  the  nature  of  the  place  strangely  suggested 
to  the  mind  the  idea,  the  great,  the  awful  idea,  of  a  present  God, 
and  especially  in  the  more  grand  and  majestic,  and  terrible  attri- 
butes of  His  being.  On  that  rude  heap  of  stones,  the  two  visit- 
ants of  this  solemn  temple  of  Nature,  sat  down  together;  the 
aged  veteran  soldier  of  Christ,  almost  ready  to  put  off  his  well- 
worn  armor,  and  the  young  and  inexpeiienced  disciple,  just  put- 
ting on  his  harness,  and  with  a  fluttering,  palpitating  heart,  half- 
hoping,  half-trembling,  in  view  of  the  prospect  before  him,  and  in 
painful  uncertainty  as  to  the  particular  direction  in  which  the 
path  of  his  duty  lay.  Little  was  said.  Few  words  became  such 
a  place;  except  that  the  grey-haired  man,  long  since  gone  to  his 
rest,  gave  some  brief  history,  partly  from  his  own  knowledge,  and 
partly  from  tradition  handed  down  from  his  fathers,  of  the  char- 
acter of  those  good  men  in  the  same  church,  who  had  gone  before 
him,  of  the  successive  pastors  of  that  church,  of  the  first  organi- 
zation of  that  church,  dating  as  far  back  as  the  year  1670,  and 
particularly  of  the  interesting  locality  itself,  where  he  and  his 
friend  (whom  he  hoped  one  day  to  call  his  minister)  were  then  sit- 
ting. It  need  scarcely  be  added,  that  the  time  soon  came,  after  a 
few  recitals  of  this  kind  were  given,  when  they  fell  down  together 
in  united  supplication,  before  the  Hearer  of  Prayer.  And  never, 
while  the  writer  retains  the  proper  use  of  his  memory,  will  he 
forget  that  prayer  of  the  venerable  elder;  and  never  will  the  im- 
pressions made  by  it  be  effaced  from  his  mind.  It  was  not  loud  ; 
it  was  not  fervent,  in  the  customary  sense  of  that  term  ;  it  was 
not  pronounced  with  a  choked  or  broken  utterance  ;  it  was  not 
accompanied  with  tears ;  nor  was  it  indicative  of  any  such  emo- 
tion as  is  usually  evinced  by  tears.  It  was  calm.  It  was  solemn. 
It  was  eminently  scriptural,  both  in  its  phraseology  and  its  spirit. 
It  bespoke  a  mind  familiar  with  Bible  truth  in  Bible  language, 
and  at  home  in  \irging  that  truth  as  an  argument  before  God  in 
prayer,  and  it  was  singularly  appropriate,  as  were  the  prayers  of 
this  good  man  at  all  times,  and  in  all  circumstances.  More  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  that  prayer  was  offered  ; 
and  yet  many  of  the  thoughts  and  expressions  employed  in  it, 
seem,  even  now,  to  be  trembling  on  the  writer's  ear,  as  if  they  had 
scarcely  ceased  to  be  heard  by  him,  and  as  if  he  had  scarcely  felt 


13G2  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

the  solemn  and  glorious  audience-chamber  of  the  Most  High,  when 
that  prayer  was  offered.  It  began  thus,  or  in  expressions  something 
like  them  : — '  Our  fathers  worshipped  in  this  mountain.  But  the 
fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever? 
We  all  do  fade  as  the  leaf.  Thou  carriest  us  away  with  the  flood. 
We  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told.  But  Thou  art  the  same; 
of  thy  years  there  is  no  end.  Thou  hast  been  the  dwelling  place 
of  Thy  people  in  all  generations.  Before  the  mountains  were 
brought  forth,  or  ever  Thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world, 
even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  Thou  art  God.  The  moun- 
tains are  Thine,  the  strength  also  of  the  hills  is  Thine."  In  this 
strain  of  s»il)lime  scriptural  reference  and  quotation,  did  he  con- 
tinue for  some  time  to  exalt  God,  and  to  sink  the  creature  in  the 
dust  before  Him,  until  that  mountain  might  almost  seem  to 
one's  imagination,  as  the  mountain  of  Israel  seemed  to  the 
prophet's  servant  'full  of  chariots  of  fire,  and  horsemen  of  fire.' 
And  then,  there  followed  a  few  words  of  entreaty  for  the  Divine 
guidance  in  difticulty,  and  for  the  resolving  of  doubts  as  to  the 
path  of  duty,  and  for  a  heart  to  do  the  will  of  God  whenevei 
known,  and  whithersoever  it  might  lead.  There  the  prayer  closed 
And  from  that  hour  the  burden  of  anxiety  on  the  writer's  mind 
began  to  roll  off.  That  visit  to  the  mountain  Bethel  was,  proba- 
bly, the  turning  point  in  his  life.  That  prayer  seemed  to  dispel 
the  cloud,  and  to  make  the  path  of  duty  plainer  to  him  than  it 
had  ever  appeared  to  him  before. 

"  Now  step  forward  a  few  months  from  that  time.  In  the  suc- 
ceeding autumn  of  the  same  year,  the  writer  became  the  pastor  of 
that  people.  And  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  he  had 
taken  upon  himself  his  ordination  vows,  and  had  become  the  pas- 
tor of  that  people,  another  little  company  was  gathered  together 
at  the  same  spot.  It  was  a  part  of  the  ordaining  Council  by 
whom  he  had  been  consecrated  to  his  work.  From  the  temple 
made  with  hands,  where  the  ordination  services  had  been  perform- 
ed, these  members  of  the  Council  had  repaired,  with  the  young- 
pastor,  to  the  mountain-temple  already  described,  and  were  now 
lifting  up  their  hearts  in  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  God.  'They 
shook  the  depths  of  the  forest's  gloom  with  their  hymns  of  lofty 
cheer ; '  a  pleasant  sequel  to  the  good  elder's  prayer,  made  at  the 
same  spot,  but  a  short  time  before.  Some  of  the  words  which 
were  sung,  and  with  which  the  "  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woodsv 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  136S 

rang,"  were  those  sprightly  and  beautiful  lines  of  Watts ; — 

'  Let  Zion  and  her  sons  rejoice, 
When  we  are  dead  !  ' 

Several  of  that  little  company,  whose  voices  were  blended  in  tha 
song  of  praise,  are  now  resting  from  their  labors.  The  others  wil 
follow  at  no  distant  day.  And  if  they  are  but  faithful  unto  death' 
is  it  any  matter  how  soon  ?  Of  the  departed  ones  of  that  little 
company,  the  Avriter  vividly  calls  to  mind  the  names  which  fol" 
low.  May  he  be  allowed  to  pay  this  passing  tribute  of  esteem 
and  love  to  their  memory.  The  judicious  and  excellent  Rev.  Mr. 
Langdon,  of  Bethlehem  ;  the  warm-hearted  and  interesting  preach- 
er, the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Southbnry  ;  the  beloved  and  successful 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  of  Plymouth.  Among  the  still  survi- 
ving members  of  that  little  company,  were  the  Rev,  Dr.  Beecher, 
now  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio  ;  the  Rev,  Dr.  Tyler,  of  South  Britain, 
now  at  the  head  of  our  New  England  theological  institution,  and 
some  others.  If  the  e>e  of  any  one  of  these  dear  brethi'en  should 
chance  to  l^ill  upon  these  humble  reminiscences  of  by-gone  daysi 
they  will  doubtless  recollect  the  scene  above  referred  to,  and  pos- 
sibly it  may  seem  to  refresh  them,  like  a  well-spring  in  the  wilder- 
ness if,  j)erchance,  they  ever  feel  weary  in  their  Master's  work. 
Nearly  thirty  years  have  gone  by,  and  yet  how  beautifully  fresh 
and  clear  that  glad  song  of  praise,  from  those  who  loved  Zion, 
and  who  loved  one  another,  seems  now  to  be  going  up  on  the 
mountain  air  to  Heaven,  from  under  the  shadow  of  that  rock  in  a 
Aveary  land.  Here  was  prayer  too,  as  well  as  praise,  in  that  little 
circle.  And  such  prayer  !  The  love  of  Christ  constrained  them. 
They  w^ere  dear  to  each  other  for  their  works'  sake.  And  when 
they  went  down  from  that  Mount  of  Transfiguration,  shall  we  call 
it,  to  their  respective  fields  of  labor,  because,  like  the  primitive 
disciples  in  the  holy  mount,  they  might  not  be  allowed  to  build 
tabernacles  there,  they  were  doubtless  the  better  prepared,  by  the 
little  incident  here  recorded,  for  their  future  trials,  and  would 
long  remember  the  refreshing  scenes  of  that  day.  Such,  at  least, 
has  been  the  case  with  the  writer  of  these  'Pleasant  Remem- 
brances.' Now,  such  incidents  as  the  foregoing,  little  in  them- 
selves, and  almost  unnoticcable,  as  they  may  seem  to  a  careless 
eye  to  be,  are  in  truth,  green  spots  in  the  wilderness  ;  beautiful 
passages  in  one's  history  ;  golden  threads  in  life's  changeable, 
many-colored  tissue;  sweet  poetry,  blessed  music  to  man's  often 


1364  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

aching  lieart.  They  adorn,  they  soothe,  they  sweeten  our  rough 
and  often  thorny  course  to  our  home.  And  why  should  not  some 
of  the  choicest  of  these  'Remembrances'  be  culled  from  the  past 
and  saved  from  oblivion,  for  the  honor  of  Him  who  has  provided 
them  for  us,  and  for  the  comfort  of  our  fellow-travelers  on  the 
same  journey,  towards  the  same  home  ? 

"  And  now  a  word,  at  parting,  to  any  who  may  cast  an  eye  over 
these  humble,  unpretending  '  remembrances.'  Since  the  incidents 
above  recorded,  respecting  these  blessed  seasons  of  prayer  took 
place,  the  frosts  of  age  have  begun  to  descend  upon  the  writer's 
head,  and  he  is  admonished  that  the  remainder  of  his  term  of  ac- 
tive service  for  the  good  of  the  only  people  whom,  as  a  pastor,  he 
has  ever  loved  and  served,  cannot  now  be  very  long.  The  shad- 
ows of  evening  will  soon  be  closed,  and  he  himself  will  go  to  join 
his  beloved  brethren,  who  have  been  called  away  from  their  work 
before  him.  Let  him  record  it,  then,  as  one  of  the  deepest  con- 
victions which  his  experience  has  furnished  him,  that  a  quiet  and 
persevering  waiting  upon  God  in  prayer,  under  any  and  all  trying 
or  doubtful  phases  of  his  Providence  concerning  ns,  is  the  only 
safe  and  only  rational  course  of  conduct  for  us  to  pursue.  Let 
him  say  to  his  junior  brethren  in  the  ministry,  or  looking  forward 
to  the  ministry ;  let  him  say  to  the  youthful  disciples  of  Christ  in 
any  situation  of  life ;  let  him  say  to  any  and  to  all  who  may  read 
these  remarks ;  confide  your  difficulties  to  God  ;  ask  counsel  from 
Him  ;  believe  in  his  word  ;  and  thus  wait  for  light  in  your  dark- 
ness ;  and  you,  too,  shall  have,  as  the  consequence,  many  a  bright 
passage  in  your  life  to  record,  and  many  a  pleasant  recollection,  to 
gladden  the  past,  when  you  shall  be  called  to  look  back  upon  it 
from  a  point  nearer  to  the  grave." 

At  length,  Mr.  Andrew's  much  loved  deacon  passed  away,  at 
the  ripe  age  of  83  years.  He  preached  a  special  sermon  on  the 
occasion  of  his  funeral,  dedicated  and  presented  it  to  the  deacon's 
children.  The  following  exti'act  from  that  sermon,  is  the  pastor's 
estimate  of  his  life  and  character ; — 

"  Deacon  Matthew  Minor  was  born  the  11th  of  Feb.,  1752,  and 
died  July  '20th,  1825,  being  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age.  He  was 
the  youngest  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Capt.  Matthew  Minor,  by  the  side  of  whose  grave  he  lies 
buried,  and  for  whose  memory  he  is  known  to  have  cherished  a 
large  share  of  filial  reverence.     His  great-grandfather  migrated  to 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBUKY  1365 

this  country  from  Great  Britain  in  tlie  early  settlement,  of  New 
England.  His  Baptism  is  recorded  in  the  hand-wriiing  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard,  the  tlien  pastor  of  this  church,  as  having  taken 
place  on  the  same  day  with  his  birth,  Feb.  11th,  1752.  Thus  early 
in  life  was  he  devoted  to  God,  in  that  affecting  ordinance  of  the 
New  Testament  church,  by  which  (at  whatever  age  administered) 
we  are  reminded  of  the  corruption  of  our  nature  and  our  conse- 
quent need  '  of  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.'  He  had  the  happiness  to  commence  life  under 
the  care  of  Christian  jxirents,  and  was  from  the  first  a  child  of 
many  pray.ers.  He  was  brought  up  strictly,  according  to  the 
piety  of  that  day,  being  taught  to  '  fear  God  '  and  to  '  honor  liis 
father  and  mother.'  In  quite  early  life  (as  he  has  told  me)  he  was 
the  subject  of  serious  impressions  of  mind,  from  time  to  time. 
Possessing  naturally  a  thoughtful,  meditative  turn  of  mind,  he 
was  often  made  to  feel,  deeply  and  strongly,  his  need  of  personal 
religion.  This  was  more  especially  true  from  about  fifteen  or  six- 
teen years  of  age,  till  he  was  eighteen  or  nineteen.  At  this  pe- 
riod in  his  life  he  became  the  subject  oi  pungent  and  distressing 
Gonvictiotis  of  sin,  insomuch  (as  he  has  been  heard  to  say)  that 
his  sinfulness  appeared  to  him  so  great,  and  the  justice  of  God  in 
his  condemnation  so  plain,  that  it  seemed  to  him,  at  times,  almost 
as  if  the  earth  would  open  and  swallow  him  up,  and  as  if  there 
was  no  mercy  for  him.  At  other  times  he  would  experience  a 
transient  respite  from  Buch  painful  convictions,  and  then  again  he 
would  harden  his  heart  against  God,  and  seek  for  happiness  and 
safety  in  a  /e^a^  way  of  justification  before  him.  Occasionally, 
while  in  this  state  of  mind,  he  would  have  short  seasons  of  what 
he  would  afterwards  think  to  be  n  false  peace  and  comfort  to  his 
soul ;  once,  in  particular,  (as  he  told  me,)  while  he  \vas  in  great 
darkness  and  distress  of  mind,  and  striving  to  make  himself  bet- 
ter by  means  of  many  prayers  and  tears,  it  seemed  to  be  forcibly 
suggested  to  him  that  he  might  now  dismiss  his  fears,  and  cease 
to  feel  further  trouble,  inasmuch  as  God  had  heard  his  prayers  and 
seen  his  tears,  and  was  now  at  peace  with  him.  This  suggestion 
was  made  to  him  in  the  following  words  of  Scripture,  which  made 
it  the  more  plausible  and  the  more  dangerous.  '  Go  thy  way,  eat 
thy  bread  with  joy,  and  drink  thy  wine  with  a  merry  heart,  for 
God  now  accepteth  thy  works.'  But  he  knew  that  his  heart  was 
still  unchanged.  His  spirit  was  'not  subdued  and  broken  for  sin, 
as  he  knew  it  must  be,  and  he  felt  no  reliance  oti  Christ,  such  as 


1366  UlSTORT    OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

he  knew  he  ought  to  feel.  Thus  '  he  escaped  the  snare  of  the 
fowler,'  in  which  there  is  reason  to  fear,  so  many  are  taken.  Then 
again,  his  convictions  returned  upon  him  with  augmented  force, 
and  the  deep  waters  went  over  his  soul.  In  this  troubled  state  of 
mind,  with  occasional  alterations  of  less  solicitude  and  less  intensi- 
ty of  exertion  to  make  himself  ^^7  for  the  kingdom  of  God,  he 
continued  for  a  considerable  length  of  time;  till,  at  last,  he  came 
to  feel  that,  in  and  of  himself,  he  was  completely  lost  /  all  hope 
forsook  him.  He  had  done  what  he  could,  and  it  was  to  no  pur- 
pose, and  he  now  felt  h'raself  to  be  (to  use  his  own  figure  of 
speech)  like  a  twig  of  a  tree  that  had  been  broken  off  from  the 
oM  parent  stock,  where  it  always  had  been  living,  and  before  it 
was  grafted  into  the  new  and  better  stock  into  which  it  was  about 
to  be  inserted,  and  where  it  was  to  blossom  and  grow  and  bear 
fruit,  by  having  a  new  and  better  life  supplied  to  it,  derived  from 
its  new  and  better  stock.  It  was  in  svch  a  state  of  mind,  broken 
off,  as  it  were,  from  the  '  old  Covenant  of  works,^  as  a  method  of 
life  and  salvation,  and  almost  despairing  of  any  relief  that  would 
meet  his  case,  and  not  yet  '  grafted  into  Christ,''  by  a  true  and  liv- 
ing faith ;  as  he  was  one  day  sitting  by  himself,  in  a  retired  apart- 
ment to  which  he  was  accustomed  to  resort,  and  reading  the  1st 
Epistle  of  John,  he  came  (slowly  and  sadly  and  despairingly)  to 
the  words  of  our  text  and  read  thetn.  'These  things  have  I  writ- 
ten unto  you  that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  ye 
may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye  tnay  believe  on 
the  name  of  the  Son  of  God.'.  It  was  enough.  The  mystery 
was  ended.  The  dark  puzzle  was  cleared  up.  Light  broke  in 
upon  his  mind.  He  saw  the  way  clearly.  He  felt  himself  grafted, 
an  underserving  worthless  branch,  into  Christ,  prepared  to  derive 
all  his  hope  and  comfort /row  Him.  From  that  time  his  new  life, 
as  a  Christian,  commenced.  To  that  portion  of  Scripture  he  often 
referred,  in  after  life,  as  the  '■  loord''  upon  which  he  had  been  led 
to  hope,  and  from  thenceforth  he  dated  his  singularly  close  and 
exemplary  walk  with  God,  This  took  place  when  he  was  some- 
where between  eighteen  and  twenty  years  of  age.  His  hope,  as 
thus  commenced,  he  continued  to  cherish,  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  through  a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years.  Nat- 
urally cautious,  shrinking  and  self- distrustful,  especially  in  regard 
te  the  all  important  question  of  his  own  piety  and  personal  accept- 
ance before  God  as  he  was,  he  never  gave  up  this  hope  to  the  last. 
In  the  afflctions  which  he  was  called  to  experience,  (and  he  had 


HISTORY      OF      A  X  C  I  K  N  T      W  O  O  L)  B  U  K  Y  .  1 3  Y6 

some  severe  trials  to  pass  through,)  this  hoi)e  never  forsook  him 
and  often  it  was  to  him,  in  times  of  trouble  and  sorrow,  like  '  an 
anchor  to  the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast,  entering  into  that 
within  the  veih'  He  had,  it  is  true,  at  times,  some  remaining 
doubts  and  fears  about  his  own  religious  state  and  character,  and 
perhaps  was  never  wholly  free  from  these,  jai^  upon  tliewliole,  his 
trust  in  the  Redeemer,  his  habitual  communion  with  God  in 
prayer,  and  his  hopes  and  consolations  from  the  Gospel,  were  such 
as  kept  his  mind  in  peace.  He  never  appeai'ed  to  have  any  doubts, 
even  the  smallest,  about  the  way  of  salvation,  however  he  might 
feel  occasionally  as  to  the  question  whether  he  was  himself  inte- 
rested in  that  way  so  as  to  be  saved  by  it.  And  on  this  latter 
point,  though  (as  I  have  said)  unusually  cautious  and  self-distrust- 
ful beyond  most  other  men  whom  I  have  known,  he  had,  in  the 
'main,  a  settled  and  Hrm  trust  that  he  had  built  on  the  '  sure  foun- 
dation '  and  that  he  should  tlierefore,  through  grace,  be  accepted 
and  saved  at  last,  among  the  innumerable  blood-washed  company 
before  the  Throne.  With  this  sweet  and  blessed  '  hope,'  appa- 
rently strong  and  abiding  within  him,  he  went  slowly  and  gradu- 
ally down  into  tlie  dark  valley,  till  death  removed  him  from  our 
view.  May  I  be  permitted  to  add,  that  during  his  last  illness,  un- 
til by  slight  attacks  of  paralysis,  his  mental  powers  became  some- 
what impaired,  his  conversations  with  myself  (which,  by  his  bed- 
side, were  many)  on  the  great  subjects  of  doctrinal  and  experi- 
montal  Christianity,  and  especially  on  the  icay  of  acceptance  by 
Christ,  were  of  the  most  strengthening  and  delightful  character. 
His  religion,  as  now  exhibited  in  these  interviews,  was  anything 
but  gloomy.  His  soul  now  dwelt  in  a  region  too  elevated,  pure, 
etherial,  to  be  habitually  or  often  clouded  with  gloom.  True  in- 
deed, his  views  of  ^m  as  committed  against  a  Holy  God,  and  in  vi- 
olation of  His  Law  of  infinite  authority  and  rectitude,  were  now, 
as  they  always  had  been  before  through  life,  deep  and  awl"ul.  It 
would  make  you  almost  shudder  to  hear  him  talk  on  that  theme* 
But,  at  the  same  time,  his  views  of  the  atonement  by  the  blood  of 
Christ — his  views  of  the  Gospel  meth(;d  ol'  a  sinner's  acceptance 
and  justification  before  God,  as  to  its  sufficiency  andfilness  to  the 
si?iner^s  case,  were  so  much  above  and  beyond  his  views  of  the 
sinner's  guilt,  (great  as  that  guilt  is)  that  when  he  came  to  speak 
of  the  way  of  salvation  hy  faith  in  Christ,  it  was  always  in  terms 
full  of  hope  and  joy,  and  sometimes  even  of  triumph. 
"At  the  age  of  twenty  years,  March  1,  1772,  he  made  a  public 


1368  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

profession  of  religion,  and  joined  the  Church.  Nov.  25,  1793,  he 
was  chosen  a  deacon  in  this  church,  in  which  office  he  continued 
till  his  death,  discharging  its  duties  with  fidelity  and  great  accept- 
ance, to  both  the  church  and  the  people  for  some  forty  years. 

"  Thrice  he  was  elected  to  represent  this  town  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Slate — though  few  men  have  ever  so  instinctively 
shrunk  from  notoriety  and  intercourse  with  the  world  in  public 
political  life.  He  was  very  often  chosen  a  member  of  this  Conso- 
ciation, and  his  prayers  and  counsels  in  that  body  were  always 
welcome;  in  times  of  difficult)',  they  were  especially  desired  and 
valued.  In  his  system  of  Family  Government  he  was  strict 
and  thorough,  and  he  had  the  privilege  of  living  to  see  most  of 
his  children,  and  many  of  his  grand-children,  hopefully  converted 
and  members  of  the  church.  Among  the  circle  of  his  relatives 
generally  there  is  an  uncommonly  large  proportion  who  are  the 
professed  followers  of  Christ. 

"  His  own  communion  with  God  in  secret^  and  his  acquaintance 
with  the  Scriptures,  were  almost  without  a  parallel.  Of  the  latter 
only  can  I  now  speak.  About  the  time  of  his  conversion  he  be- 
gan the  practice,  which  he  followed  through  life,  of  reading  the 
Bible  through  by  course  once  a  year.  This  was  in  addition  to  all 
his  other  and  occasional  reading  of  it — which  was,  probably,  far 
more.  Thus,  by  course,  (once  every  year,)  he  had  read  it  all 
through  more  than  sixty  times,  and  his  knowledge  of  that  Book 
was  very  minute  and  accurate,  and  his  ability  to  quote  it  in  prayer 
singularly  happy. 

"  But  time  admonishes  me  to  desist ;  suffice  it  only  to  add,  in 
giving  this  sketch  of  his  life  and  character,  that  he  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  and  practical  wisdom,  of  few  words,  of  a  modest, 
unassuming  deportment,  slow  and  cautious  in  forming  his  opinions, 
but  firm  and  unwavering  in  maintaining  them.  In  his  manners, 
there  was  a  happy  mixture  of  Christian  dignity  and  relf-respect, 
on  the  one  hand,  and  of  Christian  simplicity  and  humility  on  the 
other.  One  trait  in  his  religious  character  was  quite  remarkable. 
He  looked  upon  death  and  the  things  which  lie  beyond  death, 
with  a  kind  of  trembling  awe  and  solemnity.  He  used  to  speak  of 
himself  as  having  been  '  all  his  life-time  subject  to  bondage  through 
fear  of  death.'  Yet  when  he  came  to  die,  that  dread  of  death 
which  he  had  been  accustomed  to  feel,  even  to  a  morbid  degree, 
perhaps,  seemed  to  be  taken  away,  and  his  end  was  peace.  Thus 
lived  and  died  one  of  the  best  of  men  with  whom  it  has  been  my 
lot  to  be  acquainted." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1369 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1860,  the  descendants  of  this  good 
man  held  a  family  re-union  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Erastus  Minor 
who  occupied  the  homestead  of  his  father,  Deacon  Minor,  which 
is  situated  a  few  rods  north  of  the  location  ot  the  house  occupied 
by  Capt  John  Minor,  at  the  founding  of  the  town,  long  since  de- 
molished. The  deacon's  descendants,  by  blood  and  marriage, 
numbered,  at  this  time,  125.  The  occasion  was  one  of  great  in- 
terest and  enjoyment  to  the  family.  There  was  an  address  of 
welcome,  a  historical  family  address,  reading  of  the  Scriptures 
from  the  old  Bible  read  so  many  years  by  the  deacon,  a  sermon, 
refreshments,  ''  after  dinner "  speeches,  songs,  closing  with  the 
following  ode,  written  by  one  of  the  grand-daughters  : — 

"  Beautiful,  bright,  are  the  October  days  ; 
Gorgeous  ia  their  golden  haze  ; 
Gladly  we  welcome  their  presence  here. 
Solemn,  sacred,  best  of  the  year. 
More  glorious  still  is  this  union  sweet, 
Where  kindred  friends  together  meet, 
To  honor  the  sire,  himself  a  host, 
Long  gone  before,  but  still  not  lost. 

"  As  we  meet  here  with  filial  tread, 
Retrace  the  footsteps  of  the  dead, 
And  wake  the  silent  echoes,  where 
Long  dwelt  tha  sainted  man  of  prayer. 
We  seem  to  see  his  noble  form, 
His  reverend  brow,  his  accents  watm, 
His  arm, chair  in  its  wonted  place, 
His  Bible,  too,  that  gift  of  grace. 

Hail  mighty  spirit  of  the  dead. 
Upon  our  hearts  thine  influence  shed. 
While  here  we  meet  with  filial  love, 
Smile  on  thy  chilaren  from  above. 
A  heavenly  token  let  us  see, 
Which  to  thy  seed  shall  ever  be, 
As  on  we  tread  life's  devious  ways. 
A  benediction  all  our  days. 

It  was  an  occasion  reverent  in  its  honor  of  the  dead,  and  long  to 
be  remembered  with  pleasant  thoughts   by  all  who  were  present. 

It  will  be  seen,  on  page  306,  that  lion.  Noah  B.  Benedict  be- 
queathed certain  propei'ty  to  the  society,  now  occupied  as  a  par- 
sonage on  certain  peculiar  conditions,  among  which  was  the  fol- 
lowing : — 


1374  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  Nor  shall  said  Society  take  benefit  of  this  bequest,  if  it  shall  hereafter  cease 
to  maintain  the  jo«re  dictrines  of  the  Gospel,  as  now  held,  preached  and  under' 
stood  by  our  Pastor  (Mr.  Andrews)  and  his  people." 

After  a  few  more  years  shall  have  rolled  away  into  eternity,  it 
might  be  difficult  to  prove  in  a  court  of  law  how  Mr.  Andrew's  "peo- 
ple" actually  did  "believe  and  understand  the  pure  principles  of 
the  gospel."  But  it  was  thought  it  could  be  determined  how  Mr" 
Andrew  "held,  preached  and  understood"  these  doctrines,  and  ac- 
cordingly, the  society,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1868,  in  legal  meeting, 

"  Voted^  That  the*  Clerk  of  the  Society  be  requested  to  procure 
from  the  widow  of  our  former  Pastor,  the  late  Kev.  S.  R.  Andrew, 
one  or  more  of  his  sermons,  formerly  delivered  by  him  from  our 
pulpit,  and  covering  doctrinal  points,  and  of  a  character  to  show 
in  any  Court,  if  needed,  the  doctrines  which  he  preached,  the  same 
to  be  preserved  with  the  records,  and  other  documents  of  the 
Society." 

In  accordance  with  this  vote,  his  farewell  sermon,  which  cover- 
ed the  whole  field  of  his  doctrinal  belief,  was  procured,  and  is  now 
preserved  in  the  archives  of  '  ye  ancient  Society.  " 

Thus  have  we  minutely  traced  the  "  dealings  of  the  Lord  "  with 
this  branch  of  the  '*  Church  universal,"  from  its  stormy  founda- 
tion in  1670,  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  202  years.  Our  zion 
has  been  greatly  favored  of  Heaven,  and  peace  and  prosperity 
prevail  in  all  our  borders. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

CIVIL    HISTORY CONTINUED    FROM    PAGE  342. 

Miscellaneous  events  from  1853  to  1872;  Tories;  Local  School  Fund; 
Remembkr  Raker;  Colonel  Seth  Warner;  Parson  Stoddard  and  the  gun- 
lock;  Epidemics;  Ancient  buririal-ground;  New  burial-grounds;  New 
County  Proposition;  Ancient  tea-party;  Moll  Cramer,  the  witch*;  Break 
NECK  hill;  Natural  curiosities;  Walker  headstone;  Rampit  hill;  Par- 
son Wildman's  Donation  visit  ;  Parker  Academy  ;  Bethel  Rock  Lodge  ; 
WooDBURv  Bank  ;   Building  Association  ;  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  No.  7. 


couni  of  the  miscellane- 
ous e\e!its  tint  have  oc 
^    (  u  led     Miicc    18o3,    we 
note     I  lew    ol   the   most 
mpo)  t  ml    Foi  tilt  pui- 
[)()^c    of     (.hiinc-s    and 
i5  ptispicuit},   we  have  al- 
vvni.  OoiiirensiesuieiicL.  ready    noticed,    in     the 

other  divisions  of  this  work,  many  of  the  most  interesting  of  them. 
We  repeat,  in  a  slightly  varied  form,  a  few  of  the  topics  intro- 
duced into  the  forinei-  edition,  for  the;  purpose  of  allowing  the  ar- 
tist to  give  his  interpretation  of  them.  Very  few  items  of  the  an- 
cient liistory  of  the  town  h'lve  been  discovered,  after  the  thorough 
gleaning  of  iacts  from  every  source  that  was  employed  on  a  I'or- 

34 


13Y2  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

mer  occasion.  A  few  additional  names  of  revolutionary  soldiers 
have  been  recorded,  and  will  appear  in  the  chapter  of  statistics  at 
the  end  of  this  volume. 

During  tlie  war  of  the  Revolution,  Woodbury  was  remarkably 
free  from  effective  tories.  While  other  towns  had  bitter  and  se- 
vere conflicts  among  their  own  inhabitants,  and  even  among  mem. 
bers  of  the  same  families,  resulting  in  euDrinities  and  bloodshed, 
our  town,  thanks  to  its  standing  Committee  of  Vigilance  and  Ob- 
servation, consisting  of  as  many  as  thirty  of  the  leading  and  most 
reliable  citizens,  was  practically  free  from  trouble.  The  laws 
against  the  enemies  of  the  patriotic  cause  were  very  severe  and 
comprehensive.  The  spirit  of  the  people  was  at  fever  heat,  and 
although,  from  the  sensitive  jealousy  of  all  our  people,  even  the  ap 
appearance  of  any  unpatriotic  conduct,  caused  prosecutions  to  be 
somewhat  frequent,  convictions  were  very  rare.  But  twelve  cases 
of  successful  confiscation  of  the  estates  of  individuals  appear  upon 
our  Probate  records,  the  district  at  that  time  embracing  a  terri- 
tory including  Waterbury  and  Litchfield  on  the  East,  New  Fair- 
field on  the  South,  and  all  the  territory  within  these  towns,  to 
Massachusetts  on  the  North,  and  New  York  on  the  West.  Four 
of  these  were  in  Ancient  Woodbury,  four  were  residents  of 
New  Milford,  and  four  were  of  Waterbury.  If  there  were  oth-. 
er  convicted  tories,  they  must  have  been  destitute  of  estates,  or 
they  would  have  been  recorded.  This  is  not  a  bad  record,  surely, 
for  our  ancient  town,  containing,  at  that  period,  some  6,000  in- 
habitants, or  at  least  treble  the  present  population. 

Among  the  resources  from  which  our  public  schools  are  sup- 
ported, is  one  of  £100,  old  tenor — $333.33 — which  is  kept  at  in- 
terest, and  the  interest  only  applied  to  the  support  of  schools.  It 
has  always  been  reported,  that  this  sum  was  a  bequest  for  this 
purpose  by  one  ©f  the  Shermans  ;  but  the  writer  has  not  been 
able  to  verify  the  correctness  of  the  story.  It  is  believed  that  it 
is  the  remainder  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  Wood- 
bury's share  of  the  school  lands,  set  apart  for  the  support  of 
schools,  under  the  ''Fundamental  Articles"  of  1673.  This  opin- 
ion gains  strength  from  a  vote  passed  by  the  First  Ecclesiastical 
Society,  Dec.  6th,  1784,  viz:  "  Voted,  That  Doct.  Orton  and  Na- 
than Preston  be  a  committee  to  take  care  of  all  the  public  moneys 
belonging  to  the  school  in  this  society."  This  was  111  years  after 
the  land  had  been  "  sequestered  "  for  this  use,  and  the  tenor  of 
that  appropriation  seemed  to   be,  that  the  principal   should  never 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  \3l3 

be  expendeil.     It  is   plausible,  therefore,  to   suppose  that  this  was 
the  origin  of  our  present  "Local  School  Fund." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  transmission  of  warlike  and  other 
traits  of  character  down  to  remote  generations.  An  instance  of 
this  kind  may  be  instanced  in  the  case  of  the  late  Brig.  Gen.  La- 
Fayette  C.  Baker,  Provost  Marshal  of  the  War  Dcpaitment,  and 
Chief  Detective  officer  of  the  United  States  Army.  lie  was  son 
of  Remember  Baker,  of  Staiford,  N.  Y.,  afterwards  of  Lansing, 
Mich.,  and  grandson  of  Capt.  Remember  Baker,  of  Woodbury, 
who  was  one  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  cousin  of  Co'. 
Ethan  Allen,  and  Col.  Seth  Warner.  Capt.  Ileniember  Baker,  the 
elder,  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  His  head,  right  hand  and  toes 
were  cut  oft',  and  carried  as  trophies  to  Quebec,  wliere  they  were 
exposed  to  public  gaze  on  a  stake,  placed  on  the  walls.  His  slay- 
ers also  took  the  gold  brooches  which  he  wore,  and  delivered 
them,  with  the  head,  to  the  Commandant  at  Quebec,  who  after 
wards,  having  discovered  on  them  some  Masonic  emblems,  caused 
the  head  and  hand  to  be  taken  away  and  buried.  A  reward  of 
£50  had  been  offered  for  his  head,  and  the  reason  for  carrying  the 
head  to  Quebec  was,  to  claim  the  reward. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  it  became  frequently  necessary 
to  send  pi-isoners  of  war  into  the  interior  towns  for  safe  keeping. 
Neither  party  had  then  become  so  civilized  as  to  impale  frisoners. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1776,  Major  Luckwood  reported  to  the 
New  York  Committee  of  Safnty,  that  he  had  sent  the  following 
prisoners  of  war  from  Pound  Ridge,  N.  Y.,  to  Woodbury,  Conn., 
for  safe  keeping,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Bowten,  viz: — James 
Wilson,  John  Murry,  Samuel  Coppin,  Jeremiah  Reerdor,  Henr^r 
Kilgrove,  Michael  Cowney,  and  his  child. ' 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  Ex-Gov.  Ililard  Hall,  of  Bennington,  Vt., 
called  the  writer's  attention  to  the  following  matter, — desiring  an 
examination  into  the  facts  stated,  and  a  reply: — 

"In  Harper's  Magazine  for  December  last,  there  appeared  an 
article  entitled  'a  nerc  anecdote  of  Washington,'  to  the  effect  that 
while  he  was  making  the  tour  of  the  Northern  States,  in  the  fall  of 
1789,  he  made  an  unexpected  call  at  the  residence  of  the  widow 
of  Col.  Seth  \Varner,  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  informed  her  that  he 
had  ascertained  that  her  homestead  had  been  left  by  her  patriotic 
husband  encumbered   by  a  heavy  mortgage,  and   then   took  from 

•  3  Am.  Archives,  273. 


1374  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

his  valise  '  a  bag  of  silver  and  deliberately  proceeded  to  draw  out 
and  count  from  it,  till  he  had  reached  the  sum  of  nine  hundred 
and  some  odd  dollars,' the  precise  amount  due  the  creditor  '  in 
principal,  interest  and  fees  for  the  discharge  of  the  mortgage,' 
which  sum  the  astonished  widow  accepts  from  her  illustrious  vis- 
itor, and  with  it  relieves  her  estate  from  the  encumbrance." 

Accordingly,  after  a  careful  inquiry,  the  following  answer  was 
returned,  which  explains  itself: — 

Woodbury,  Conn.,  April  20,  1865. 
Hon.  Hilard  Hall, — 

Dear  Sir : — Your  favor  of  the  6th  ultimo  was  duly  received 
and  would  have  been  answered  earlier,  except  for  pressing  pro- 
fessional engagements.  You  call  my  attention  to  the  story,  which 
is  going  the  rounds  of  the  press,  in  relation  to  Gen.  Washington's 
paying,  in  1789,  a  heavy  mortgage  on  the  homestead  of  Mrs.  Es- 
ther Warner,  widow  of  Col.  Seth  Warner,  of  this  town.  In  re- 
ply to  your  inquiries,  I  have  to  state,  that  during  the  seven  years 
I  was  engaged  in  collecting  materials  for  the  history  of  Ancient 
Woodbury,  I  never  heard  a  word  of  the  transaction  referred  to. 
As  we  have  a  strong  local  pride  in  the  history  of- Col.  Warner, 
and  a  national  pride  in  and  reverence  for  the  character  of  Wash- 
ington, I  would  be  glad  if  the  story  were  true.  But  a  reference 
to  our  town  and  probate  Records  show,  conclusively,  that  it  is 
not  true.  By  these  records,  it  appears  that  Noah  Frisbie  deeded 
fifty-one  acres  of  land,  with  the  buildings  thereon,  in  the  Parish 
of  Roxbury,  in  the  south-west  part  of  Woodbury,  to  Col.  Seth 
Warner,  of  Bennington,  Vermont,  Oct.  16,  1783.  Col.  Warner 
died  in  December  of  the  next  year.  Administration  was  granted 
on  his  estate  Jan.  19,  1785,  to  his  widow,  Esther  Warner,  and 
Capt.  David  Leavenworth.  The  estate  was  represented  insolvent, 
and  proved  to  be  so,  paying  only  two  shillings  ten  pence  on  the 
pound  ;  from  all  his  property,  both  in  Connecticut  and  Vermont. 
The  inventory  of  his  estate  included  the  fifty-one  acres  of  land  be- 
fore mentioned,  and  was  sold,  subject  to  the  widow's  dower,  the 
use  during  life  of  one-third  of  it  having  been  set  out  to  her  at 
£118 — 14 — 4,  including  the  avails  of  his  few  personal  effects. 
Thus  it  appears  that  the  whole  value  of  his  property  was  much 
less  than  the  story  has  it.  Of  course  there  could  be  no  mortgage 
on  the  widow's  dower  under  this  state  of  facts,  and  the  records 


H  I  S  T  O  U  Y     OP     A  N  0  I  E  X  T     W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  , 


1:^75 


show  no  mortgage  eitlier  before  or  after  Col.  Warner's  death, 
either  of  his  or  her  interest  in  the  land.  The  avails  of  the  Col.'s 
Verment  property  is  carried  out  as  £71 — 2 — 3. 

The  inventory  shows  that  at  time  of  his  death  Col.  Warner 
owned  no  horse,  and  therefore  Gen.  Washington  could  not  have 
seen  his  son  Seth.  "  grooming  liiin."  By  a  reference  to  the  Wood- 
buiy  History,  and  other  authorities,  it  will  be  seen,  that  Col.  Wai-- 
ner  was  disabled  in  service,  in  1777,  and  it  would  therefore  be  singu- 
lar that  Washington  should  have  seen  him  "on  parade,"  and  should 
twelve  years  afterwards,  have  remembered  his  "  war  horse." 

There  is  no  tradition  that  Washington  visited  Woodbury  after 
the  close  of  the  war  for  independene.  During  that  war,  there  is  a 
tradition  that  he,  with  his  staff,  passed  through  the  town  on  sev- 
eral occasions,  and  houses  are  still  pointed  out  where  he  is  said  to 
have  lodged.  This  town  was  in  the  line  of  the  regular  route 
from  Boston  to  the  army  on  the  Hudson  River.  The  foregoing, 
I  believe,  answers  all  the  questions  you  asked  n.ie.  You  are  at 
liberty  to  use  this  letter  in  any  manner  you  choose  in  aid  of  the 
truth  of  history.  Yours  very  truly, 

William  Cotiiren. 

On   page  79  an   account  is  given  of  the  killing  of  two  hostile 


1376 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


Mohawk  Indians,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard.  While  clearing  out  a 
lot  of  rubbisli  behind  the  huge  chimney,  in  the  old  Parsonage 
liouse,  which  was  built  in  1700,  an  exceedingly  large  gun-flint 
lock  was  discovered,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  writer. 


Its  proportions  are  enormous.  The  base  of  the  lock  is  some  nine 
inches  in  width,  height  of  cock  about  six  inches,  face,  or  width 
for  holding  flint,  one  and  a  half  inclies.  The  calaber  of  the  gun 
needing  so  large  a  flint-lock,  must  have  been  of  ungainly  propor- 
tions, requiring  the  strength  of  a  giant  to  wield  it  with  such 
deadly  efi^ect,  as  it  is  related  the  good  old  parson  did.  There  is  a 
great  deal  of  history  in  this  old  flint  lock,  successor  of  the  match- 
lock. The  latter  was  so  ungainly  a  contrivance,  it  is  diflicult  to 
see  how  any  damage  could  have  ever  been  inflicted  upon  any  one 
but  him  who  wielded  it. 

On  page  148  is  an  account  of  several  periods  of  alarming  sick- 
ness, which  carried  ofl"  great  numbers  of  people.  We  had  another 
of  the  seasons  of  great  mortality  during  the  winter  of  1870-71. 
The  diseases  of  which  the  people  died  were  not  precisely  epidem- 
ic, ihough  fever  was  the  prevailing  disease;  but  men,  women  and 
children  unaccountably  sickened  and  died,  without  apparent  rea- 
son for  such  mortality.  A  large  number  of  the  most  prominent 
and    useful  citizens   were  taken,  and   many  others   grappled  with 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1377 

the  fell  disease.  Within  six  months,  47  persons  died,  out  of  a  popu- 
lation of  less  than  2,000.  It  was  a  sad  season,  well  calculated  to 
impress  the  heart  of  the  most  careless. 

Though  the  ancient  burial  ground  south  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
was  used  for  the  purposes  of  sepulture  from  the  founding  of  the 
town  in  1672,  it  was  never  formally  laid  out  till  1741.  By  a  vote 
of  the  town  it  was  in  that  year  laid  out,  by  the  Committee  of 
common  and  undivided  lands.  By  its  description,  we  learn  that 
Deacon  Zechariah  Walker,  son  of  the  first  pastor,  lived  on  the  lot 
now  occupied  by  widow  Burton  Candee. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  this  ground,  though  burials  were  fre- 
quent, had  become  much  neglected.  Briars  and  weeds  covered 
the  whole  area.  Tlie  south-eastern  part,  now  the  most  beautifully 
adorned,  was  the  receptacle  of  the  waste  of  the  ground,  including 
the  ravine,  no'w  so  beautiful.  The  western  border  was  occupied 
by  the  town'  pound,  and  the  refuse  of  the  neighboring  manufac- 
tories were  piled  along  the  western  borders.  The  whole  thing 
was  an  insult  to  the  ashes  of  six  generations.  This  state  of  things 
struck  some  of  the  people  very  unpleasantly,  and,  accordingly,  the 
matter  was  brought  before  a  special  meeting  of  the  town.  May  22, 
1868.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  the  subject,  and 
report. the  action  desirable  for  the  town  to  adopt.  The  committee 
accordingly  reported,  that  the  pound  should  be  removed  to  the 
river,  the  whole  of  the  land  cleared  of  rubbish,  and  enclosed  to 
the  highway  on  the  west,  and  cleared  also  on  the  east.  The  west 
side  was  to  be  graded.  This  report  was  accepted,  and  its  recom- 
mendations carried  out.  At  the  same  time  it  was  voted,  that 
though  heretofore  this  ground  had  been  common  land,  any  house- 
holder might  take  up  a  lot  in  the  unoccupied  ground  thus  reclaim- 
ed, and  have  a  title  to  the  same,  on  improving  it.  Under  this 
provision  the  forlorn  and  desecrated  south-east  corner  has  become 
the  most  ornamented  and  beautiful  in  the  cemetery.  The  south- 
west, or  "  pound  "  corner,  has  been  also  beautified,  and  has  become 
very  desirable  for  the  resting  place  of  our  deceased  loved  ones. 

At  the  same  time,  a  lot  containing  about  one  and  three-quarters 
acres  of  land,  adjoining  the  north  burial  ground,  was  purchased  by 
the  town  as  an  addition  to  that  cemetery,  and  a  lane  between  the 
two  was  discontinued,  ^o  as  to  form  a  continuous  ground.  Then 
immediately  began  a  fierce  contest  among  the  inhabitants,  on  the 
question  of  whether  the  addition  should  be  "free  ground,"  as  it 
was  called,  that  is,  every  one  to  have  the  right  to  occuj)y  any  lot 


1378  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

in  the  ground  without  question,  ov  whether  the  inhabitants  should 
have  a  right  to  purchase  family  lots,  and  take  an  indisputable  title 
to  the  same,  that  they  might  beautify  and  hold  them  with  immu- 
nity from  trespass,  as  any  other  real  estate  is  held.  Although  the 
old  rule  had  been,  that  the  family  that  first  occupied  a  lot,  should 
be  enabled  to  retain  the  same  as  a  family  burial  lot,  without  mo- 
lestation, yet  in  point  of  practice,  there  were  continual  encroach- 
ments, by  other  burials,  on  the  appropriated  family  lots.  Strange 
as  it  may  seem,  there  was  a  little  controversy,  and  the  town  was 
nearly  equally  divided  on  the  question,  whether  the  old  plan  of 
inevitable  enchraachments  should  be  continued,  or  whether  each 
head  of  a  family,  on  paying  an  assessed  price,  should  have  title 
to  a  lot,  to  beautify  and  adorn  as  private  property,  according  to 
his  individual  taste.  Meeting  after  meeting  was  called;  contrary 
determinations  were  arrived  at ;  suits  for  mandamus  and  injunc- 
tion followed,  till  the  town  was  in  quite  a  turmoil  of  excitement. 
It  was  finally  determined,  in  a  special  meeting  of  the  town,  that 
one  third  of  the  addition  should  be  "free  ground,"  after  the  old 
fashion,  and  that  the  remainder  should  be  sold,  as  called  for,  at 
assessed  prices,  the  money  to  go  into  the  town  treasury,  and  the 
purchaser  to  have  a  deed  of  the  same,  for  the  purposes  of  sepul- 
ture alone,  with  f-iU  covenants.  The  effect  has  been,  that  the  fam- 
ilies have  taken  an  increased  interest  in  the  several  lots,  and  the 
two  cemeteries  present  an  improved  and  tasteful  appearance,  cred- 
itable to  the  people,  and  in  accordance  with  that  delicate  taste 
we  should  ever  bestow  upon  the  lonely  resting  place  of  our  be- 
loved dead. 

In  1748,  1751  and  1768,  (see  pages  153-4)  there  were  efforts  to 
establish  a  new  county  of  \Voodl)ury,  with  Woodbury  for  its 
shire  town.  Litchfield  County  was  however  selected  instead, 
with  Litchfield  for  its  County  seat.  The  matter  rested  there  till 
the  s})ring  of  1871,  more  than  a  hundred  years,  when,  on  account 
of  the  fact  that  railroads  had  been  built  on  either  side  of  the 
County,  and  the  shire  town  had  become  more  difticult  of  access 
than  many  other  towns,  an  application  Avas  made  to  the  Legisla- 
ture for  a  new  County,  its  seat  to  be  at  Waterbury. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  and  a  vote  passed,  that  the  town  was 
in  favor  of  a  new  County,  and  appointed  a  committee  of  five  to 
advocate  the  measure  before  the  Legislature.  But,  with  the  com- 
mendaMe  prudence  in  the  expenditure  of  money  which  has  char- 
acterized   tlie  town  every  time   tliis   subject   has    been   agitated 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT    WOOD15URT 


1379 


for  the  last  liundred  years,  a  fartlier  vote  was  passed,  that  the 
prosecution  of  the  enterj)rise  should  be  conducted  without  expense 
to  the  toimi!  The  committee  which  had  been  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  William  Cothren,  Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  James  Huntington, 
George  B.  Lewis  and  Cornelius  J.  Minor,  most  of  whom  were  not 
present  at  the  meeting,  or  learning  the  terms  on  which  they  could 
address  the  "  worshipful "  General  Assembly,  declined  to  turn 
aside  from  their  ordinary  avocations,  to  engage  in  such  a  thank- 
less task  at  their  own  expense,  and  the  other  towns  having  evinced 
a  similar  want  of  pecuniary  interest  in  the  enterprise,  it  most  in- 
glorious ly  ^''fell  tJirough  ! '''' 

There  is  a  very  prevalent,  though  probably  erroneous  notion 
abroad  in  the  world,  to  the  effect  that  ministers'  and  deacons' 
children  are  wont  to  be,  in  early  life,  more  actively  hilarious,  and 
sensitively  appreciative  of  wordly  joys,  than  others  of  their  age 
and  condition  in  life.  Parson  Stoddard,  who,  for  the  long  period 
of  sixty  years  resided  in  the  old  parsonage,  and  presided  over  the 
religious  interests  of  the  people  with  so  much  fidelity  and  success* 
had  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  Though  no  scandal 
ever  attached  to  them,  the  daughters  are  related  to  have  some- 
what rebelled  at  the  rigid  notions  of  their  reverend  father.  It 
was  not  to  their  liking,  when  lovers  called,  to  be  obliged  to  sit  with 
doors  ajar,  that  their  venerated  parents  might  be  assured  by  the 
"he'aring  of  the  ear,"  that  no  careless  or  irreverent  word  was  ut" 


1380 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 


tered.  So,  after  a  time,  arrangements  were  made  by  which  the 
lovers  ascended  a  ladder,  and  were  admitted  at  the  north-west 
chamber  window  of  the  venerable  mansion.  A  notable  occasion 
occurred,  when  there  was  a  brilliant,  though  secret  gathering  in 
that  old  "  tristing  chamber."  It  was  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  in- 
troduction of  tea  into  the  colony.  The  good  pastor  had  obtained  a 
small  quantity,  to  be  used  in  "  cases  of  sickness."  But  the  daugh- 
ters were  "minded"  to  have  a  model  "tea-party"  with  their 
"  sweet-hearts."  As  the  article  had  never  been  "  cooked  "  in  the 
house,  they  were  at  their  wits'  end  to  know  how  to  "  do  the  dish." 
They  solved  the  difficulty  in  the  end  by  cooking  it  in  a  large  iron 
kettle  and  serving  it  in  a  platter,  in  the  same  manner  as  they 
would  a  mess  of  greens. 

Woodbury  has  had  a  specimen  of  everything  that  any  part  of  the 
State  has  possessed.     It  has  therefore  had  its  witch.     The  name  of 
this  "veritable  being"  was  Moll  Cramer,  who  lived  in  West  side 
somewhere  near  the  Bunnell 
place.     She  was  the  wife  of 
the   elder   Adam   Cramer,  a 
blacksmith,  who  was  living 
there  as   late  as    1753.     He! 
took  especial  pains  not  to  of- 
fend his  wife,  for  Avheneveri 
he  was   so  unlucky  as  to  fall 
under    her    ire,    everything  ||fii«j*,^^w^^^^_ 
went  wrong  with  him.    It  he  ~--^^^^     J^v 
was  shoeing  a  horse,  and  she  ^^ 
came    around     in     wrathful """""' 
mood,  no  shoe,  however  well 
secured     to     the     hoof,    no  l^sc:; 

strength  of  iron  nails  was 
able  to  withstand  her  influ- 
ence. The  shoe  would  im- 
mediately begin  to  loosen,  and  fall  off. 

Her  conduct  finally  became  so  outrageous,  that  her  husband, 
who  was  a  Christian  man,  being  dependent  upon  the  patronage  of 
the  public  for  his  support,  and  being  in  danger  of  the  suspicion  of 
*'  holding  familiarity  with  Satan,"  was  obliged  to  discard  her  and 
drive  her  from  his  house.  She  built  a  cabin  of  poles  on  Good  Hill, 
slept  on   straw,  in  a  filthy  way,  and  eked  out  a  scanty  subsistance 


niSTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY 


1381 


by  begging  from  the  mucli  enraged  neighborhood.     Her  son,  who 

was  believed  to  have  been  be- 
witched by  her,  was  inseparable 
from  her  in  all  her  wanderings, 
and  begging  for  bread.  No  one 
dared  to  refuse  her  anything  she 
asked  for.  If  she  asked  for  a  piece 
of  pork,  and  it  was  denied,  a  blight 
fell  upon  that  man's  swine,  and  no 
wealth  of  meal  and  potatoes  could 
ever  fatten  them. 

One  day  she  went  into  the  house 
d  of  a  neighbor  wlio  was  cliurning 

:  cream.     She  conversed  indifterent- 
I 
f"^  ly  with  the  lady  of  the  house  about 

butter  and  other  matters,  and,  after  a  time,  no  present  of  butter, 
or  anything  else  being  oftered  her,  she  retired.     The   churning 

went   on   during  the  after- 
-'-!^  .v^*^'^.,     noon   and  evening,  but  no 

,  .  ^"^-0'^_  butter  was  produced.  Next 

-'  -  -     -  jj_  — ,- morning  the  churning  was 

_-_,  ~   '   "= —  resumed  by  the  good  dame 

=^frr:r;  and    her   husband,  with    no  better  success 
(;^\^  than  before.     After  a  long  time  it  occurred 

to  them  that  Moll  had  been  there  the  day 
-I  before,  and  that  she  had  doubtless  bewitched 
I  he  cream.  The  good  man  of  the  house, 
^^  determining  to  hum  the  vntch  out  of  the 
cTecmijheated  a  horse  shoe  and  dropped  it 
into  the  churn.  A  few  moments  after,  the  process  of  churning 
ceased,  and  the  butter  was  "  gathered."  If  these  good  people 
had  been  a  little  better  acquainted  with  nature's  laws,  they  would 
liave  understood  that  the  heat  imparted  by  the  shoe,  was  just  the 
warmth  required  to  accomplish  the  purpose,  and  would  not  have 
supposed  that  any  miracle  had  been  performed  in  burning  the 
witch!  Furtlicr  })articulars  about  this  crazy  old  woman,  and  the 
superstitious  dread  of  her,  will  be  found  on  pages  159,  1(50. 

On  page  214,  an  account  is  given  of  the  passage  through  Wood- 
bury of  the  Frencli  army,  on  its  way  south,  to  join  Washington 
in  hie  operations  against  Lord  Cornwallis.   In  the  account,  a  single 


1382 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY, 


error  occurs,  in  stating  that  Gen.  La  Fayette  was  with  the  troops. 
He  proceeded  another  way  to  join  Washington.  It  was  Count 
Rochambeau  who  passed  tlirough  Woodbury  in  eoniraand  of  the 
troops.  Gen.  La  Fayette  had  generously  raised  the  troops  in  his 
own  country,  and  commanded  them  in  tlie  field.  It  was  also  sta- 
ted in  the  former  account,  that  the  array  passed  over  Breakneck 
Hill,  in  Middlebury,  near  the  north  end  of  Quassapaug  Lake,  and 
that  the  hill  was  so  called  from  the  circumstance  of  the  falling 
of  one  of  the  cattle  in  descending  that  hill,  and  breaking  its 
neck.  The  army  passed  over  that  hill,  but  we  find  by  the  records 
of  ancient  Waterbury,  that  it  had  borne  the  name  of  Breakneck 
for  more  than  half  a  century  before  this  occurrence. 

One  or  two  natural  curiosities  have  been  omitted  in  the  chapter 
on  the  physical  histoiy  of  the  town.     One  is  a  very  singular  spe- 
,|Y!l||  ciraen  of  an    oak   tree,   situated    iu 

''kili>^^^  the    highway,     near   the    house    of 

,Kji,  fs.^     ^r^  *^^Deacon    Truman    Judson,    in    upjjer 


.j.^^^^-'  /^^  ^,v>     ^c^i.  Nonnewaug,  of  which  the  artist  gives 
^ffS'^  "WS^W^       ^^'"^  subjoined  sketch.  • 

\?    ^^  Near  tiie  southern  boundary  of  the 

town,  in  Transylvania,  by  the  high- 
way, on  William  N.  Shelton's  land, 
is  another  singular  specimen  of  the 
freaks  of  nature.  A  tree  stands  there, 
m^^  which  is  formed  by  a  complete  union 
fe.  of  a  "  shag-bark  "  hickory  on  the  one 
side,  and  a  white-oak  on  the  other, 
W  both  bearing  nuts  "  after  its  kind." 
It  Is  a  vei)  ititeicbtiug  specimen  iu  natural  history,  and  many 
people  go  to  visit  it,  to  mark  its  curious  combmation. 

Just  below  this  tree,  near  the  highway,  and  near  the  place 
where  stood  the  old  Elisha  Minor  house,  is  a  mammoth  frost- 
grape  vine,  which  is  judged  to  be  near  300  years  old,  having  been 
known  ever  since  the  founding  of  the  town,  in  1672.  It  is  forty 
inches  in  circumference,  at  the  place  where  it  leaves  the  ground, 
and  much  larger  just  below  the  surface.  It  is  thirty-five  inches  in 
circumference,  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  in  no  place  less 
than  twenty-eight  inches  in  circumference,  till  it  separates  into 
branches,  and  overspreads  a  large  oak  tree.  It  is  now  (Aug.,  1871) 
loaded  with  grapes. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 


1383 


The  Father's  Monument,  as  has  been  before  stated,  is  located  at 

the  head  of  tlie  grave  of  Rev. 
Zechariah  Walker.  In  locating 
the  monuinent,  the  ashes  of  him- 
self and  wife  were  not  disturb- 
ed. The  original  head-stone, 
was  madf  from  a  native  boulder 
uncut.  The  artist  gives  a  fac 
simile  of  it  in  the  margin.  The 
writer  caused  the  original  let- 
ters, which  had  become  nearly  obliterated  by  the  storms  of  160 
years,  to  be  cut  very  deep,  so  that  they  may  be  legible  for  ages  to 
come. 

Ram-pit  Hill,  which  is  near  Hotehkissville,  received  its  name 
'^k"  <=y    4l  from  a  pit,  which  was  dug  to 

'^^  entrap  a   wolf,  that  had  been 

^""""^^.^^  ©\\  making   gi-eat   havoc    among 

5^_ the  sheep.     A  ram  was  placed 

witliin  it  as  a  lure  for  the  wolf 
to  enter  it.  The  bait  proved 
sufficient.  In  the  morning  the 
wolf  was  found  in  the  pit,  and 
the  ram,  instead  of  being  de- 
voured, had  defended  himself 
with  so  much  spirit  and  br.n fry,  that  he  had  reduced  the  wolf  to 
a  state  of  great  docility.  The  wolf  was  despatched,  and  his  com- 
panion released. 

During  the  l7th  century,  there  was  a  custom  prevailing  among 
the  Congregational  societies,  (as  indeed  has  been  the  case  in  later 
years)  of  supplying  their  pastors  with  their  year's  quota  of  wood, 
by  what  was  termed  a  "  wood-spell,"  or  "  wood  bee."  It  was  also 
in  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  times  for  the  pastor  to  in- 
vite his  i)arishioners  "  to  take  something  to  drink,"  on  arriving  at 

his  wood-yard  before  unloading 
their  wood.  Rev.  Mr.  Wildman, 
pastor  of  the  church  in  the  South- 
bury  society,  at  this  time,  was  a 
wit,  and  fond  of  "  cracking  his 
jokes"  on  all  suitable  occasions.  A 
certain  poor,  but  jocose  man,  who 
""A^    l^'^^      ^^3^"^  ],,^^-'j   j^Q  team,  but  who  liked  well 

the  customary  "  treat,"  on  one  occasion,  took  a  large  log  on  his 


C 


1384  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

shoulder,  and  bore  it  with  much  difficulty  into  the  yard.  His  pas- 
tor was  ready  to  welcome  him,  with  the  same  bland  cordiality  as 
the  others,  and  said, — "  come,  come,  good  friend,  come  in  and 
drink  before  you  unload!'''' 

The  Woodbury  Library  Association,  founded  in  1850,  has  gone 
on  with  its  good  work,  dispensing  light  and  knowledge,  till  its 
library  now  contains  acout  500  volumes. 

The  south  Academic  Association,  formed  in  1851,  ran  "  well  for 
a  season,"  when  the  shares  were  bought  up  by  Mr.  Parraenus  B. 
Hulse,  who  taught  a  private  academy  for  some  years,  but  having 
a  flattering  call  to  go  to  New  York  and  engage  in  a  book  agency, 
he  sold  the  building  to  Mr.  Frederick  S.  Parker,  of  New  Haven, 
who  removed  it  to  the  place  formerly  owned  by  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Phelps,  deceased,  and  fitted  it  up  for  a  first-class  boarding-school, 
and  at  the  same  time  enlarged  and  fitted  up,  at  great  expense, 
the  Phelps  mansion,  for  the  purpose  of  accommodating  the  schol- 
ars of  such  a  school.  Rev.  Alonzo  N.  Lewis,  who  had  married  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Phelps,  opened  here  a  boarding-school.  But, 
having  been  invited  to  become  rector  of  a  church  at  Dexter, 
Maine,  he  closed  his  school,  and  rented  the  premises  for  a  dwelling 
house.  It  is  a  very  valuable  property,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a  suc- 
cessful boarding-school  may  be  established  there.  We  have  a 
healthy  location,  a  tidy  village,  an  orderly  community,  and  a  most 
beautiful  valley,  with  ])leasant  surroundings — a  good  place  for 
such  an  institution. 

Bethel  Rock  Lodge,  No.  44,  L  O.  O.  F.,  mentioned  on  page  339, 
was  very  successful  in  its  benevolent  mission  for  several  years, 
when  many  members  were  lost  by  removal  from  town.  Some  oth- 
ers seemed  to  have  joined  the  order  simply  to  become  leeches  on 
its  treasury,  and  interest  in  its  fortunes  waned,  till  the  number  of 
its  members  was  reduced  to  about  a  dozen,  when  the  organization 
disbanded,  and  divided  its  remaining  funds,  being  about  a  thous- 
and dollars,  among  its  members. 

The  Woodbury  Bank,  which  failed  in  March,  1853,  and  was  re- 
suscitated the  same  year  by  the  stockholders'  subscribing  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars,  to  cover  losses,  went  on  languidly  for  two  or  three 
years,  the  assets  on  which  it  had  relied  for  full  recovery  becoming 
worse  and  worse,  when  a  receiver  was  appointed  by  the  Court, 
and  its  aftairs  were  closed  up.  The  bills  were  redeemed,  but  the 
stock,  both  old  and  new,  proved  a  total  loss  to  its  owners. 

The  Woodbury  Savings  Bai  k  ;,r  1  B,;ilding  Association,  which 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOOD15URY.  1385 

was  established  in  1853,  was  managed  with  prudence  for  several 
years,  doing  a  successful  business,  till  its  deposits  nniounted  to 
nearly  $100,000.  Litigation  was  then  commenced  against  a  bank 
of  the  same  kind  in  New  Haven  County,  and  the  Court  of  Errors 
decided  that  the  method  of  taking  bonuses,  or  extra  interest,  prac- 
ticed by  such  banks,  was  tisuriovs,  under  the  statute  of  the  State, 
the  penalty  for  which  was  the  forfeiture  of  all  interest  upon  all 
loans,  together  with  the  bonus.  The  eifect  of  this  decision  was,  to 
cause  all  such  banks  in  the  State  to  close  their  business,  and  dis- 
band,—  ours  with  the  rest.  This  bank,  however,  had  a  superior 
class  of  customers — honorable  men — who,  with  one  accord,  refused 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  decision,  except  in  a  ^ingle  instance,  in 
Waterbury,  where  the  loan  was  small.  On  closing  \\\i  its  affairs, 
the  bank  returned  to  the  owners  their  deposits,  with  interest,  at 
the  rate  of  about  twelve  per  cent. 

King  Solomon's  Lodge,  No.  7,  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
since  the  publication  of  the  first  volume  of  this  work,  has  met 
with  continued  and  cheeiing  prosperity.  It  has  gone  on  in  its  un- 
obtrusive work  of  charity,  adding  to  the  number  of  its  members, 
and  to  its  material  prosperity.  The  major  part  of  its  history  has 
been  already  detailed  in  these  pages,  in  the  account  given  of  its 
Centennial  Celebration,  in  18G5.  Its  increase  in  numbers  became 
so  great,  that  a  larger  Lodge-room  was  necessary,and  its  fine  build- 
ing was  enlarged  to  meet  this  requiremt^nt,  in  1867,  and  the  whole 
was  re))aired  and  refitted  in  a  tasteful  and  convenient  manner,  at 
an  expense  of  about  $600. 

The  record  of  officers  and  admissions,  continued  from  page  338, 
is  as  follows  : — 

In  December,  1853,  William  Cothren  was  elected  Worshipful 
Master,  Edward  W.  Atwood,  Senior  Warden,  and  William  R. 
Galpin,  Junior  Warden,  and  six  members  were  admitted  during 
this  masonic  year. 

In  Dec.  1854,  Edward  W.  Atwood  was  elected  W.  M.,  Joseph 
T.  Capevvell  S.  W.,  and  Geo.  A.  Capewell  J.  W.  Ten  members  were 
received  during  this  year,  among  whom  was  Major  Samuel  B. 
Spooner,  now  Mayor  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  at  the  hesd  of  the 
Masons  of  Massachusetts.  Major  Spooner  was  principal  of  the 
Woodbury  Academy,  at  the  time.  It  has  been  no  detriment  to 
him,  wlio  has  honored  the  craft,  that  he  received  his  first  instruc- 
tion in  the  "  mystic  rites"  in  old  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  No.  7- 


1886  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "W  O  O  D  B  U  R  T  . 

The  writer  has   always  been  glad  to  remember,  that  he  was  the 
Master  who  received  this  friend. 

At  this  meeting  (Deo.  21,  1854)  the  lodge  passed  the  following 
vote  : — 

"  Voted,  Unanimously,  that  the  thanks  of  this  lodge  be  presented  to  Brother 
Cothren,  for  liis  services  as  Master  of  this  Lodge." 

At  the  Dec.  Annual  Meeting,  1855,  Joseph  T.  Capewell  was 
elected  W.  M  ,  George  A.  Capewell  S.  W.,  and  Hiram  Manville 
J.  W.     Six  members  were  added  this  year. 

At  the  annual  meeting  for  1856,  John  P.  DeForest  was  elected 
W.  M.,  John  J.  Hinman  S.  W.,  and  Reuben  Andrews  J.  W.  Four 
members  were  received  during  the  year. 

At  the  annual  meeti'.ig  in  1857,  Alonzo  N.  Lewis  was  elected 
W.  M.,  Joim  B.  Stillson,  S.  W.,  and  lleuben  Andrews,  J.  W. 
Brother  Charles  B.  Phelps  was  invited  to  deliver  a  lecture  on  the 
Institution  of  Masonry,  Jan.  8,  1858,  at  the  Lodge.  A  large  num- 
ber of  ladies  and  gentlemen  attended.  At  the  close  of  the  ad- 
dress, the  officers  elect  for  the  year  were  publicly  installed.  Eleven 
members  were  received  this  year. 

At  the  Dec.  annual  meeting,  1858,  Nathaniel  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed W.  M.,  Joseph  T.  Cope  well,  S.  W.,  and  Reuben  Andrews, 
J.  W.  Five  candidates  were  received  during  the  Masonic  year 
ending  Dec,  1859,  among  whom  was  Kev,  Curtis  T.  Woodruff. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  Dec,  1859,  James  Huntington  was 
elected  \V.  M.,  Joseph  T.  Capewell,  S.  W.,  and  James  Stone,  J. 
W.     Eight  persons  added  their  names  to  our  list  during  this  year. 

At  the  annual  communication,  Dec,  1860,  the  first  three  officers 
were  re  elected — and  three  members  were  added,  among  whom 
was  Rev.  George  Rumney,  Hector  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  At  the 
annual  communication,  Dec.  186],  John  Stillson  w.as  chosen  VV. 
M.,  James  S.  Stone,  S.  W.,  and  Edward  N.  Bishop,  J.  W.  Four- 
teen members  were  "  raised"  during  this  Masonic  year,  ending  at 
the  "Feast  of  St.  John,"  Dec,  1862. 

At  the  annual  election,  Dec,  1862,  James  Huntington  was  cho- 
sen W.  M.,  James  S.  Stone,  S.  W.,  and  Calvin  H.  Downs,  J.  W. 
Nine  men  arrived  at  the  "Sublime  degree  of  a  Master  Mason  " 
this  Masonic  year,  among  whom  was  Rev.  \Vm.  A.  Desbrisay.  Rev. 
Mr.  Silverthorne,  of  the  Methodist  church,  was  the  Chaplain  of 
the  Lodge. 

This  was  the  year  of  the  departure  of  Co.  I,  19th  Conn  Vols.t 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  13  8Y 

for  the  seat  of  War.  Co.  I  had  quite  a  number  of  members  of 
the  Lodc^e.  On  the  2d  of  August,  the  Lodge  passed  the  follow- 
ing vote : — 

'■^Resolved.,  That  the  Lodge,  out  of  respect  and  brotherly  feel- 
ing to  those  of  their  brethren  who  have  volunteered  their  services 
in  defence  of  their  country,  present  each  of  them  with  a  regula- 
tion cap  worn  by  the  sokliers  of  the  United  States  Army.'" 

At  the  annual  communication,  Dec,  1863,  James  Huntington 
was  elected  W.  ]\I.,  Geo.  Piatt  Crane,  S.  W.,  and  Edward  F.  Nich- 
ols, J.  W.  Fourteen  members  were  added  to  the  Lodge  during 
the  year. 

It  will  be  seen,  on  page  ?38,  that  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  21,  of 
Wasliington,  had  lost  its  charter.  King  Solomon's  Lodge  received 
a  petition,  in  Nov.,  1864,  asking  consent  to  apply  for  a  dispensa- 
tion to  renew  the  Lodge.  Unanimous  consent  was  given,  a  dis- 
pensation was  granted  by  the  Grand  Master,  and  also  a  charter  in 
due  form,  at  the  ne.vt  annual  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  Since 
that  time,  a  very  flourishing  Lodge  has  been  established  there,  on 
a  firm  foundation. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  186+,  James  Huntington  was  chosen 
W.  M.,  George  P.  Crane,  S.  W.,  and  Edward  F.  Nichols,  J.  W., 
and  six  members  were  added  to  the  Lodge. 

At  the  annual  cnmmunication  in  1865,  George  F.Crane  was  ap- 
pointed W.  M.,  Edward  F.  Nichols,  S  VV.,  and  Heman  Botsford, 
J.  W.     Nine  members  were  admitted  this  year. 

At  the  annual  election  in  Dec,  1866,  George  P.  Crane  was 
elected  W.  M ,  Heman  Botsford,  S.  \Y.,  and  .James  R.  Thomas,  J. 
W.     Nine  members  were  added  this  year. 

At  the  annual  communication  held  Dec,  1867,  Alonzo  Norton 
Lewis  was  elected  W.  M.,  Heman  Botsford,  S.  W.,  and  James  S. 
Stone,  J.  W.  Soven  elected  men  joined  the  Lodge  during  the 
year.  It  was  during  this  yeai-  that  the  large  addition,  already 
spoken  of,  was  made  to  tlie  Lodge  building,  new  carpets  and  fur- 
niture procured,  and  it  became  one  of  the  most  attractive  Lodge 
rooms  in  the  "  rural  districts." 

In  Dec,  1868,  Alonzo  N.  Lewis  was  elected  W.  M,  Heman 
Botsford,  S.  W.,  and  Edwin  Roberts,  J.  W.  Five  nuMubcrs  were 
admitted  this  year. 

In  Dec,  1869,  Heman  Botsford  was  chosen  W.  M.,  James  Stone, 

35 


1388 


HISTOKY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


S.  W.,  and  George  Brown,  J.  W.  Six  members  were  raised  to 
the  "Sublime  degree,"  during  this  Masonic  year. 

At  the  annual  communication  of  this  Lodge,  Dec,  ISYO,  Heman 
Botsford  was  elected  W.  M.,  George  Brown,  S.  W,  and  Thomas 
Bodycut,  J.  W.  Nine  members  were  admitted  during  the  Ma- 
sonic year. 

At  the  annual  communication  held  next  preceding  the  Festival 
of  St.  John,  the  Evangelist,  Dec.  16,  1871,  Thomas  Bodycut 
was  chosen  W.  M.,  James  R  Thomas,  S.  W.,  and  Eli  Sperry,  J, 
W.  The  Lodge  is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  and  has 
full  work  at  every  communication.  It  is  seven  years  advanced  in 
the  second  century  of  its  existence,  and  well  has  it  performed  its 
benevolent  and  humanizing  work. 

We  now  bring  our  hurried  account  of  the  various  town  events 
to  a  close.  We  have  been  minute  in  detail,  believing  that  how- 
ever trivial  they  may  seem  to  the  present  generation,  they  will  be 
of  great  interest  and  curiosity  to  our  descendants,  as  is  each  re- 
corded trace  of  our  ancestors  to  us. 


CHA  PTER   IX . 

CIVIL     HISTORY     CONTINUED CRIMES     AND     CASUALTIES. 

Murder  of  Bennet  Ward;  Mdrdkr  of  Matthew  M.  Mouriss;  Murder  of  Lu- 
cius H.  Foot;  Suicide  of  Ralph  Lina;  Suicide  of  Columbus  W.  Randall; 
Thefts;  Burglary  of  the  Factory  of  Daniel  Curtiss  &  Sons,  and  the 
Store  of  F.  A.   Walker  <fe  Co. 


LL  through  the  ages,  life  lias  been 
a  continued  struggle  for  existence. 
ft,  All  seek  to  advance  their  own  in- 
terests, and  secure  their  individ- 
ual happiness.  And  yet,  with  a 
H  singular  fatality,  resulting  from 
^  our  fallen  nature,  there  seems  to 
B  be  implanted  in  the  human  heart 
ft  of  man  a  savage  instinct,  that  ever 
^S  seeks,  unless  overruled  by  a  kind 
■  Providence,  and  a  virtuous  and 
..d^^l^^^S  refined  culture,  to  destroy  the  life 
SJi^^S^^Bji:  which  every  rational  creature  de- 
sires to  preserve,  and  to  impair 
[the  happiness  which  every  one  pui- 
sues.  Jealousy  and  ambition  reign  supreme  over  all  the  earth. 
Where  this  instinct  of  destruction  does  not  bieak  out  in  acts  of 
murder  and  bloodshed,  it  takes  the  scarcely  less  painful  direction 
of  slander,  detraction,  and  little  lying.  It  seems  to  give  the  nat- 
ural heart  delight  to  inflict  i)ain,  and  the  ''  work  of  grace"  has  to 
be  long  continued  in  the  heart,  to  work  a  radical  cure,  AH  the 
beautiful  works  of  nature  teach  a  different  lesson — "only  man  is 
vile." 

Woodbury,  as  has  been  fully  shown,  was  settled  by  as  noble  a 
band  of  men  and  women,  as  poor  human  nature  could  produce. 
The  result  has  been,  that  in  the  two  centuries  of  its  existence,  vio- 


1390 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 


leuce  and  murder  have  been  remarkably  infrequent.  The  town 
was  173  years  old  before  tlie  first  known  murder  was  committed. 
An  account  of  those  which  have  occurred  in  our  borders  follows : 
On  the  23d  of  November,  1846,  Bennft  Ward  went  into  a  store 
kept  by  W.  B.  Lounsbury,  then  standing  near  the  house  of  Deacon 
P.  M.  Trowbridge.  He  was  somewhat  intoxicated,  became  noisy 
and  violent,  threatening  to  whip  several  persons  who  w6re  in  the 
store,  and  began  to  throw  fire  among  the  dry  goods  that  were  dis- 
posed about  the  store.  Among  those  present  Avfts  George  W. 
Smith.  Ward  finally  proposed  to  whip  him,  and  Smith  seized  a 
slick  of  wood  from  the  wood-box,  and  struck  him  over  the  left 
side  of  the  head,  causing  a  fracture  in  the  skull  five  inches  in 
length.  He  then  kicked  him  out  of  the  store — and  he  fell  upon 
the  stoop.  He  got  n[),  however,  and  wanted  to  fight,  but  the  door 
was  shut  upon  him.  He  then  went  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  to 
an  out-house  of  David  J.  Stiles,  and  staid  there  two  night>!,  when  he 
went  to  Mr.  Stiles'  house,  and  soon  became  insensible.  In  this  condi- 
dition  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  occurred  fifty-six  hours 
after  the  blow  was  received.  A  post-mortem  examination  by  Dr. 
Roswell  Aberuethy  and  T.  T,  Seelye,  showed  there  was  concus- 
sion and  compression  of  the  brain,  besides  a  chronic  inflamamtion, 
resulting  from  an  old  injury.  Smith  was  arraigned  for  murder, 
Feb.  term,  1847.  Hon.  John  H.  Hubbard,  States  Attorney,  and 
Hon.  Chailes  B.  Phelps,  appeared  for  the  State,  and  Hons.  Leman 
Church,  G.  H.  HoUister  and  the  writer,  appeared  for.  the  accused. 
After  an  interesting  trial,  Sniith  was  acquitted,  on  the  ground  that 
he  acted  in  self-defence. 

On  the  l7th  of  July,  1861,  our  community  was  startled  by  the 
announcement  that  another  murder  had  been  committed  in  our 
peaceful  town.  Matthew  M.  Morris,  the  murdered  man,  a  very  re- 
spectable citizen,  of  ample  means,  and  a  very  peaceable  man,  called 

at  the  house  of  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Osborne,  where  the 
family,  including  Charles 
Fox,  the  murderer,  were  at 
supper.  Morris  sat  smo- 
king a  eigar,  and  a  conver- 
sation arose  between  him 
and  Fox  about  mowing. 
Morris  mentioned  several 
who  could  out-mow  iiini,  to   wliicli  statements,  successively,  Fox 


UISTORT     OF     ANCIET!fT     WOODBURY.  1391 

gave  the  lie.  Very  soon  he  left  the  table,  went  out  on  the  piazza, 
and  took  up  his  coat,  and  laid  it  down  again.  He  returned  to  the 
door  of  the  room,  where  Morris  was  still  sitting  and  smoking,  and 
told  him  if  he  would  come  to  the  door,  he  "  would  fix  him."  Mor- 
ris replied,  that  he  knew  he  would  do  nothing  to  him.  Then  Fox 
said  if  he  would  come  there  he  would  "set  his  ears  up."  Morris 
went  towards  the  door  laughing,  and  Fox  <;ommenced  striking 
him  on  both  sides  of  the  head,  and  almost  immediately  commen- 
ced thrusting  at  him.  Morris  then  seized  Fox,  and  he  fell  over  a 
chair  on  his  back.  Morris  seized  and  held  up  his  feet  so  that  he 
could  not  strike  him  again  ;  but  he  sat  up  and  thrust  him  again 
with  a  dirk  jack-knife,  which  he  seemed  to  have  had  in  his  hand 
all  the  time,  (though  the  witnesses  did  not  see  it,  it  being  rather 
dark  at  the  time,)  saying  "  let  me  up."  At  the  instant  he  made 
the  last  thrust,  saying  "  let  me  up."  Morris  faltered,  fell  on  his 
face,  gasped  three  or  four  times,  and  was  dead.  The  knife,  at  the 
last  thrust,  entirely  severed  the  main  artery  under  the  collar  bone 
on  the  right  side,  called  by  the  doctors  the  vena  cava.  Fox  im- 
mediately walked  out,  and  hid  his  knife  in  the  corner  of  the  yard, 
where  it  was  found  the  next  morning,  almost  entirely  covered 
with  blood.  He  then  took  his  scythe,  and  started  for  Roxbury, 
but  being  called  back  by  a  neighbor,  who  had  arrived,  he  remain- 
ed till  Sheriff  Minor  came  and  arrested  him. 

A  jury  of  inquest  was  immediately  called  by  the  writer,  who 
heard  the  ca.>!e,  and  returned  to  him  the  following  verdict : — 

"To  William  Cothren,  Esq.,  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Litchfield 
County,  residing  in  Woodlmry  ; — 

"You  having  summoned  us  as  a  jury  of  inquest  to  inquire  into 
the  cause  and  manner  of  the  death  of  Matthew  M,  Morris,  late  of 
said  Woodbury,  which  was  sudden  and  untimely,  and  the  manner 
of  which  was  not  known,  and  we,  having  examined  into  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  do  find  that  the  said  Matthew  M.  Morris 
came  to  his  death  by  the  hand  of  Charles  Fox,  of  said  Woodbury, 
by  the  use  of  a  deadly  weapon,  to  wit,  a  pocket,  or  dirk  knife. 
"Dated  at  Woodbury,  July  tSth,  A.I),  1861. 

Berlin  Thomas,  H.  W.  iShove, 

S.  B.  Fairchild,  Cereno  Saxton 

Alfred  Birch,  C4eorge  Roswell, 

John  W.  Rogers,  Alexander  Gordon, 

Wm.  H.  Allen,  Phineas  A.  Judson, 

Wm.  B.  Bryan,  H.  C.  Judson. 

"  Jurors  of  Inquest  under  oath." 


1392  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

On  the  rendition  of  this  verdict,  Fox  was  taken  before  Hon. 
Thomas  Bull,  and  bound  over  for  trial  to  the  Sept,  term  of  the 
Litchfield  County  Superior  Court,  1861.  Judge  Ellsworth  pre* 
sided  over  that  Court.  Gen.  Charles  F.  Sedgwick  and  the  writer 
appeared  for  the  State,  and  Gideon  H.  Hollister  and  Henry  B- 
Graves,  Esqrs.,  for  the  defence.  After  the  evidence  on  both  sides 
had  been  introduced,  the  judge  called  all  the  counsel  to  the  bench, 
and  told  them  that  in  his  judgment  the  crime  amounted  to  man* 
slaughter,  and  no  more ;  and  that  if  it  pleased  them  to  agree  to 
this  view,  and  would  waive  argument,  he  would  immediately  so 
charge  the  jury.  The  counsel  cheerfully  acceded  to  the  sugges- 
tion of  the  distinguished  judge,  who  immediately  charged  the 
jury  in  accordance  with  his  views.  The  jury  retired,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  returned  with  a  verdict  of  manslaughter,  and  Fox  was 
sentenced  to  ten  years'  imprisonment  in  the  Connecticut  State 
Prison.  There  is  a  statutory  provision  which  allows  a  prisoner  a 
certain  number  of  weeks  remission  of  his  term  of  sentence  per 
annum,  for  good  conduct.  Fox  was  a  most  exemplary  prisoner, 
and  on  account  of  his  good  behavior,  the  term  of  his  imprison- 
ment was  diminished  by  more  than  a  year.  He  was  discharged  in 
1870. 

It  was  left,  in  the  order  of  Providence,  for  the  people  of  the 
town  to  expei'ienco  the  sensation  of  a  greater  horror.  On  the 
morning  of  the  4th  of  March,  1856,  Lucius  H.  Foot,  a  taverner  of 
the  town,  was  found  brutally  murdered,  and  his  whole  body  frozen 
stiff,  showing  he  had  been  killed  the  evening  before.  He  was 
found  under  the  horse-sheds  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  the  initial 
letter  of  this  chapter  giving  a  view  of  them,  and  of  Foot  entering 
them.  Dr.  Garwood  H.  Atwood  describes  minutely  the  condition 
of  the  body  as  found,  and  gives  an  insight  into  the  nature  of  the 
murder.  He  says : — "  We  found  the  body  of  Foot  in  the  N.  E. 
side  of  stall  No.  2.  The  body  lay  on  the  left  side,  with  the  face 
towards  the  sill,  and  about  two  feet  distant  from  it.  Two  fingers 
of  the  left  hand  were  clinched  in  the  overcoat  ))ocket,  and  the 
right  arm  was  drawn  back  over  the  head.  He  lay  lengthwise  of 
the  sill.  The  right  leg  was  straight,  the  left  was  simiflexed,  and 
drawn  under  the  other.  His  head  lay  in  a  hollow  made  by  the 
fore-feet  of  horses.  The  stall  was  covered  with  tan  bark,  and  in 
this  were  imbedded  a  number  of  stones.  There  were  small  spat- 
ters of  blood  on  "the  sill,  clapboards,  and  ])artition  ])lank,  on  the 
north  and  east  sides  of  the   stall.     The  spatters   on  the  sill  were 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIEXT      WOODBURY.  1393 

opposite  the  head,  and  two  or  three  feet  distant ;  there  were  one  or 
two  spatters  from  four  to  six  feet  from  the  head,  on  the  sill  and  par- 
tition. The  spatters  were  not  numerous — might  have  been  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  in  the  whole.  Some  of  them  were  very  small;  the 
size  of  a  pin-head,  and  some  were,  perhaps,  the  eighth  of  an  inch 
in  diameter.  There  was  a  small  quantity  of  blood  near  the  outer 
post  of  the  stall,  and  it  appeared  as  though  the  body  had  been 
dragged  from  that  point  to  the  rear.  There  was  blood  on  the  un- 
der surfaces  of  the  stones,  which  had  been  turned  up  in  the  pas- 
sage, and  out  of  their  beds.  There  was  a  stick  of  hickory  wood 
found  not  far  from  the  body,  with  blood  on  one  end;  there  was 
also  hair  on  it,  which  looked  like  Foot's — was  bark  on  one  side, 
and  blood  on  the  bark.  The  face  rested  on  a  little  cone  of  blood, 
which  had  oozed  out  from  the  wounds,  and  frozen.  The  cravat 
was  frozen  into  this.  We  took  up  the  body,  put  it  into  a  sleigh, 
covered  it  witli  buffiilo  robes,  and  carried  it  to  Foot's  Hotel.  The 
beard  was  frozen  solid,  and  we  could  not  determine  the  character 
of  the  wounds  till  we  had  thawed  it  out  in  a  tub  of  hot  water,  fif- 
teen or  twenty  minutes.  The  thighs,  legs,  hands,  face  and  head 
were  all  frozen.  The  body  was  entirely  rigid,  so  much  so,  that  it 
could  be  raised  up,  or  carried  about  like  a  stick  of  wood.  The 
left  boot  we  got  off.  with  difficulty,  and  had  to  rip  the  other  quite 
down  to  the  sole.  He  was  very  warmly  clad.  He  was  a  strong* 
well-built,  well-developed,  robust  man,  weighing  some  175  lbs., 
full  of  blood,  aged  about  forty.  The  fat  on  his  ribs  was  an  inch 
in  thickness.  He  was  in  form  a  noble  specimen  of  a  man. 
This  (pi'oducing  a  human  skull) 


is  Foot's  skull.  I  know  it  to  be  his.     I  assisted  in  disinteringt;. 
last  September  Court.     All  the  facial   portions  of  this   skull  was 
knocked  in,  as  you  see.     Over  the  left  eye  was  a  wound  one  inch 
and  a  half  perpendicular,  and  half  an  inch  wide.     In  the  soft  parts, 
I  could  put  two  fingers  into  the  brain.     The  second  wound  was 


1394  HISTOKYOF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

over  the  angle  of  the  left  eye,  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  cir- 
cular. The  third  one  was  over  the  right  eye,  one  and  a  half  inches 
long,  half  an  inch  wide.  I  put  my  h'nger  in  this  wound  an  inch. 
The  bones  between  the  Avounds  were  all  loose — a  comminuted 
fracture.  The  fourth  wound,  three-quarters  by  half  an  inch,  was 
over  the  right  eye;  the  fifth  was  on  the  outer  angle  of  the  right 
eye;  the  sixth  was  on  th~j  nose,  which  was  crushed,  the  blow 
abrading  that  and  the  eye-brow.  The  seventh  wound,  one  and  a 
half  inches  each  way,  was  over  the  right  parietal  bone.  The  per- 
pendicular of  the  wound  was  one  and  a  half  inches;  eighth 
wound — the  right  ear  was  nearly  torn  off,  and  there  was  a  frac- 
ture one  and  three-quarter  inches  in  the  bone.  The  ninth  wound 
was  a  hole  right  into  the  brain,  back  of  the  right  ear,  near  the 
juncture  of  the  temporal  and  occij)ital  bones.  I  could  put  my 
finger  one  and  a  half  inches,  right  into  the  brain.  This  wound 
was  one  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter.  In  the  soft  parts,  the 
wound  was  one  and  a  half  inches  by  an  inch  in  width.  The  lips 
of  the  wound  gaped  about  an  inch.  The  tenth  wound  was  on  the 
left  jaw,  one  and  a  half  inches  wide.  The  jaw  was  broken  into 
five  pieces.  The  eleventh  wound,  a  dent  wound,  is  upon  the  up- 
per part  of  tlie  right  side  of  the  head.  All  the  wounds  were 
nearly  of  the  same  dimensions.  Cracks  extended  nearly  across 
the  whole  skull,  on  both  sides.  The  wound  across  the  face  seem- 
ed broader — seemed  done  with  a  billet  of  wood.  The  billet  found 
in  the  stall  would  satisfactorily  exjilain  tlie  making  of  this  wound. 
There  has  been  a  hammer  shown  in  connection  with  this  case,  and 
that,  or  a  similar  one,  would  better  account  for  all  the  wounds  on 
the  head  than  anything  I  can  think  of.  I  thought  the  face  wound 
made  by  a  billet  of  wood,  because  a  haniuier  would  be  likely  to' 
cut  through  the  flesh  of  the  face.  All  these  bones  (showing  them) 
were  broken,  as  you  see  them  now,  before  we  cleaned  the  head." 

Such  is  a  description  of  the  terrible  character  of  the  wounds 
which  caused  Foot's  death.  A  Court  of  Inquiry,  which  continued 
its  sessions  for  a  week,  made  rigid  inquiry  of  all,  high  and  low,  as 
to  the  cause  of  this  death.  Excitement  ran  high.  It  was  thought, 
if  a  man  could  be  murdered  in  the  early  evening,  right  under  the 
"  eaves  of  St.  Paul's  Church,"  when  the  street  was  full  of  people, 
that  no  one  was  safe,  and  that  it  was  well  to  be  afraid,  even  on  our 
own  hearth  stones.  Circumstances  strongly  pointed  to  Edward 
E.  Bradley,  as  being  the  perpetrator  of  this  horrible  crime.     He 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1395 

was  arrested  on  this  suspicion,  brought  before  Hon,  Thomas  Bull, 
a  full  hearing  was  had,  and  he  was  bound  over,  without  bail,  to 
the  next  Superior  Court  to  be  held  at  Litchfield.  A  Grand  Jury 
was  duly  summoned,  and  a  true  bill  for  the  crime  of  murder  was 
found.  The  trial  of  the  accused  on  the  indictment  commenced  at 
Litchfield  on  the  14th  of  April,  1856,  before  Judges  William  L. 
Storrs  and  Origen  S,  Seymour — Hon.  Gideon  Hall,  State's  Attor- 
ney, Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps,  and  the  writer,  appeared  for  the 
State ;  and  Hon.  Charles  Chapman,  of  Hartford,  Gideon  H.  Hol- 
lister  and  Henry  B.  Graves,  Esqrs.,  appeared  for  the  prisoner. 
Not  only  very  nice  questions  of  circumstantial  evidence,  but  other 
intricate  questions  of  law,  were  involved  in  the  case,  and  the  trial 
excited  a  more  general  interest  than  any  one  which  has  been  tried 
in  this  county.  On  the  tenth  day  of  the  trial  the  presiding 
judge  charged  the  jury,  and  on  the  11th  day,  they  having  failed 
to  agree  on  a  verdict,  after  having  been  sent  out  for  consideration 
several  times,  the  papers  were  taken  back,  the  jury  discharged, 
and  the  prisoner  remanded  to  jail.  The  jury  stood  five  for  con- 
viction of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and  seven  for  acquittal. 

At  the  Sept.  term  of  the  Court  the  case  came  on  again  for  trial. 
It  was  commenced  Oct.  3,  1856,  before  Hon.  David  C.  Sanford 
and  Hon.  John  D.  Park,  presiding  judges.  The  same  counsel,  ex- 
cept Mr.  Chapman,  appeared.  After  a  careful  and  laborious  trial, 
continuing  for  the  space  of  twelve  days,  tlie  jury  again  disagreed, 
the  papers  were  again  taken  back,  and  the  jury  discharged.  They 
stood  three  for  conviction  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and 
nine  for  acquittal.     The  prisoner  was  again  remanded  to  jail. 

At  the  April  term,  1857,  the  prisoner  was  again  arraigned  for 
trial,  Hon.  William  W.  Ellsworth,  and  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Butler, 
presiding  at  the  trial.  On  the  14th  day  of  April,  1857,  the  same 
counsel,  on  both  sides,  appeared  for  the  trial  of  the  case. 

The  trial  lasted  fourteen  days,  and  Judge  Ellsworth,  with  his 
tremendous  voice  and  hands,  being  just  about  to  retire  from  the 
bench  on  account  of  his  age,  charged  the  jury,  No  jurist  more 
pure  than  Judge  Ellsworth,  ever  sat  upon  the  Sui)reme  Bench  in 
Connecticut.  It  was  the  third  trial,  and  though  no  man,  or  woman 
had  yet  ceased  to  think  the  prisoner  was  guilty,  when  the  venera- 
ble judge,  with  his  tremulous  hands  ami  faltering  voice,  held  up 
the  "russet  reins,"  it  was  said  the  prisoner  used  that  liorrible 
night  of  the  murder,  and   said,  impressively,  "  Gentlemen  of  the 


1396  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT   WOOD  BUKT. 

Jury,  if  these  reins  had  the  power  of  speech,  they  could  relieve  us 
of  much  doubt  and  uncertainty  in  this  case,"  no  lawyer,  on  either 
side,  doubted  the  result.  The  "  doubt "  spoken  of  in  the  ele- 
mentary works,  had  now  been  spoken  by  the  judge.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  April  23,  1867,  the  jury  came  in,  and,  on  inquiry,  announced 
that  they  had  not  agreed  upon  a  verdict. — "  Is  there  any  proba- 
bility that  the  jury  cai;  agree  upon  a  verdict,"  asked  Judge  Ells- 
worth. The  foreman  replied — "  not  the  least "  The  Court  then 
took  back  the  papers,  discharged  the  jury,  and  ordered  the  pris- 
oner remanded  to  jail.  The  jury  stood  four  for  conviction  in  the 
second  degree,  and  eight  for  acquittal. 

Soon  aftc  the  prisoner  was  remanded  to  jail,  his  counsel  made 
a  motion  that  the  Court  direct  the  State's  Attorney  to  enter  a 
nolle  prosequi,  or  discontinuance  of  the  indictment  pending  against 
him.  The  Attorney,  without  making  any  motion,  also  requested 
the  advice  of  the  Court  as  to  his  duty  in  the  premises.  The  Court 
remarked,  that  without  assuming  to  direct  from  this  side  of  the 
Bar,  what  the  State's  Attorney  ought  to  do,  within  the  sphere  of 
his  duty,  he  would  say,  that  the  case,  having  been  three  times 
tried  before  a  Jury  of  this  County,  and  this  time,  at  least,  with 
very  great  ability  by  the  counsel  on  both  sides,  it  was  not  reason- 
able to  suppose,  that  by  any  additional  number  of  trials,  a  jury 
could  be  found,  while  the  facts  remained  the  same,  to  agree  on  a 
verdict.  That  if  the  prisoner  should  be  released,  and  new  facts 
should  come  to  light,  he  could  be  re-arrested;  as,  also,  if  after  his 
return  home,  his  conduct  should  become  violent,  or  dangerous.  In 
view  of  these  considerations,  and  the  great  expense  to  which  the 
State  had  already  been  put,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  case,  it  was 
the  opinion  of  the  Court,  that  the  State's  Attorney  would  not  be 
guilty  of  a  dereliction  of  his  official  duty,  if  he,  for  the  present, 
entered  a  nolle  prosequi.  The  State's  Attorney  therefore  entered 
a  nolle  prosequi.,  and  the  prisoner  was  soon  after  allowed,  by  the 
jailor,  to  go  at  large. 

Suicides  have  been  very  rare  in  our  community.  Only  two  now 
occur  to  the  writer,  and  those  are  of  recent  occurrence.  Last  sum- 
mer a  man  was  found  dead  by  the  side  of  the  road  leading  to 
Hotchkissville.  He  was  not  known  by  our  people,  but  after  much 
inquiry,  he  proved  to  be  one  Ralph  Lina,  from  Winste-l,  whither 
his  remains  were  sent,  the  next  morning  after  his  death.  He  pur- 
chased an  ounce  of  laudanum   early  in  the  day,  and  the  empty 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  \391 

phial,  which  had  contained  it,  lying  by  his  side,  told  the  sad  story. 
He  sought  employment  in  various  ways,  and,  failing  in  all,  resolv- 
ed to  try  the  "  unexplored  country." 

While  these  pages  are  going  through  the  press  (Dec.  28,  1871), 
Columbus  W.  Randall,  a  bachelor,  living  in  an  old  house  by  him- 
self, has  committed  suicide  by  cutting  his  throat  from  ear  to  ear, 
with  a  razor.  He  seemed  to  have  planned  the  deed  very  delibe- 
rately. He  sent  \vord  to  a  neighbcr,  that  he  would  be  glad  to 
have  him  bring  him  up  a  pail  of  cider,  when  he  came  to  fodder 
his  cattle  in  the  evening.  The  request  was  complied  with,  and 
on  entering  his  house,  he  found  him  weltering  in  his  blood.  He 
evidently  had  a  superstitious  dread  of  lying  alone,  perhaps  for 
many  days,  dead  in  the  house,  and  framed  this  excuse  to  be  found 
soon  after  he  had  committed  the  act.  He  was  not  quite  dead 
when  found,  and  it  is  believed  that  he  did  not  commit  the  deed 
till  he  saw  his  neighbor  approaching,  as  he  could  not  survive  so 
frightful  a  wound  for  many  minutes. 

Years  ago  there  was  a  band  of  thieves  in  town,  who  acted  in 
concert  with  the  great  organized  thieves'  band,  that  extended 
their  operations  in  concert,  from  Maine  to  the  "  Far  West."  A 
few  well  directed  prosecutions,  a  quarter  of  century  ago,  broke 
lip  the  "Depot"  in  this  place. 

Occasionally  there  have  been  burglaries  here,  with  meager  re- 
sults. But  some  two  months  ago,  a  series  of  burglaries  occurred, 
that  startled  the  community,  and  bred  a  strong  sense  of  insecu- 
rity. One  night,  while  Mr.  Daniel  Curtiss  was  quietly  sleeping 
in  his  bed,  some  person  or  persons  entered  his  house  through  a 
rear  window,  and  after  traversing  several  rooms,  entered  his  bed- 
room, took  away  his  vest  and  two  pairs  of  pants,  and  departed 
without  awakening  him,  or  his  wife,  or  any  one  else  in  the  house. 
Passing  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  they  rifled  the  pockets  of  what 
money  they  contained,  and  the  key  to  his  safe,  which  was  in  his 
office  at  his  factory,  a  mile  away.  They  unlocked  the  office,  and 
the  safe,  possessed  themselves  of  its  contents,  locked  safe  and 
door  again,  and  went  on  their  way. 


1398 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 


D.  Curtiss  &  Son's  Factory. 


Returning  back  through  Main  street,  they  stole  a  horse  and 
wagon  from  the  stable  of  Hon.  N,  B,  Smith,  broke  into  Michael 
F.  Skelly's  blacksmith  shop,  and  stole  some  tools,  additional  to 
those  which  they  brought  with  them.     They  then  proceeded  to  the 

store  of  Frederick  A.  Walker  & 
Co.,  opposite  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  which  was  not  protected 
by  any  one  staying  in  it  during 
the  night.  They  found  an  en- 
trance to  the  store,  blew  open 
the  safe,  and  rifled  it  of  its  con- 
tents. The  Company  had  a  large 
amount  of  money  and  govern- 
ment bonds  belonging  to  them- 
selves, to  the  town  (Mr.  Walker 
being  Town  Treasurer),  and  to  the  neighbors,  who  placed  their 
valuables  there  for  safe  keeping.  From  the  two  safes  the  robbers 
took  away  some  840,000,  in  money  and  bonds,  beside  a  multitude 
of  papers,  valuable  to  the  owners,  but  of  no  use  to  the  robbers. 
Having  accomplished  these  feats,  they  departed  for  Waterbury, 
sorting  their  papers  on  the  way,  and  leaving  in  the  bottom  of  the 
wagon  all  that  were  not  available  to  them.  Having  reached  Wa- 
terbury meadows,  they  turned  the  horse  loose,  and  evidently  took 
the  Railroad  track  to  the  Depot,  and  the  early  train  to  New  York, 
probably  arriving  at,  and  getting  oflT  at  Harlem  Bridge,  before 
the  telegraph  was  in  working  order.  Large  rewards  have  been 
oflered,  and  vigilant  efforts  made  to  trace  the  offenders,  but  as 
yet  without  the  slightest  success.  Justice  seems  to  have  been 
baflied,  and  the  promise  of  punishment,  proved  a  "  flaunting  lie." 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY 


1399 


Thus  have  we  plodded  our  laborious  way  through  all  the  his- 
torical incidents  of  our  ancient  town,  and  [)ut  them  on  record,  for 
the  beneiit  of  those  that  shall  come  after  us.  If  the  reading  shall 
give  the  same  pleasure  to  the  reader  that  the  recording  of  them 
has  to  the  writer,  lie  will  not  be  without  his  reward. 


CHAPTER    X. 

HISTORY    OF    THE   SOCIETIES   AND    TOWNS   SET    OFF   FROM   ANCIENT 
WOODBURY — CONTINUED    FROM    PAGE    218. 

Southbury;  South  Britain  ;  Southbury  Voluntekrs ;  Bethlehem;  Bkthlehem 
voldnteers  ;  washington  ;  washington  voluntkers  ;  frederick  w.  dunn's 
Academy;  Roxbury;  Roxbury  Volunteers;  Methodist  Church;  Roman 
Catholic  Church  ;  St.  Paul's  Chorch  ;  Its  Centennial. 


EVER  forgeiting  the  children  of 
our  youth,  and  of  our  riper  years, 
we  take  up  again  the  history  of 
the  communities  that  have  sepa- 
rated themselves  from  us,  and 
"  set  up  for  themselves."  The 
account  will  not  be  long,  for 
two  reasons.  The  general  histo- 
ry of  the  times  in  which  they  as  well  as  we  bore  a  conspicuous 
part,  have  been  recounted  with  great  minuteness  in  these  pages. 
And,  so  far  as  the  ecclesiastical  history  in  concerned,  it  has  been 
substantially  recorded  in  the  history  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Bi-Centeunial  celebration  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  in 
May,  18  70. 

SOUTHBURY. 

At  the  date  of  the  former  edition,  Rev.  George  P.  Prudden  was 
officiating  as  "  stated  supply,"  at  Southbury.  On  account  of  con- 
firmed ill-health,  which  entirely  unfitted  him  for  his  work,  he 
closed  his  labors  in  April,  1856.  In  May,  1»66,  Rev.  Jason  At- 
water  was  engaged  as  "stated  supply,"  and  remained  till  Oct., 
1858,  when  he  removed  to  We<t  Haven,  but  continued  to  supply 
the  pulpit  till  the  following  July.  He  died  at  West  Haven  in  the 
spring  of  1860.  For  the  next  six  months,  the  church  had  only 
occasion.' 1  supplies.     January  15th,  1860,  Rev.  A.  B.  Smith  com- 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY  1401 

raenced  his  labors  as  "  stated  supply,"  and  continued  thera  till  a 
recent  date. 

The  admissions  to  the  church  during  Mr.  Atwater's  ministry 
were  15  ;  baptisms,  15.  Admissions  during  Mr.  Smith's  ministry 
59  ;  baptisms  38.     Present  number  of  members  86. 

Tlie  list  of  deacons,  with  date  of  election,  from  the  organization 
of  the  church,  is  as  follows: — Benjamin  Hicox,  1372  ;  Noah  Hin- 
man,  1732;  Benjamin  Hicox,  Jr.,  Daniel  Curtiss,  Timothy  Os- 
born,  1775;  Samuel  Strong,  Jonathan  Mitchell,  1783;  Adin 
Wheeler,  1813;  Marcus  D.  M.sllory,  1818;  Noah  Kclsey,  1823; 
N:tthan  Mitchell,  1830;  Frederick  Perry,  1833;  Jason  Cuitiss, 
1834;  Ira  Strong,  1847;  Cyrus  G.  Bostwick,  January  11,  1861; 
Sherman  Tuttle,  January  11,  1861  ;  David  M.  Wheeler,  January 
24,  1868. 

SOUTH    BRITAIN    SOCIETY. 

At  the  date  of  the  former  edition.  Rev.  Amos  E.  Lawrence  was 
the  settled  pastor  over  this  parish.  On  the  31st  of  July,  1860,  his 
connection  with  the  church  was  dissolved.  On  the  27th  of  Aug., 
1860,  Rev.  John  M.  Wolcott  was  hired  to  preach  for  a  year.  He 
was  formally  settled  over  the  church,  Feb.  20, 1861,  and  dismissed 
July  1,  1865.  Rev.  Homer  S.  Newcomb  has  acceptably  filled  the 
pulpit  since  the  latter  date. 

Sixty  persons  were  received  members  during  Rev.  Mr.  Law- 
rence's ministry,  and  32  baptized  ;  37  under  Rev.  Mr.  Wolcott,  and 
31  baptized;  and  19  under  Rev.  Mr.  Newcomb,  and  15  baptized. 
The  present  number  of  church  members  is  about  130.  Simeon  Piatt 
was  elected  deacon  Dec.  27,  1827,  Anson  Bradley  and  Elliott 
Beardsley,  June  21,  1855  ;  Nelson  W.Mitchell,  May  4,  1860;  and 
George  A.  Hoyt,  April  30,  1864. 

The  first  church  in  South  Britain  was  located  just  in  font  of  the 
present  church,  and  its  foundations  were  buried  whtn  the  present 
beautiful  church  was  built.  This  people,  secluded  among  the  hills, 
having  what  is  always  proper,  a  respectful  appreciation  of  them- 
selves, have  nourished  their  vine  of  the  Lord's  planting  in  their 
own  way,  well  knowing  that  no  "  outside  persons  "  so  well  know 
their  own  wants  as  themselves,  and  have,  so  far  as  the  writer 
knows,  received  a  friendly  greeting  from  all  the  "  outside  woild." 

During  the  Great  Rebellion,  Southbury,  like  the  parent  town, 
did  its  full  duty,  after  the  magnitude  of  the  contest  became  appa- 
rent.    Aug.  9,  1862,  Aaron  H.  Shelton,  Almon  B.  Downs,  Geo.  S. 


1402  HISTORY      OF     ANCIEXT      WOODBURY. 

Bostwick,  Charles  Whitlock  and  Geo.  A  Hoyt,  were  appointed  a 
Committee  by  the  town  to  solicit  funds  for  a  bounty  to  be  paid  to 
volunteers.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  a  bounty  of  $250 
was  voted  to  each  volunteer.  A  committee  was  appointed  at  the 
same  meeting,  consisting  of  the  above  named  gentlemen,  "  to  in- 
quire after  and  keep  intelligence  of  the  location  of  all  soldiers 
that  have  gone,  or  should  go  from  this  town,  in  all  the  Connect!" 
cut  regiments,  learn  their  wants,  and  solicit  such  aid  for  them, 
from  time  to  time,  of  our  citizens,  as  shall  be  necessary."  On  the 
26th  of  August,  the  same  year,  the  town  voted  to  pay  the  nine 
months  men  a  bounty  of  $125.  On  Sept.  2d,  the  town  voted  to 
add  $75  to  this  bounty.  On  the  10th  Sept.  it  was  voted  to  pay 
$200  to  such  men  as  should  be  drafted. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  1863,  a  town  meeting  was  held,  and  a 
boxinty  of  $300  was  voted  to  all  persons,  not  exceeding  fifty,  "  who 
will  volunteer  to  defend  this  State,  in  case  of  invasion,  or  a  war 
within  the  States,  and  will  hold  themselves  in  readiness  at  all 
times  to  enlist  and  serve  as  such  volunteers,  whenever  their  ser- 
vices may  be  required  to  repel  invasion,  or  sustain  the  laws  of 
this  State.''''  No  such  "Home  Guards"  were  ever  required,  and 
no  money  under  this  vote  was  ever  expended.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  $300  to  each  man  who  should 
be  drafted  into  the  service  of  the  United  States — and  also  to  hire 
substitutes  at  the  same  price  for  those  who  should  be  drafted,  and 
did  not  wish  to  go  to  the  war,  or  for  whom  it  was  not  convenient 
to  go.  On  the  15th  of  August,  1864,  the  town  voted  to  pay  vol- 
unteers $300,  and  to  drafted  men,  or  men  who  furnished  substi- 
tutes, $400.  On  the  15th  of  Sept.,  1864,  Elisha  Wheeler,  Esq., 
was  appointed  a  committee  to  fill  the  town's  quota  under  the  call 
for  500,000  men,  and  was  authorized  to  give  drafted  maw  a  bounty 
of  $500.  On  the  8th  of  December,  1864,  the  town  voted  to  pay  a 
bounty  of  $300  to  any  man  who  should  procure  a  substitute. 
This  was  the  last  vote  touching  the  war. 

By  returns  made  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  it  appears  that 
Southbury  paid,  during  the  war,  for  volunteers  and  substitutes, 
$8,050,  and  all  other  war  expenses  were  $12,000. — Some  $1,150 
was  paid  as  commutation  money  by  individuals. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  men  the  town  furnished  during 
the  war,  viz  : — 


HISTORY     eF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


1403 


Andrews,  Treat  D. 
Adams,  George, 
Averill,  Perry,  Capt. 
Atwood,  Joseph, 
Abbott,  John  B. 
Booth,  Ira  M. 
Beecher.  Lt,  Wm.  C, 
Bradley,  Peter, 
Bottsford,  Edward, 
Bradley,  Lyman  F. 
Bray,  Wm,  H. 
Booth,  Legrand  E. 
Bentley,  Conrad, 
Bennett,  Wm. 
Bailey,  Sylvester  B. 
Bronson,  John  G. 
Bunnell,  James  A. 
Butler,  John, 
Bassett,  George, 
Ball,  Hiram, 
Canfield,  Wm,  H. 
Candee,  Fred. 
Cutts,  Wm.  H. 
Davis,  Chas.  B. 
Downs,  Edwin  L. 
Daley,  John, 
Dede,  John, 
Diamond,  John, 
Douglass.  Hugh, 
Fagan,  James, 
Garlick,  Charles  S. 
Green,  James  W. 
Gordon,  George, 
Ganong,  Kniffiu  J. 
Hall,  John, 
Hitchcock,  Henry, 
Hill,  Austin  H. 
Hayes,  Franklin  B. 
Jackie,  Joseph, 
Kalt.'ibern.  Wm. 
Lanugro,  Petro, 
Lindley,  Leverett, 


Laspi,  Charles, 
Menkers,  John, 
McEwen,  John, 
Marsh,  George  W. 
Murphy,  Michael, 
Murphy,  Wm.  H. 
Murphy,  Thomas  O. 
Murphy,  Patrick, 
Nesley,  Henry, 
Ohngemarch,  John, 
Pulford,  Hobart  H. 
Peters,  Lewis, 
Price,  B.  M.  W. 
Peck,  Herbert  V. 
Peck,  Erastus  F. 
Richards,  Henry  W, 
Roch,  Simeon, 
Rogers.  Phillip, 
Richardson,  Samuel, 
Steers,  Wm.  H. 
Saunders,  George, 
Sherman,  Geo.  H, 
Sweeney.  John, 
Squire,  Oscar, 
Smith,  Thomas, 
Smith,  Charles, 
Smith,  John, 
Schreger,  Felix, 
Salmon,  Thomas  B. 
Seeley,  Chauncey, 
Thompson,  John  M. 
Vogel,  Julius, 
Wentz,  George, 
Wentz,  Fredeiick 
Wentz,  Martin, 
Welch,  John. 
Warner,  Samuel, 
Wheeler,  Merit  B. 
Whitlock,  Rusford, 
Warner,  Theodore, 
Whitmore,  Francis. 


36 


1 404  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

Within  a  few  years  a  neat  little  Episcopal  Churcli  has  been 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  Shadrack  Osborn  mansion.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  this  -was  the  head-quarters  for  comniissai'y 
stores  and  recruiting  during  all  the  Revolutionary  War,  Since 
the  last  writing,  the  Union  Church  edifice,  at  Soulhford,  has  been 
renovated  and  repaired,  as  well  as  the  Brick  School  House.  This 
quiet  inland  town  keeps  on  in  the  "  even  tenor  of  its  ways."  Its 
population,  by  the  last  census,  is  1,319.  In  1860,  it  was  1,346  —a 
loss  of  27,  which  is  not  a  large  one,  when  we  consider  the  waste 
of  the  late  war. 

BETHLEHEM.  * 

At  the  date  of  the  last  edition,  Rev.  Mr.  Loomis  was  the 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Bethlehem.  He  had  been 
ordained  and  installed  over  the  church,  Jan.  29,  1850.  Mr,  Loo- 
mis is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  Col- 
lege. He  was  dismissed  from  the  Pastorate,  at  his  own  request, 
June  Sth,  1860.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Bethlehem  until  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Greenfield,  Mass.,  where  he  at  present  re- 
sides. He  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  1st  church  in  that  place  for 
one  year. 

Rev.  Ephraim  M.  Wright,  the  eighth  Pastor,  was  ordained  and 
installed,  July  2d,  1861.  Mr.  Wright  is  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts. He  entered  the  ministry  in  middle  life,  having  been,  for 
many  years  previous,  engaged  in  teaching,  and  political  life.  At 
one  time  he  was  Secretary  of  State  (Mass).  He  was  dismissed 
from  the  Pastorate  Oct.  2d,  1866.  For  four  years  he  supplied  the 
church  in  Terry ville.     He  is  at  present  at  the  West. 

Rev.  George  W.  Banks,  the  present  Pastor,  was  ordained  and 
installed  Oct.  3d,  1866.  He  is  a  native  of  Greenfield  Hill,  Fair- 
field County,  Conn  ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1863,  and  at  the 
Yale  Theological  Seminary,  in  July,  1866. 

The  following  persons  are  to  be  added  to  the  list  of  deacons  of 
the  church  given  in  the  old  edition.  William  R.  Harrison,  Nov. 
3d,  1867.  Theodore  Bird,  Nov.  3d,  1867.  Present  number  of 
church  members,  130. 

*  Bethlehem  has  always  been  the  name  of  the  Society,  but  when  the  charter 
of  the  town  was  granted,  by  a  clerical  error  it  was  called  Bethlem.  By  special 
act,  May  Session,  1864,  the  name  was  changed  to  Bethlehem. 


HISTORY     OP      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1405 

The  Episcopal  Society  has  gone  on  with  a  decided  material 
prosperity.  During  the  hist  year,  it  has  repaired  and  re-built  its 
church  edifice. 

The  Metliodist  Society  has  built  a  new  and  commodious  church 
edifice,  and  has  much  increased  the  "  borders  of  its  Zion." 

The  war  record  of  Bethlehem,  as  given  by  its  clerk,  is  substan- 
tially as  follows : — 

"At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town,  held  Aug.  8th,  1862,  a 
bounty  of  $100  was  voted  to  volunteers  to  fill  the  town's  quota. 
On  the  11th  of  September,  the  bounty  was  increased  to  8125  to 
each  volunteer.  On  the  2Vth  of  July,  1863,  it  was  voted  to  pay 
$200  bounty  to  every  man  who  should  be  drafted  and  serve  in  the 
United  States  service,  or  who  should  furnish  an  acceptable  substi- 
tute. At  a  special  meeting,  held  Feb.  25,  1864,  it  was  voted  to 
pay  the  town's  recruiting  officer  whatever  sum  he  should  find  ne- 
cessary to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town.  At  a  special  meeting,  Aug. 
25,  18C4,  it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  $500  to  each  volunteer, 
substitute,  or  drafted  man.  Nov.  14,  1864,  it  was  voted  to  pay 
$300  to  each  person  liable  to  draft,  provided  he  served,  or  put  in 
a  substitute.  In  the  latter  case,  the  payment  was  conditioned  on 
the  payment  by  the  military  subject  of  llOO  out  of  his  own  pocket. 
There  was  at  this  time  a  provision  by  which  military  subjects  could 
put  in  a  substitute  for  three  years  before  a  draft,  and  be  exempt 
from  draft  for  that  period. 

The  whole  amount  paid  for  bounties  during  the  war  was  $11,- 
066,66,  commutation  $300;  other  war  expenses,  $320,83 — estima- 
ted amount  paid  by  individuals  for  bounties  to  volunteers  and  sub- 
stitutes, $4,750. 

The  list  of  volunteers,  drafted  men  and  substitutes  from  the 
town,  is  as  follows : — 

Baldwin,  Charles,  Ferry,  John, 

Baldwin,  Levi,  Foot,  Isaac, 

Burke,  Edward,  Garvey,  Michael, 

Burr,  Andrew  W.  Gilbert,  James  H. 

Boyce,  Joseph,  Ilogan,  John, 

Clary,  Felix,  Hubbard,  Henry  J. 

Crane,  Wm.  B.  Ilayden,  John, 

Dugan,  Francis,  Howard,  Patrick, 

DufFee,  John,  Hunt,  Daniel, 

Flynn,  William,  Jorie,  John, 


1406  HISTORY    OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUEY. 

Johnson,  Oliver,  Northrop,  Dexter  A. 

Kasson,  Alexander  D,  Northrop,  Harson  B. 

Kasson,  Edgar  N.  Northrop,  John  K. 

Le  Blanc,  Louis,  Oswald,  James, 

Louusbury,  Albert  J.  Rourke,  Patrick, 

Mouagha,  Peter,  Stewart,  Theodore, 

Mcgee,  Richard,  Jr.  Tolles,  Abram  B. 

McBride,  Thomas,  Williams,  George, 

Nash,  Olin,  Waldron,  Philip  L. 

The  present  population  of  Bethlehem,  by  the  census  of  1870,  is 
750 — a  loss  of  65  from  the  census  of  1860.  Small  as  it  is,  it  has 
had  its  full  share  of  the  historical  honors  of  the  State. 

WASHINGTON. 

Kev.  Ephraim  Lyman  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Judea  Society, 
in  Washington,  at  the  date  of  our  last  edition.  He  was  installed 
Pastor  of  this  church,  June  30th,  1852,  and  was  dismissed  June 
3d,  1863.  The  following  Preamble  and  Resolution  was  passed 
concerning  his  resignation  : — 

Whereas,  The  Rev.  Ephraim  Lyman  has  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion as  Pastor  of  this  Church  and  Society,  and  Whereas  continued 
feeble  health  will  not  permit  him  to  perform  that  amount  of  min- 
isterial labor  which  in  his  judgiuent  the  highest  good  of  this  peo- 
ple requires  ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  as  a  church  unite  with  our  Pastor  and 
Society  in  requesting  the  Council  of  Consociation  to  dissolve  the 
relation  between  him  and  this  Church  and  Society,  we  do  this 
•with  reluctance  and  heartfelt  sorrow,  that  we  are  thus  to  be  de- 
prived of  the  services  of  one,  whose  ministrations  have  been  pre- 
eminently faithful,  fearless,  kind  and  true.  In  his  study,  in  the 
Sanctuary,  at  the  bed-side  of  the  sick  and  dying,  in  the  house  of 
mourning,  or  of  joy — in  all  positions,  he  has  been  among  us  the 
Christian  man  and  minister,  one  who  needeth  not  commendation 
from  us,  his  praise  being  in  all  the  churches.  May  the  Lord  give 
him  health  and  strength  to  resume,  enlarge,  and  perfect,  with  joy, 
his  labor  of  love  for  man. 

During  the  intyerval  between  his  dismission  and  the  settlement 
of  the  present  Pastor,  the  desk  was  supplied  by  different  individ- 
uals, from  four  weeks  to  eleven  months  each, — the  Rev.  Wm.  H. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  140Y 

H.  Murray,  now  of  Park  street  church,  Boston,  the  greatest  length 
of  time. 

The  Rev.  Willis  S.  Colton,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  Class  of  1860, 
was  installed,  August  21st,  1866,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 

Deacons  appointed  have  been,  Stephen  S.  Baldwin,  Sept.  1849. 
Samuel  Frisbie,  Sept,  1860.  Charles  L,  Hickox,  Jerome  S.  Kin- 
ney, July,  1867,  and  Simeon  D.  Ford,  1869. 

Under  Mr.  Lyman's  ministry,  seventy-five  persons  were  bap- 
tized. Interval  between  Mr.  Lyman's  and  Mr.  Colton's  ministry, 
eleven.  Du^-ing  Mr.  Colton's  seventy-one.  To  the  church  under 
Mr.  Lyman,  eighty,  principally  as  fruits  of  revivals  in  1851  and 
1858,  were  added  to  the  church.  Under  Mr.  Murray,  twenty-four. 
In  1864,  under  Mr.  Colton,  eighty-three,  principally  as  fruits  of  a 
revival  in  1868.     The  present  number  of  resident  members  is  240. 

In  New  Preston  Society,  there  have  been  dissensions,  and  a  new 
church  and  society  has  been  formed,  with  its  location  in  Marble 
Dale,  "  under  the  hill."  As  is  usual  in  such  dissensions,  they  have 
not  "  aided  the  work  of  the  Lord," 

Washington,  as  a  good,  patriotic  town,  having  been  incorpo- 
rated in  the  very  midst  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  having  re- 
ceived the  name  of  the  "  father  of  his  country,"  at  that  early  hour 
of  supreme  trial,  did  its  full  duty  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  1862,  the  town  voted  a  bounty  of  $100  to 
volunteers.  On  the  23d  of  August,  this  bounty  was  raised  to 
$150.  On  the  8th  of  September,  the  town  voted  to  give  the  nine 
months  men  $200  bounty,  and  if  enough  patriotic  citizens  of  the 
town  came  forward  as  volunteers  to  save  the  disgrace  of  a  draft, 
then  the  volunteers  were  to  receive  a  bounty  of  $250.  July  25, 
1863,  a  bounty  of  $300  was  voted  to  drafted  men,  who  should  serve. 
On  the  10th  of  August,  this  vote  was  re-affirmed,  and  a  further 
vote  passed,  authorizing  the  Selectmen  to  furnish,  at  the  expense 
of  the  town,  a  substitute  for  each  drafted  man,  who  did  not  want 
to  go  to  the  war.  On  the  30th  of  November,  1863,  Orestes  Hick- 
ox  was  appointed  recruiting  agent,  and  committees  for  each  school 
district  were  appointed  to  solicit  subsciptions,  to  aid  in  the  filling 
of  the  quota  of  the  town.  On  the  24th  of  Dec.  1864,  the  town 
voted  $300  to  each  man  who  should  put  in  a  substitute  in  advance, 
on  a  regulation  then  in  force,  granting  that  privilege  to  military 
subjects. 

A  gentleman  of  the  town  kept  a  record  of  what  the  town  con 
tributed  in  men   and  money,  to  the  defence  of  the  countxy,  and 


1408 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


has  furuishecl  the  following  items.  Under  the  call  for  75,000 
three  months'  men,  there  were  six  volunteers.  Under  the  call  for 
600,000  three  years'  men,  forty-three ;  under  the  call  for  300,000 
three  years'  men,  thirty-two ;  under  the  call  for  300,000  nine 
months'  men,  sixteen  ;  under  the  call  for  600,000  three  years'  men, 
eighteen  ;  under  the  call  for  200,000  men,  one ;  substitutes  fur- 
nished under  all  calls,  seventeen;  commutations  paid,  sixteen; 
volunteers  engaged  at  Bridgeport,  fifty ;  total  for  town,  200.  The 
total  quota  of  the  town  under  all  the  calls  was  192.  So  that  eight 
more  were  furnished  than  the  quota.  The  town  paid  for  thirty- 
two  volunteers  for  the  19th  Regiment,  $3,200;  for  sixteen  volun- 
teers to  the  28th  Regiment,  $4,000 ;  for  substitutes  to  fill  draft  of 
1863,  $2,725;  commutation  and  bounty,  $4,800;  volunteers  to  fill 
next  quota,  $2,155  ;  substitutes,  $2,400 ;  other  war  expenses,  $760 ; 
total,  $20,040. 

The  list  of  soldiers  for  Washington  is  as  follows  : — 


Ames,  John, 
Allen,  William, 
Aberton,  Geo.  H. 
Armstrong,  Henry, 
Bailey,  John, 
Benedict,  John, 
Black,  William, 
Black,  Gustavus  H, 
Barnura,  Russell  T. 
Bryan,  Edward  F. 
Barton,  Henry  A. 
Brice,  Benjamin  N. 
Bennett,  Robert, 
Blauvelt,  James, 
Bashley,  Charles, 
Barney,  Wm.  C. 
Bemus,  John, 
Cogswell,  Watson, 
Cogswell,  John  J. 
Cogswell,  Robert, 
Calhoun,  Henry  A. 
Calhoun,  Simeon  H. 
Calhoun,  Edgar  W. 
Crow,  Matthew, 
Collins,  Jeremiah, 
Culler,  William, 


Colle,  Alfred, 
Clark,  Sheldon, 
Cone,  Wm.  H. 
Churchill,  David, 
Crane,  Joseph  W. 
Dickerhofi",  Charles, 
Darzin,  John, 
Davis,  Richard, 
Davis,  Wm.  H. 
Duskey,  Charles, 
Dewey,  John, 
Duggan,  Charles, 
Ellis,  William, 
Eibhe,  Christian, 
Flesor,  John, 
Ferris,  James  A. 
Fox,  Lucius, 
Fox,  Shelden, 
Fearn,  Wm.  P, 
Francis,  Joseph, 
Flynn,  Michael, 
Flynn,  James, 
Farley,  John, 
Foster,  John, 
Fitzgerald,  Patrick, 
Ford,  Remus  F. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY, 


1409 


Goodyear,  Charles, 
Galpiu,  Charles  E. 
Glover,  Julius  A. 
Hatch,  Calvin  B. 
Hull,  Edward, 
Hall,  John  G. 
Hall,  Thomas, 
Holyendorf,  Alexander, 
Hanser,  Oloff, 
Hollister,  Dwight, 
Hollister,  Fitz  G. 
Hollister,  Lewis, 
Hamlin,  Levi  A. 
Hamlin,  Piatt  A. 
Hamlin,  John  M. 
Hamlin,  Lewis, 
Hamlin,  Lewis  G. 
Jones,  John, 
Johnson,  Peter, 
Knowles,  Joseph  F. 
Kenney,  Elmon  C. 
Kenney,  Noxon  E, 
Libunr,  Frank, 
Lewis,  Jacob  S. 
Loveridge,  Romulus  C. 
Logan,  John  H. 
Mallory,  Truman, 
Morse,  Charles, 
Morse,  John, 
McNally,  William, 
McCarthy,  Robert, 
McMahon,  Daniel, 
Marks,  William, 
Meramble,  John  W. 


Man,  James, 
Muller,  Christian, 
Mitchell,  Abner  W. 
Mellon,  Wra.  E. 
Noble,  Charles, 
Nettleton,  Jay  T. 
Nizzer,  John, 
Nichols,  Franklin, 
Nicholas,  John, 
Perkins,  Harley, 
Pardon,  Jesse, 
Reno,  John  T. 
Ross,  August, 
Riley,  John, 
Smith,  Edmund, 
Smith,  James, 
Sullivan,  Jerry, 
Titus,  Jerome, 
Thompson,  James. 
Taylor,  George  E. 
Williams,  Burr, 
Williams,  Charles, 
Williams,  John,  2d, 
Williams,  Philip, 
Worden,  Homer  G. 
Weston,  Theodore  J, 
Whittlesey,  Timothy, 
Whittlesey,  Alfred  N, 
Warner,  Chauncey  L. 
Warner,  Frank,  Jr. 
Wright,  David  B. 
Watrous,  Wm.  J. 
Ward,  George, 
Whitehead,  John  B. 


This  town  has  been  prospered  for  the  last  twenty  years.  Busi- 
ness of  all  kinds  has  increased,  and  now  that  the  Shepaug  Rail- 
road passes  near  the  village,  it  will  doubtless  make  still  more  rapid 
advancement. 

It  is  quite  a  place  of  resort  for  summer  visitors,  who  enliven 


1410  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  "  social  circle  "  of  the  town.  But  the  great  attraction,  that 
which  adds  more  than  any  one  thing  to  the  material  prosperity  of 
the  town,  is  Gunn's  Boarding  School  for  Boys.  This  institution 
was  commenced  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Gunn,  as  a  private  enterprize,  in 
1839,  and  has  been  continued,  with  a  slight  interruption,  till  the 
present  day.  It  has  become  the  most  successful  educational  insti- 
tution in  Western  Connecticut.  Mi*.  Gunn  has  a  method  of  gov- 
ernment and  instruction  peculiar  to  himself,  and  has  received  the 
patronage  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  persons  in  the  United 
States.  He  is  beloved  by  his  pupils.  Some  two  or  three  years 
ago  his  former  pupils  re-assembled  on  the  hill  of  "  old  Judea,'* 
formed  a  "  Gunn  Alumni  Association,"  and  had  a  week's  festivities, 
with  the  intention  of  renewing  the  same  as  often  as  the  year  re- 
turns. Mr,  Gunn  spends  the  summer  vacation  "  in  camp "  at 
"Point  Beautiful,"  on  Lake  Weraumaug,  when  and  where  the 
"boys"  have  their  gala  days  in  various  sports,  boating  and  fishing 
on  the  lake,  and  "  enjoying  themselves  generally-"  The  artist 
gives  a  faithful  i-epresentatiou  of  the  lake,  from  the  North-east, 
with  a  view  of  "  Gunn's  Encampment"  at  the  "far  West." 

A  few  extracts  from  the  "  Litchfield  Enquirer"  and  "Hartford 
Post,"  of  1869,  will  give  a  more  distict  idea  of  Mr.  Gunn  and  his 
school : — 

"  There  is  a  little  town  neslting  among  the  hills  of  Connecticut 
ten  miles  from  the  Railroad,  ten  miles  from  everywhere,  removed 
from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the  world,  slumbering  in  a  bowl  and 
surrounded  by  mountains,  which  bear  such  a  fancied  resemblance 
to  ancient  Palestine,  that  the  early  Puritans  called  the  place  Ju- 
dea,  and  named  the  adjoining  town  Bethlehem  ;  but  the  revolu- 
tionary descendants  of  the  Puritans  changed  the  name  in  honor  of 
the  father  of  his  country,  and  called  it  Washington, 

"  This  village  of  Washington  is  more  like  an  ideal  town  than  any- 
thing real.  It  differs  from  any  place  you  know  about,  and  that  is 
the  reason  why  I  have  decided  to  tell  you  concerning  it.  The 
only  approach  to  it  by  public  conveyance  is  from  New  Milford 
a  drive  of  ten  miles  over  a  very  hilly  road.  The  coach  in 
which  you  make  the  transit  was  not  brought  over  in  the  May- 
flower, but  was  sent  out  on  the  next  ship.  It  is  really  refreshing 
to  take  a  seat  in  such  an  ark,  after  a  Railroad  journey,  and  to  find 
that  your  fellow-passengers  are  at  once  prepared  to  enter  into  a 
lively  conversation,  just  as  was  the  custom  in  coaches  in  the  early 
stages  of  civilization.     The  driver  is  a  gentleman  of  property  who 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY  1411 

has  had  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  since  time  immemorial, 
and  consequently  knows  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  far  and 
near.  He  is  an  agent  for  the  transaction  of  all  kinds  of  errands  ; 
out  of  every  farm-house  peers  a  lace  in  anxious  expectation  of  a 
letter  or  a  return  for  that  crock  of  butter  sent  on  tlie  last  trip- 
Newspapers  are  thrown  over  the  front  gate,  letters  are  picked  up 
from  the  horse-block ;  parcels,  bundles,  boxes,  bags,  women  and 
children  are  gathered  as  we  proceed,  until  the  coach  is  like  a  New 
York  omnibus,  with  plenty  of  room  inside. 

"The  occasion  of  my  visit  was  a  reunion  of  the  old  boys  at  Mr. 
Gunn's  celebrated  school.  I  had  heard  so  much  about  the  school 
that  I  was  anxious  to  see  it  in  its  gala  days,  when  the  passed  boys 
were  to  return  to  visit  the  scenes  of  their  childhood,  and  the  pres- 
ent boys  were  then  to  welcome  them.  Forty  old  hoys ;  some  of 
them  lawyers,  doctors,  clergymen,  merchants ;  but  ah  boys,  even 
now,  returned  to  Alma  Mater,  and  were  welcomed  by  forty  boys 
who  are  only  younger  in  years,  but  not  a  whit  younger  in  feeling ; 
and  the  youngest,  joUiest,  happiest  of  the  lot,  was  the  teacher  and 
founder  of  the  school. 

"  I  have  not  in  many  a  year  witnessed  such  a  scene  of  innocent 
and  genuine  happiness  as  was  apparent  at  this  school.  It  is  a 
boy's  paradise.  The  moral  tone  of  the  school  is  its  distinguishing 
feature.  Any  one  guilty  of  deceit  or  fraud,  is  warned  by  his  com- 
panions to  report  himself  to  the  head-master;  if  he  neglects  to  do 
so,  he  is  at  once  informed  upon  by  his  companions.  Instead  of 
its  being  mean  to  report  a  misdemeanor,  it  is  here  regarded  as  an 
offence  against  the  whole  boy  community  to  permit  a  misdeed  to 
go  unpunished.  The  methods  of  punishment  pursued  at  the  school 
are  entirely  original,  and  generally  arise  on  the  spur  of  the  mo- 
ment. A  little  boy  makes  too  much  noise;  he  is  ordered  to  take 
a  horn  to  the  village  green,  and  to  blow  a  blast  at  the  four  corners 
of  the  church;  or  he  is  sent  a  mile  over  the  hill  to  the  Moody 
barn  ;  or  he  helps  rake  hay  for  half  an  hour  in  the  fields,  or  cleans 
some  bricks  that  are  required  for  building.  One  day  a  boy  stole 
some  apples  from  a  poor  widow  ;  he  was  sent  the  next  day  to  pick 
up  stones  from  her  field  as  a  punishment,  but  the  widow's  heart 
softened,  and  she  made  him  come  in  to  dinner,  and  stuffed  him 
with  good  things  and  sent  him  home.  A  little  boy  was  caught 
ducking  a  cat  in  the  rain-water  hogshead ;  up  steps  the  teacher 
behind  him,,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  seat  of  his  breeches  and  the 
nape  of  the  neck,  plunges  him  in  after  the  cat,  to  show  him  how 


1412  HISTORY     OF     ANCIBNT     WOODBURY. 

it  feels.  Such  things  as  bullying  and  fagging  are  not  tolerated. 
There  are  no  rules,  no  forbidden  games;  everything  that  can 
afford  amusement  is  tolerated  at  proper  times  and  in  proper  quan- 
tity. The  master  of  the  school  is  unable  to  distinguish  between 
the  good  Dr.  Busby  and  the  wickedness  of  ordinary  playing  cards? 
and  so  the  boys  play  whist,  if  they  know  enough,  openly  and  in 
the  parlor.  The  sinfulness  of  dancing  and  the  orthodoxy  of  ca- 
listhenics are  metaphysical  distinctions;  and  the  boys  have  a 
dance  when  there  is  time  for  it  and  they  feel  like  it.  Those  who 
are  old  enough  have  breech-loading  rifles,  and  they  are  taught 
how  to  use  them,  as  the  master  of  the  school  is  one  of  the  best 
shots  in  the  country.  The  older  boys  learn  all  about  the  haunts 
of  animals.  They  know  the  track  of  the  woodchuck,  the  racoon, 
the  fox,  and  can  tell  the  name  of  a  bird  from  its  song,  its  nest,  or 
its  egg.  They  roam  the  forests  on  Saturdays,  and  fish  and  hunt, 
and  bathe  in  the  mountain  streams ;  some  trusty  big  boy  accom- 
panies the  smaller  ones,  and  no  party  goes  away  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  teachers.  All  the  boys  wear  good  stout  wool- 
len clothing,  which  necessarily  meets  with  numerous  rents  and 
tares,  but  is  kept  in  order  by  Aunt  Betsey,  whose  needle  and 
patch-work  are  in  constant  demand.  Such  a  beehive,  such  exube- 
rant spirits  and  shouts  of  happiness,  constantly  bubbling  up  and 
running  over,  as  this  school  exhibits,  it  has  never  been  my  lot  to 
witness  before. 

"  Mr.  Gunn's  long  career  and  marked  success  as  a  teacher,  are 
deserving  of  something  more  than  a  mere  passing  notice.  Shortly 
after  his  graduation  from  College,  he  started  an  Academy  school 
at  his  native  place,  in  1839,  which  with  a  few  years  interval  he 
has  kept  up  ever  since.  Commencing  with  a  day  school,  he  began 
after  a  time  taking  boarding  scholars.  As  their  number  increased 
he  has  made  one  addition  after  another  to  his  dwelling  house,  till 
now  he  has  nearly  fifty  boarding  in  his  own  family.  During  the 
past  season  he  has  added  another  stcry,  in  which  is  a  large,  well- 
lighted,  well-ventilated,  school-room. 

'*  Of  the  character  of  so  old  and  well  establis^^ed  an  institution, 
it  is  hardly  necessary  to  speak.  Mr.  Gunn  is  a  born  teacher,  with 
that  remarkable  faculty  for  interesing  pupils  in  study,  which  Nor- 
mal Schools  may  improve,  but  cannot  give.  He  has  excellent 
methods  of  play  as  well  as  of  study  for  young  folks,  and  early 
recognized  a  fact,  now  becoming  generally  understood,  that  the 
developement  of  boys'  bodies  is  as  much  a  part  of  the  teacher's 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  K  T  .  1413 

duty,  as  the  developement  of  their  minds.  Taking  into  conside- 
ration, also,  the  additional  and  most  important  fixct,  that  with  him 
the  boy  finds  a  home,  as  well  as  a  school,  we  are  not  surprised  at 
the  evidences  of  increasing  prosperity  that  strike  us  at  each  return 
to  the  old  institution.  One  other  fsact  we  can  hardly  pass  by 
without  due  reference.  From  the  outset,  Mr.  Gunn  was  an  out- 
spoken Abolitionist.  At  that  time  the  Abolitionist  was  distrusted 
and  disliked,  if  not  persecuted  as  a  disturber  of  the  peace.  The 
effect  on  the  school  was  for  a  time  disastrous.  The  number  of 
pupils  diminished  ;  and,  for  a  year  or  two  Mr.  Gunn  taught  at 
Towanda,  Pennsylvania.  Returni.ig,  the  school  was  started  again, 
and  from  that  time  its  prosperity  seems  steadily  to  have  increased. 
Prominent  Anti-Slavery  people  remembered  a  co-worker,  and  at 
different  times  sons  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Mrs.  Stowe  and 
John  C.  Fremont,  have  attended  this  school.  Of  late,  too,  many 
have  not  only  ceased  persecuting  the  prophets,  but  have  become 
prophets  themselves,  so  that  the  social  condition  of  an  abolitionist 
is  now  by  no  means  as  lamentable  as  it  was  thirty  years  since." 

The  present  population  of  the  town,  by  the  census  of  1870,  is 
1,563,  a  loss  of  96  since  1860. 

EOXBURY. 

Rev.  Austin  Isham  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  date  of  the 
last  edition,  and  until  the  first  Tuesday  in  June,  1863,  when  he 
was  dismissed,  having  been  pastor  of  the  church  twenty-three  years. 
During  the  year  following,  the  Church  and  Society  wore  supplied 
by  the  Rev,  Oliver  Stone  Dean,  a  young  man  of  superior  abilities 
and  power  as  a  preacher. 

On  the  6th  day  of  June,  1864,  the  church  and  society,  by  their 
vote,  gave  the  Rev.  Oliver  Stone  Dean,  of  Putnam,  New  York,  a 
call  to  settle  as  pastor,  and  appointed  Charles  Beardsley,  Edwin 
G.  Seeley,  and  Frederick  W.  Lathrop,  a  committee  to  inform  him 
of  the  votes  of  the  society  and  church.  This  call  was  accepted 
by  Mr.  Dean,  and  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
church  and  society,  July  6th,  1864.  He  continued  pastor  for  three 
years  and  one  month,  and  then  handed  in  his  resignation,  which 
was  relectantly  accepted,  and  was  dismissed,  Dec.  iVth,  1867, 
though  he  left  some  months  before  he  was  dismissed,  and  went  to 
preach  in  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  where  lie  is  now  settled.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  the   society  employed   about  all  the  "Theologs  "  in 


1414  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 

Yale  College.    I  will  not  undertake  to  give  their  names,  "  for  tliey 
are  legion." 

Among  the  number,  however,  the  society  selected  the  Rev.  Juba 
Howe  Varce,  a  young  man  in  whom  the  society  and  church  were 
very  well  united  ;  he  preached  nine  months,  when  his  health  failed 
him,  and  he  had  to  leave.  The  society  again  resorted  to  Yale 
College  for  a  few  Sabbaths  for  a  supply,  when  the  Rev.  Arthur 
Goodenough,  who  had  been  preaching  in  Ellsworth,  this  State, 
was  hired  for  a  year  or  more,  but  when  his  time  expired,  Nov., 
1870,  he  left,  and  has  since  been  settled  in  Winchester,  in  this 
State.  The  society  is  now  drawing  from  Yale,  the  old  School  of 
Prophets." 

The  baptisms  which  have  been  recorded  since  any  authentic  re- 
cords have  been  kept,  are  440.  This  record  goes  back  to  1V95,  and 
down  to  the  present  time. 

The  revivals  which  have  taken  place  in  the  church  since  the  last 
one  named  in  your  edition,  have  been  somewhat  frequent.  The 
church  was  visited  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  1832,  and  forty-two  were 
added  to  it.  In  1833,  eleven  were  added.  In  1836,  ten  were  ad- 
ded. In  1838,  twenty-two  were  added.  In  1843,  eighty-four 
were  added.  In  1852,  eight  were  added.  In  1854,  twelve  were 
added.  In  1857,  five  were  added.  In  1858,  seventeen  were  ad- 
ded. In  1863,  thirteen  were  added,  and  in  1867  twenty-five  were 
added.  Some  others  have  been  added  by  letter,  and  some  few  in 
other  years  not  enumerated  above,  by  profession.  Some  have 
been  dismissed  by  letter,  and  some  have  gone  to  parts  unknown, 
and  have  been  erased  from  the  church  records.  Many  have  died, 
leaving  upon  the  church  records,  February,  1871,  174  members. 

Deacon  Sheldon  Camp  and  deacon  Aaron  W.  Fenn,  are  the 
present  deacons.  Deacon  Sheldon  Camp  was  elected,  April,  1857. 
Deacon  Aaron  W.  Fenn  was  elected,  October,  1858.  ^ 

From  the  other  churches  of  the  various  denominations  in  the 
several  towns,  the  author  has  received  no  reports. 

As  soon  as  it  was  announced  that  the  rebels  had  fired  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  the  old  spirit  of  "  seventy-six  "  was  observed  in  this  town, 
and  true  to  their  Revolutionary  instincts,  the  young  men  sprang 
to  arms.  Many  a  voice  joined  in  chorus  with  that  of  Jeremiah  T. 
Bronson,  who  was  one  of  the  first  volunteers,  and  gave  his  life  for 
his  country;  in  the  words, — 

"  My  country  calls,  and  I  must  go, 
To  protect  our  flag  through  weal  or  woe." 

*  The  date,  1731,  on  page  276,  should  be,  1741. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOOPBURY 


1415 


The  first  volunteer  from  Roxbury  who  was  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice was  Seth  Warner,  a  blood  descendent  of  Col.  Seth  Warner, 
of  Revolutionary  memory,  and  well  did  he  sustain  in  the  field  the 
glories  of  the  okl  bhjod.  Other  good  men  and  true  followed,  and 
made  an  honorable  record.  Their  names  should  be  written  in  let- 
ters of  gold.     The  list  follows  ; — 


Allen,  William, 
Addis,  Seth  H. 
Bradley,  Edson, 
Bradley,  Ira  S. 
Beach,  F,  W. 
Beers,  Harmon, 
■Bronsou,  Jeremiah  T. 
Booth,  Charles  F, 
Booth,  Henry  A. 
Camp,  Oliver, 
Carrans,  Daniel, 
Donovan,  Jeremiah, 
Dickson,  David, 
Deacons,  Henry, 
Fenn,  Robert  L. 
Glenn,  James, 
Hurlbut,  Roger  L. 
Hurlbut,  Charles  H. 
Holland,  James  B. 
Hubbard,  Roger  E. 
Hull,  John  D. 
Judd,  Capt.  Lewis, 
Jackson,  Charles, 
Lake,  George, 
Lewis,  David, 
Lucas,  Israel, 
Miller,  David, 
Miller,  Frank, 
Miller,  Peter, 
Morriss,  Lieut.  Wm.  E. 
Madigan,  Michael, 
May,  Fred. 


McKenney,  John, 
Meirs,  Henry, 
Nicholson,  Cyrus  F. 
Neeson,  John, 
Ovia^t,  John  M. 
O'Neil,  James, 
Prindle,  Capt.  Cyrus  E. 
Roche,  Lewis, 
Rueck,  John, 
Smidt,  Henry, 
Squire,  John  J. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah, 
Smith,  Henry, 
Smith,  Wm.  H. 
Thompson,  Fred. 
Tencey,  James, 
Tracey,  James, 
Tyrrell,  Charles  F. 
Vanderbeck,  Albert, 
Wessels,  Peter, 
Williams,  John, 
Wright,  John, 
Wright,  Charles, 
Wells,  John, 
Wells,  Henry, 
Walker,  William 
Walker,  George  R. 
Warner,  Geo.  W. 
Warner,  Seth, 
Whitehead,  Botsford, 
Woodrufl',  John. 


To  aid  in  putting  these  soldiers  in  the  field,  the  town  voted, 
Aug.  8,  1862,  a  bounty  of  $100  to  each  volunteer.     On  the  1st  of 


1416  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUBT. 

August,  1863,  a  bounty  of  $300  was  voted  to  each  drafted  man, 
under  the  Act  of  Congress  of  3d  March,  1863.  The  last  war 
town  meeting  was  hold  Sept,  21,  1864 — when  it  was  voted  to  as- 
sume and  pay  all  the  expenses  that  had  been  incurred  by  individ- 
uals in  procuring  their  substitutes  during  the  existence  of  the  war. 
This  covered  the  whole  ground,  and  there  was  no  further  need  of 
town  me*etings. 

The  total  amount  paid  by  the  town  for  the  war,  was  $16,057.25 
— by  individuals  from  their  private  means,  about  $4,000. 

The  population  of  the  town  by  the  census  of  18Y0,  was  920 — a 
loss  of  seventy-two  from  tlie  census  of  1860.  These  inland  towns 
are  constantly  losing  their  population — their  best  young  men,  by 
western  emigration. 

From  the  North  Congregational  and  Methodist  churches,  the 
writer,  after  repeated  and  earnest  solicitations,  has  rece'ved  no 
report.  The  history  of  the  North  Congregational  church,  since 
the  last  edition,  was  substantially  given  in  Rev.  John  Churchill's 
very  acceptable  address  at  the  Bi-Centennial  of  the  old  1st  Church, 
in  1870.  Since  this  gentleman's  resignation,  some  four  years  ago, 
the  North  Church  has  "heard  "  about  100  candidates  to  insure 
the  "  acceptaHe  preaching"  of  the  "word"  to  that  people,  and 
within  a  few  weeks  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wyckoff  has  been  by  them  ac- 
cepted and  settled,  with  the  general  concurrence  of  the  people, 
and  with  the  belief  that  he  will  do  an  acceptable  work  in  that 
promising  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 

Our  Methodist  brethren  are  laboring  hard  in  their  "  Zion  "  for 
the  salvation  of  souls,  with  very  good  success. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  not  yet  a  church  edifice  in  this  town 
for  their  religious  services,  but  they  have  the  "liberty "  of  our 
commodious  Town  Hall,  with  the  consent  of  all  the  "  Protestants," 
and  have  services  there  as  often  as  priests  can  be  obtained  to  offi- 
ciate. 

ST.  Paul's  episcopal  chuech,  woodburt. 

By  request  of  the  writer,  the  following  items  have  been  fur- 
nished by  Rev.  John  Purves, — Ministers  since  1852. — 

Settled.  Dismissed. 

May,  1853.  F.  D.  Ilarriraan,  Jime,  1856. 

July,  1856,  C.T.Woodruff,  Jan.,    1860. 

Mar.,  1860,  George  Rumney,  Dec,  1863. 

Apr'l,  1860.  John  Purves,  M.  A, 


ST.  PAUL'S  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  WOODBURY,  CONN. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1417 

From  April,  18G3,  to  March,  18*71,  there  were  baptisms,  101 — 
86  children  and  15  adults — 45  persons  confirmed — 64  added  to 
the  communion,  and  60  lost  from  it. — 62  Burials,  and  33  Marriat^es. 

In  1871,  there  were  80  families,  104  communicants,  16  Sunday 
School  Teachers,  73  Scholars.  In  1855  the  Church  edifice,  erected 
in  1785,  was  altered,  repaired  and  beautified,  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Walter  P.  Marshall.  The  Centennary  of  the  settlement  of 
the  Rev.  John  Rutgers  Marshall,  the  first  Rector  of  the  parish, 
was  in  November,  1871,  Within  the  five  years  previous  to'  1871, 
the  parish  lost  several  of  its  venerable  and  most  valuable  mem- 
bers— th:-ee  of  its  Wardens — Benjamin  C.  Peck,  Gideon  Botsford, 
and  Benjamin  Doolittle ;  also  Ephraim  B.  Peck,  James  Moody, 
Phineas  A.  Judson,  and  many  others,  by  death  and  by  removal. 

While  these  pages  are  passing  through  the  press,  the  Centen- 
nial Anniversary  of  St.  Paul's  Church  is  being  celebrated.  Rev. 
John  Purves,  the  Rector  of  the  Church,  has  very  kindly  furnished 
the  writer  with  an  account  of  the  proceedings,  which  here  fol- 
lows : — 

"  Commemoration  Services. — The  parish  of  St,  Paul's,  Wood- 
bury, Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  diocese. 
From  1723  to  1771,  it  had  occasional  services  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pigot,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,  of  Stratford,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beach,  of 
Newtown,  and  other  missionaries  of  the  Venerable  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts. 

"  The  parish  was  organized  as  an  Episcopal  Society  in  1740.  In 
the  autumn  of  1771,  the  Rev.  John  Rutgers  Marshall,  who  had 
been  educated  with  a  view  to  the  Dutch  Reformed  ministry,  but 
had  conformed  to  the  Church,  went  to  England,  and  having  re- 
ceived Holy  Orders  at  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  of  Loudon,  re- 
turned to  Connecticut  as  a  missionary  of  the  Society,  and  was  set- 
tled at  Woodbury.  Mr,  Marshall  exercised  his  ministry  in  troub- 
lous times.  He  suffered  persecution  and  bodily  injury  at  the 
hands  of  men  whose  hearts  and  minds  were  ignorantly  prejudiced 
against  the  Church,  but  he  patiently  endured  and  peacefully  dis- 
charged his  sacred  duties,  laying  foundation  principles  of  Apos- 
tolic faith  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  many. 

"In  1785,  by  the  liberal  use  of  his  own  means,  he  commenced 
the  building  of  the  present  church  edifice,  but  he  did  not  live  to 
see  it  fully  completed.  In  the  year  1789,  while  yet  in  the  full 
vigor  of  his  powers,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  ministry,  and 


1418  HISTORY      OP      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

in  the  forty-sixth  of  his  age,  Mr.  Marshall  was  removed  from  his 
earthly  labor  to  awaiL  the  heavenly  crown. 

It  was  to  commemorate  the  eentennary  of  the  settlement  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Marshall  in  Woodbury,  that,  on  the  6th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, appropriate  services  were  held  in  the  church  he  was  in- 
strumental in  erecting,  and  in  the  chancel  of  which,  some  years 
since,  a  memorial  window  inscribed  with  his  name  was  placed. 

"The  former  rectors  of  the  parish  still  surviving,  the  descend- 
ants of  deceased  parisioners,  and  all  its  friends,  were  invited  to  be 
present.  The  old  rectors,  much  to  the  regret  of  all,  were  Provi- 
dentially prevented. 

"  The  day  was  beautiful — a  full  attendance  crowded  the  church. 
As  the  bishops  and  clergy  entered,  the  congregation  rose,  and 
united  in  singing  the  hymn — "  Come,  ye  faithful,  raise  the  anthem.'' 

The  Rt.  Rev.  John  Williams,  D,  D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese,  was  accompanied  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Venables,  Lord  Bishop 
of  Nassau — a  grandson  of  Dr.  Moss,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells, 
one  of  the  consecrators  of  Bishop  White — followed  by  the  clergy, 
most  of  them  in  surplices ;  the  Rev.  Drs.  J.  L.  Clark,  E.  E.  Beards- 
ley,  and  D.  H.  Short,  and  the  Rev.  Messi's.  Moody,  Wi-lton,  Peck, 
Russell,  Clark,  Nelson,  Marvin,  Pierce,  Baldwin,  Acly,  Bishop 
and  Purves,  the  rector  of  the  parish. 

'•Morning  prayer  was  conducted  by  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Cl.ark,  the 
Rev.  Professor  Bissell,  and  the  Rev.  Dr,  Short.  The  XXlVth  se- 
lection was  then  sung,  Bishop  Williams  commenced  the  commun' 
ion  service.  Bishop  Venables  read  the  Epistle,  and  Bishop  Wil- 
liams the  Gospel.  The  LXth  psalm  was  then  sung,  after  which 
Bishop  Williams  preached  from  the  text,  Psalm  xliv.  1,  '  We  have 
heard  with  our  ears,  O  God ;  our  fathers  have  told  us  what  Thou 
hast  done  in  their  time  of  old.' 

"After  expressions  of  hearty  congratulation  to  the  parish  on 
this  deeply  interesting  occasion,  and  a  fitting  reference  to  the  pres. 
ence  of  a  colonial  bishop,  the  subject  presented  was  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  1701^ 
and  its  missionary  work  in  Connecticut.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
8ermon,  '  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Almighty,'  was  sung, 
after  which  the  bishop  confirmed  four  persons. 

"The  rector  then  received  the  offertory.  Bishop  Williams  said 
the  prayer  for  Christ's  Church  militant.  Bishop  Venables  read 
the  exhortation,  the  confession  and  comfortable  words.  The  Tri- 
sagion  having  been  sung,  and  the  prayer  for  humble  access  offered. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1419 

BiT^^iop  Williams  consecrated  the  elements  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  was  assisted  in  the  delivery  of  the  same  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Baldwin  and  the  Rector.     The  Communion  hymn  was: 

"  Oft  in  danger,  oft  in  woe, 
^  OiiwatJ  Cliristian,  onward  go, — 

Bear  the  toil,  maintain  the  strife. 
Strengthened  by  the  Bread  of  Life." 

A  large  inr,-iiber  of  communicants  united  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
The  offering  was  four  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars. 

"At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  after  the  singing  of  the 
seventy-ninth  psalm,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moody  read  the  Litany.  The 
sixtieth  selection  was  then  sung,  and  an  address  was  delivered  by 
the  Rector.  The  subject  was:  The  historic  spirit  of  the  Christ- 
ian traveller  following  the  current  of  the  Church,  as  a  river,  from 
its  source  to  the  sea.  Ezckiel's  vision  of  the  holy  waters  issuing 
from  the  gate  of  the  Temple,  was  taken  as  the  ground  of  an  his- 
torical discourse.  The  Church,  under  the  figure  of  a  river,  was 
traced  from  its  original  spring.  It  was  rep.esented  as  flowing  on 
from  the  east,  branching  into  the  isles  of  the  west,  and  from  thence 
passing  over  into  the  new  world — reaching  to  the  ankles  in  the. 
valleys,  rising  to  the  laiees  around  the  inland  hills,  swelling  to  the 
loins  among  the  central  mountains,  deepening  and  widening  in  its 
course  from  east  to  west,  A  river  to  swim  in,  having  a  continu- 
ous line  of  trees  flourishing  upon  its  banks,  with  healing  in  its  liv- 
ing waters.  The  faithfulness  of  such  noble  missionaries  as  John- 
son, Beach,  and  Marshall,  was  eulogized.  The  history  of  Mar- 
shall, the  first  settled  missionarj'  in  Woodbury,  and  the  sore  trials 
he  endured,  were  briefly  sketched,  and  an  historical  and  statistical 
account  of  the  parish  was  given  to  the  present  time. 

"  Pleasant  are  Thy  courts  above," 

was  then  sung,  and  the  Benediction  [)ronounced. 

Evening  service,  at  7:40  o'clock,  was  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Nelson,  Clark,  and  Peck.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Beardsley  deliv- 
ered a  sermon  from  Job,  viii.  10.  This  admirable  discourse,  by 
the  able  historian  of  the  Episco])al  Cliureh  in  Connecticut,  was  on 
the  mission  of  the  Rev.  John  Rutgers  Marshall,  and  on  the  elec- 
tion of  Bishop  Seabury,  in  Woodbury,  to  the  Episcopate  of  Con- 
necticut.     He  cle.irly  showed  the  ijrominent  part  which  Connecti- 

37 


CHAPTER     XI. 

BIOGRAPHIES    AND  AUTO-BIOGRAPHIKS  OF  NATIVES,  RESIDENTS,  AND 
DESCENDANTS  OP  ANCIENT  WOODBURY,  IN  ALPHABETICAL    ORDER. 


be  written. 


F:ATH  has 
made  it  neces- 
sary that  fur- 
ther biogra- 
phies should 
Further  auto-bi- 


A-^  '^'^'''i'rc^  o^^raijhies  will  also  be  added. 
^'^i  'cr  "  i_  Time  is  short,  and  this  is  a  bu- 
sy world,  but  it  is  useful  and 
instructive  to  note  the  record 
of  the  men  who  act  well  their 
part  in  the  great  drama  and 
tragedy  of  life.  Twenty  years 
will  always  add  to  the  proces- 
sion to  the  "  Great  Unknown 
Land."  Singular  instances  occur  in  every  rank  in  life.  The 
following  is  an  instance  in  the  clerical  profession  : — 


GARRETT    GARNSEY    BROWN. 

Garrett  Garnsey  Brown,  of  the  class  of  1809,  Yale  College, 
died  in  the  Woodbury  almshouse,  on  Saturday,  October  1st,  aged 
86  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Bethlehem,  and  after  being  gradu- 
ated at  Yale,  at  the  age  of  twenty -five,  went  South,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  families  of  wealthy  planters  in  Louisiana 
He  also  preached  as  a  Congregational  minister,  but  whether  reg- 
ularly ordained  or  not,  we  do  not  know.  Later  in  life  he  went  to 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he  was  uufortauate  and  lost  his  prop- 
erty.    He  subsequently  returned  to  Louisiana,   remaining   there 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1423 

until  shortly  before  the  war,  when  he  came  back  to  his  native 
place.  He  was  provided  for  a  while  by  a  brother,  but  finally, 
being  unwilling  to  make  any  exertion  for  his  own  comfort  or  ben- 
efit, was  turned  upon  the  town,  and  boarded  at  the  public  expense 
at  the  Woodbury  almshouse.  He  retained  his  faculties  to  a  re- 
markable degree  until  the  end  of  his  life. 


HON.    SETH    p.    BEERS. 

A  sketch  of  Mr.  Beers  appears  on  page  426.  An  error  occurs 
in  the  date  in  the  11th  line.     It  should  be,  November,  1812. 

He  was  born  at  Woodbury,  July  1st,  1781,  but  passed  his  whole 
business  life  at  Litchfield,  Conn.  He  attended  the '•  Bi-Centen- 
nial"  of  the  town,  July  4th  and  oth,  1859,  and  made  a  most  feel- 
ing, appropriate,  and  eloquent  address,  which  included  a  sketch  of 
his  own  career.  One  remark  made  on  that  occasion  proved  pro- 
phetic in  his  own  case.  It  is  recorded  on  page  9*74.  "J/y  coming 
hither  to  day  seems  a  completion  of  the  circle  of  my  life.  It 
brings  me  round  to  the  point  whence  I  started,  and  connects  the 
termination  of  the  line  with  the  beginning?''  He  was  at  this  time 
one  of  the  best  preserved  old  men  with  whom  the  writer  has 
ev;r  been  acquainted,  but  he  died  a  little  more  than  a  year  later. 
All  his  children  are  gone,  too,  except  Julia.  And  thus  passed 
away  a  Christian  gentleman  of  the  "old  school," — one  of  the 
most  honored  and  useful  citizens  of  our  county  and  State. 


HON.    CHARLES    CHAPMAN. 

Charles  Chapman,'  the  most  brilliant  advocate  of  the  Connec- 
ticut bar,  was  a  "grandson  of  Woodbury"  by  two  lines  of  de- 
scent. He  died  at  Hartford,  where  he  resided,  on  the  7th  day  of 
August,  1869,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  iu  New- 
town, Conn.,  June  21st,  1799.  His  father  was  Asa  Chapman,  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  uf  tiic  State.  He  commenced  his 
law  studies  with  his  father,  pursued  them  for  a  time  at  tlie  Litch- 
field Law  School,  and   completed   them  with  the   late  Chief  Jus- 

'  The  larger  portion  of  this  account  uf  Mr.  Chupitiau   is   taken  from   the  o5th 
Vol.  of  Connecticut  Ileports. 


1424  HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

tice  Williams,  then  in  practice  in  Hartford.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  New  Haven,  and  in  1832  removed  to  Hartford, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  six  times  repre. 
sented  the  town  of  Hartford  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  1851  by  the  Whig  party,  to  which  he  was 
then  attached.  He  was  also  United  States  District  Attorney  for 
the  District  of  Connecticut,  from  the  spring  of  1841  to  the  close 
of  1844. 

Mr,  Chapman  had  a  very  large  professional  practice,  especially 
in  criminal  cases.  There  was  hardly  a  criminal  trial  in  the  State 
of  special  importance  in  which  he  was  not  employed  for  the  de- 
fence, and  he  often  went  into  neighboring  States  upon  such  cases. 
Over-work  in  the  trial  of  a  protracted  case  in  Northampton,  Mass., 
a  few  months  before  his  death,  undoubtedly  hastened  that  event. 

Mr.  Chapman  seemed  to  be  in  his  natural  element  in  the  trial  of 
causes  before  a  jury.  The  more  desperate  his  case,  the  more  he 
seemed  to  be  inspirited  by  it.  His  resources  were  inexhaustible. 
His  power  in  addressing  a  jury  was  very  remarkable.  In  the  ex- 
amination of  witnesses,  and  the  sifting  of  evidence,  he  had  no  su- 
perior ;  it  seemed  impossible  for  a  falsehood  to  elude  him.  His 
sarcasm,  when  he  thought  the  occasion  demanded  it,  was  terrible. 
He  had  command  of  a  masterly  English,  which  he  compacted  into 
sentences,  generally,  of  finished  elegance,  often  of  dramatic  power. 
His  wit  was  always  keen,  and  ever  in  hand;  nobody  approached 
him  in  readiness  of  retort.  He  did  not  move  his  hearers  as  the 
greatest  orators  do,  by  being  profoundly  impressed  himself  and 
carrying  them  along  by  sympathy.  The  process  with  him  was 
wholly  intellectual — cool  himself  and  with  a  perfect  comprehen- 
sion of  the  suttlest  springs  of  human  feeling  and  action,  he  played 
with  his  audience  like  a  magician.  Wit,  pathos,  humor,  invective, 
fancy,  logic, — all  seemed  to  combine,  or  take  their  turn  in  sweep- 
ing everything  before  them.  In  his  delivery  he  was  entirely  nat- 
ural, and  his  manner  unstudied.  He  was  very  social  in  his  nature, 
a  remarkably  good  talker,  and  incomparable  and  inexhaustible  as 
a  stoy  teller.  Many  of  his  felicities  of  speech  and  story  will  long 
survive  among  the  festive  traditions  of  the  bar. 

Hon.  Richard  D.  Hubbard  says  of  him : — "  In  the  delicate  duty 
of  examining  witnesses — above  all,  in  that  most  important  and 
most  difficult  of  all  professional  functions,  a  cross-examination — 
he  was  not  only  distinguished,  he  was  consummate.  A  cross- 
examination    with    him  was  a   hot   and    running  fire  of  scathing 


HISTORY      OF     ANCI  E  NT    WO  ODBURY  1425 

inquisitious.  He  searched  the  very  veius  of  a  witness.  A  per- 
jurer in  his  hands  was  not  merely  unmasked,  he  suffered  on  the 
spot  a  part,  at  least,  of  the  punishment  due  to  his  crime." 

Judge  Wm.  D.  Shipman,  of  the  United  States  District  Court, 
says  of  Mr,  Chapman : — "  No  greater  mistake  could  be  made  than 
to  suppose  that  mere  ingenuity  and  adroitness  were  the  main" 
weapons  which  made  Charles  Chapman,  for  nearly  forty  years,  a 
singular  power  at  the  Bar  of  this  State.  His  capacity  to  main- 
tain a  high  position  in  a  large  class  of  cases,  with  the  able  leaders 
of  the  profession,  was  due  to  quite  other  and  higher  qualities  than 
mental  dextei'ity. 

''  In  this  field  (criminal  defence)  he  is  admitted  on  all  hands  to 
have  been  without  a  superior, — I  may  say  without  an  equal,  at  the 
Bar  of  this  State.  In  the  performance  of  this  duty,  he  was  faith- 
ful in  ail  things.  I  say  duty,  for  the  defence  of  persons  accused  of 
crime  is  a  duty,  which  the  public  cannot  afford  to  see  neglected  or 
under. ated.  So  tender  and  mindful  is  our  law  on  the  subject, 
that  it  not  only  discards  the  barbarous  usage  once  prevailing  in 
England,  by  which  alleged  criminals  weie  denied  counsel,  but,  if 
the  accused  is  destitute,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Court  to  assign  him 
counsel.  Whether  oiiginally  employed  by  the  defendent,  or  as- 
signed by  the  Court,  the  path  of  the  lawyer  is  plain.  He  is  bound 
by  the  law  itself  to  use,  with  honor  and  rectitude,  every  intellect- 
ual and  professional  weapon  to  the  utmost  of  the  ability  which 
God  and  the  law  have  given  him,  in  the  defence  of  his  cUent.  This 
Charles  Chapman  did,  and  the  faithful  manner  in  which  he  per- 
formed this  duty,  constitutes  one  of  his  highest  titles  to  honor. 
He  defended  men  only  by  the  open  use  of  the  legitimate  weapons 
of  professional  warfare.  Some  may  have  been  acquitted  who  re- 
ally deserved  conviction.  But  it  is  idle  to  charge  the  lawyer  who 
honorably  and  successfully  defends  an  accused  man  with  wrong- 
fully shielding  the  guilty.  He  interposes  no  shield  but  that  which 
the  law  puts  into  his  hands,  and  is  necessary  for  the  proper  de- 
fence of  every  defendent,  whether  innocent  or  guilty.  The  ques- 
tion before  the  triers  is  never  that  of  absolute  guilt,  but  whether, 
upon  the  evidence  presented  in  the  Court,  all  reasonable  doubt  is 
excluded.  No  higher  duty  can  devolve  on  the  lawyer,  than  to  see 
to  it  that  no  man  is  convicted  upon  unworthy,  or  insutticient  evi- 
dence; for  in  doing  so  he  preserves  the  only  safeguard  which  in- 
nocence has  against  popular  rage,  or  official  tyranny.  Our  de- 
ceased brother  well  understood  this  duty,  and  perlbrmed  it  with 


1426  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

fearlessness  and  ability  ;  often  in  behalf  of  the  poor  and  friend- 
less, without  hope  of  reward. 

"  In  private  life,  Mr,  Chapman  was  an  interesting  and  enter- 
taining companion.  With  his  never  failing  fund  of  anecdote  and 
humor,  his  quaint,  epigrammatic,  incisive  comments  upon  phases 
of  character,  and  the  incidents  of  dailj'^  life,  and  the  usual  gaity  of 
his  temper,  he  threw  a  charm  over  the  hours  of  relaxation.  Though 
living  to  the  age  of  seventy,  his  youthful  tastes  and  feelings  never 
forsook  him.  He  loved  the  applause  which  success  in  that  profes- 
sion brought  him.  The  love  of  distinction  may  be  pronounced  by 
the  moralist  an  infirmity,  but  an  austere  genius  has  declared  it  to 
be 

"  The  last  infirmity  of  a  noble  mind." 

It  undoubtedly  is  a  powerful  incentive  to  excellence,  and  when 
seeking  its  triumphs  in  the  fields  of  intellectual  renown,  it  is,  next 
to  the  spirit  inculcated  by  Christianity,  the  most  mighty  agent  in 
developing  and  nourishing  thoie  virtues  which  give  dignity  and 
ornament  to  human  character." 


WILLIAM    COTHREN, 

Son  of  William  and  Hannah  Cothren,  was  born  at  Farmington, 
Maine,  Nx)vember  28th,  1819.  He  fitted  for  College  at  the  Far- 
mington Academy ;  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  Maine,  in 
1843  ;  received  his  second  degree  in  course,  at  the  same  institution 
in  1846,  and  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  ad  eundem,  from  Yale 
College,  in  1847.  He  studied  law  under  the  direction  of  Hon. 
Robert  Goodenough,  of  Farmington,  Me ,  late  a  member  of  Con- 
gress from  his  district,  and  with  the  late  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps, 
of  Woodbury.  He  came  to  Woodbury  in  1844,  taught  school  for 
a  while,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  County  Bar,  Oct., 
1845.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Woodbury 
inmiediately  after,  and  has  continued  there  in  the  performance  of 
his  duties  as  a  counselor  to  the  present  time.  He  was  elected  a 
county  commissioner  for  Litchfield  County,  at  the  May  session  of' 
the  General  Assembly,  in  1851.  In  April,  1856,  he  was  admitted 
as  an  Attorney  and  Counselor  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court, 
and  on  the  8th  of  Vlaroh,  1865,  he  was  admitted  as  an  Attorney 
and  Counselor  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.     He 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIEXT      WOODBURY.  1427 

was  elected  Corresponding  member  of  the  New  England  Historic 
Genealogical  Society,  at  Boston,  Mass.,  May  5th,  1847  ;  a  mamber 
of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  Nov.  23d,  1852,  of  which, 
for  many  years,  he  has  been  a  Vice-President;  an  Honorary  mem- 
ber of  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  April 
24th,  1854;  a  Corresponding  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical 
Society,  Jan.  I7th,  1855;  a  Corresponding  member  of  the  Ver- 
mont Historical  Society,  Feb.  3d,  1860;  a  Corresponding  member 
of  the  Maine  Historical  Society,  Sept.  18th,  1861  ;  and  an  Hono- 
rary member  of  the  Rutland  County  Historical  Society,  Oct.  8th, 
1868. 


HON.  SAMUEL    G.  GOODRICH.  \. 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  even  better  known  by  his  nom  de  plume 
of  "Peter  Parley,"  under  which  he  achieved  his  world-wide  dis- 
tinction as  an  author,  than  by  his  real  name.  He  was  the  son  of 
tlie  late  Rev.  Samuel  Goodrich,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Ridgefield,  Conn  ,  where  the  subject  of  this  notice  was 
born.  He  was  a  member  of  a  highly  cultivated  and  intellectual 
family,  and  spent  a  life  of  industry  and  usefulness,  and  earned  an 
enviable  fame.  It  is  not  the  design  of  this  notice  to  write  an 
obituary  of  him,  or  an  estimate  of  his  life  and  his  works.  They 
are  engraved  on  the  hearts  of  the  intelligent  and  thoughtful  in  all 
the  world.  It  is  simply  to  say  a  word  of  the  closing  years  of  his 
life,  and  to  mention  the  fact  that  "  his  bones  remain  with  us  "  iu 
this  beautiful  valley.  Two  or  three  years  before  his  death,  he 
bought  a  country  house  in  Southbury,  on  "Maple  Hill,"  on  the 
beautifully  shaded  street,  just  below  the  Woodbury  line,  for  the 
purpose  of  s])ending,  in  the  serenity  of  a  country  repose,  the  eve- 
ning of  his  days,  and  to  identify  himself  with  the  people  of  his 
chosen  home,  and  thus  renew  the  thoughts  and  associations  of  his 
early  years.  But  he  was  not  long  to  enjoy  his  desired  rest.  He 
went  to  New  York  on  business  one  day  in  good  health,  the  next 
day  he  was  stricken  down,  and  on  the  next  brought  home.  The' 
dream  of  life  was  over,  and  they  laid  him  to  rest  iu  the  "  ancient 
cemetery"  of  Southbury,  where  lie  tlie  generations  who  liave  gone 
before  him.  Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  our  times. 


1428  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


HON.    ORLANDO  HASTINGS.  ' 

Mr.  Hastings  was  born  in  Washington,  in  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  in  1789,  and,  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  was  removed,  by 
his  parents  to  the  vicinity  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.  He  was  the  third 
son  and  fifth  child  in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  In  common 
with  the  other  members  of  that  interesting  household,  he  enjoyed 
in  early  years  t^^e  instructions  and  prayers  of  eminently  pious  pa- 
rents; and,  as  in  ten  thousand  other  cases  in  the  moral  history 
of  mankind,  the  first  sacred  influences  of  a  godly  mother  have  but 
lived  again  in  the  strict  integrity  and  high-toned  religious  senti- 
ments of  the  son.  His  youth  was  morally  circumspect,  but  not 
religious. 

Being  attacked,  at  about  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  with  he- 
morrhage of  the  lungs,  he  was  turned  aside  from  the  plan  of  ob- 
taining a  collegiate  education,  which  he  had  cherished,  and  after 
a  time  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits.  In  I8l5,  he  entered  the 
law  oflice  of  the  late  Judge  Griffin,  then  practicing  at  Clinton,  N. 
Y. ;  and  in  the  year  1818,  removed  to  Genesseo,  where  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  business  of  his  profession.  About  this  time 
he  dated  his  hopeful  conversion,  though  his  public  connection  with 
the  church  was  not  formed  till  the  year  1825.  In  1830,  he  remo- 
ved to  Rochester,  where  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  were 
borne.  These  were  the  first  fruits  of  his  influence,  both  at  the 
Bar,  and  in  the  church.  In  either  sphere  it  was  an  influence  that 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  Among  the  many  worthy  names  which 
are  justly  revered,  as  having  given  character  to  that  city,  and  which 
will  live  as  long  as  it  has  a  history,  that  of  Orlando  Hastings  will 
stand  high,  both  as  a  legal  counselor,  and  as  a  very  pillar,  in  the 
House  of  God. 

Mr.  Hastings  was  gifted  with  a  mind  of  rare  capacity,  distin- 
guished particularly  for  its  logical  clearness,  its  power  of  close 
and  prolonged  attention,  and  its  intuitive  grasp  of  a  whole  subject 
at  once.  He  generally  apprehended  the  chief  points  at  issue  in 
clear  and  sharp  outline,  with  no  blur  or  shading  into  penurabral 
dimness  and  uncertainty.  And  the  views  so  clearly  and  strongly 
conceived,  on  whatever  subject,  always  enlisted  the  enthusiasm  of 
his  whole  nature,  stirred  the  resoluteness  of  an  indomitable  perse- 

*  This  notice  is  extracted  principally  from  tho  funeral  serraou  preached  by  Rev. 
F.  F.  Ellinwood. 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1429 

verence,  and  called  forth  a  very  rare  degree  of  executive  force. 
No  opinion  was  ever  indifferently  entertained,  which  he  deemed 
worthy  to  be  entertained  at  all.  No  mere  surmises — his  own  or 
another's — could  be  accepted  by  him  as  conclusions ;  but  that 
which  loas  received  as  truth,  became  a  fire  in  his  bones,  stirring 
every  energy — putting  forth  the  most  unflinching  resohition,  and 
the  promptest  action.  Even  those  who  diSered  with  him  could 
never  doubt  his  entire  sincerity  ;  and  if,  in  the  earnestness  with 
which  he  sought  his  ends,  he  seemed  to  any  too  strenuous,  they 
were  still  constrained  to  feel  that  it  was  neither  interest,  nor  dis- 
ingenuous obstinacy,  but  only  the  zeal  of  strong  and  honest  con- 
victions, that  influenced  him. 

I  shall  utter  (said  tlie  pastor)  nothing  new  to  most  of  you,  when 
I  say,  that  for  tenderness  of  sympathy,  Mr.  Hastings  was  one  in  a 
thousand.  I  am  constrained  to  bear  it  as  my  well  considered  tes- 
timony, that  in  all  my  intercourse  with  men,  I  have  never  known 
a  heart  more  susceptible  to  kindness  and  the  tokens  of  friendship, 
or  more  easily  moved  with  sympathy  for  the  wants  and  woes  of 
others.  I  have  never  seen  the  tears, of  emotion  so  often  stealing 
from  any  other  rarMily  eye;  nor  heard  so  frequently  the  stifled 
utterances  of  tender  feeling,  from  any  other  manly  lips.  Hundreds 
and  thousands  who  had  nothing  with  which  to  pay,  have  gone  to 
him  and  found  advice  and  help  in  every  species  of  difticulty  ;  and 
as  to  pecuniary  means,  who  does  not  know  that  a  large  proportion 
of  his  liandsome  income  was  dispensed,  almost  with  the  freeness 
of  the  sunlight  and  the  shower?  Could  all  those  who  have  re- 
ceived his  benefactions  for  the  last  half  century,  stand  up  here  in 
full  ariay  before  us,  the  spectacle  itself  would  utter  a  silent  eulo- 
gium  more  eloquent  than  tongue  can  express. 

I  need  not  say  to  those  who  knew  his  mental  or  moral  qualities, 
that  he  has  been  to  us  a  valued  counselor.  I  need  not  add  that 
his  well  known  earnestness  and  Christian  zeal,  have  rendered  him 
indetaligable  in  every  labor  of  love  among  us ;  and  so  as  to  pe- 
cuniary support,  as  you  might  suppose,  his  liberal  purse  has  been 
almost  a  treasury  of  the  church.  In  our  social  meetings,  he  never 
Opened  his  lips  without  having  something  to  say,  which  was  both 
edifying  and  instructive  to  his  hearers.  Moreover  his  example 
among  us — if  punctuality  in  every  religious  duty — if  thorough 
honesty  in  his  Christian  life — if  high-toned  sentiment  in  respect 
to  the  influence  of  the  church  upon  the  world  has  any  worth,  it 
has,  we  trust,  left  its  lastiny  impress  upon  us.     He  loved  the  inte- 


1430  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

rests  of  tliis  church  as  his  own  life.  There  was  ahnost  no  sacri- 
fice that  he  was  not  prepared  to  make  for  its  outward  prosperity, 
or  its  spiritual  thrift.  His  thoughts  were  much  upon  it ;  he  plan- 
ned for  its  advancement ;  he  gave  to  and  labored  for  it,  and  prayed 
in  its  behalf.  Even  when  no  longer  able  to  come  up  to  this  much 
loved  place,  or  even  kneel  at  the  family  altar,  still,  bolstered  in  bis 
chair,  and  speaking  only  in  slow  and  feeble  accents,  he  uttered  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  petitions  of  his  whole  life,  for  the  spirit- 
ual interests  of  this  church.  And  we  may  feel  that  as  a  legacy  of 
blessing  to  us,  that  prayer  stands  as  a  memorial  before  God. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  industrious  and  successful  practitioners 
in  the  State  of  his  adoption.  On  the  occasion  of  his  death,  spe- 
cial meetings  of  the  church,  and  other  public  bodies  of  which  he 
had  been  a  member  were  held,  at  which  resolutions  of  the  most 
complimentary  kind  were  passed,  and  also  in  the  several  Courts 
before  which  he  had  so  long  and  ably  practiced,  set  eulogies  were 
pronounced,  scarcely  equaled  by  those  delivered  on  any  similar 
occasion  in  this  country.  And  thus  passed  to  his  rest  the  able 
counselor,  the  revered  friend,  and  the  Christian  gentleman.  ' 


CHIEF    JUSTICE    JOEL    HINMAN. 


A  brief  account  of  Judge  Hinman  appears  on  page  442,  but  as 
he  has  now  deceased,  a  further  record  of  him  will  be  added — taken 
principally  from  a  paper  prepared  by  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury, 
Esq.,  of  Waterbury,  and  printed  in  the  35th  vol,  of  Conn.  Reports. 

Judge  Hinman  was  born  at  Southbury,  Conn.,  January  27th, 
1802,  and  died  of  pneumonia  at  his  residence  in  Cheshire,  Febru- 
ary 21st,  1870,  aged  68.  He  was  buried  on  Thursday,  Feb.  24th, 
in  the  graveyard  at  Cheshire,  adjoining  the  Episcopal  Church, 
where  he  had  been  for  years  a  faithful  attendant.  In  accordance 
with  a  wish  expressed  by  him  some  time  before  his  death,  and  en- 
tirely characteristic  of  the  man,  no  sermon  was  preached,  and  no 
eulogy  was  pronounced.  But  he  was  followed  to  the  grave  by  a 
large  concourse  of  his  old  neighbors  and  friends,  by  the  judges  of 
the  Courts,  and  by  representatives  of  the  Bar  from  all  parts  of  the 
State, 


*  In  the  account  of  Dr.  Seth  Hastings,  father  of  the  above,  p.  385,  the  list  of 
children  should  be  as  follows,  at  his  death,  84  years  of  age,  viz ;  Seth,  Betsey, 
Thomas,  Orlando,  Eurotas  Paimelee,  Charles,  Truman,  Sophia, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT.  1431 

The  Judge  was  the  twelfth   in  a  family  of  fourteen  or  fifteen 
cliildren,  and,  after  having  received  a  common   school  education 
early  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law,  first   with  Judge 
Chaj)man,  at  Newtown,  and  afterwards  with  Messrs.  Staples  and 
Hitchcock,  at  New  Haven.     He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  not  long 
after  reaching  his   majority,  and   settled   in  Waterbury,  in    1824. 
The  following  year  he  married    Miss  Maria  Scovill,  daughter  of 
James  Scovill,  of  Waterbury.     In  1830,  he  was  appointed  Judge 
of  Pi'obate  for  the  Waterbury  District,  and  continued  to  hold  the 
office  for  ten  years.     He  twice  represented  the  5th  District,  in  the 
State  Senate,  and   several  times  the  town  of  Waterbury  in   the 
House    of  Representatives.      While  a  member  of  the   House,  in 
1842,  he  was  fleeted  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  and  Supreme  Courts, 
to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Roger  Minot  Sher- 
man.    Upon  the  decease  of  Chief  Justice  Storrs,  in  1861,  he  was 
elected  Chief  Judge,  which  office  he  continued  to  hold  till  his  de- 
cease.    Judge  Hinman  continued  to  reside  in  Waterbury  till  1845, 
when    he  removed  to    New   Haven,  where    he   remained    several 
years,  and   subsequently  to  Cheshire,  where  he  died.     He    left  a 
widow   and  four   children  ;  one  son   and    three  daughters.     The 
Judge  was  40  years  old  when  he  was  elected,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  the  youngest  man,  up  to  that  time,  who  had  filled  that  posi- 
tion.    His  election  was  quite  unexpected  to  him  and  to  the  pub- 
lic.    The  judges  of  the  Court   were  mostly  past  the  prime  of  life 
and  men  of  marked  ability.     He   was  comparatively  young,  and 
had   attained  no  eminence  at  the  bar.     As  a  legislator  he  spoke 
seldom  and  biiefly,  though   he  was  acknowledged  as   one  of  the 
leaders,  and  his  opinion  had  much  weight.     In  his  profession  he 
was  possessed  of  considerable  ability,  and,  on  accasions,  showed 
it.     But  he  was  unsuited  to  active  practice,  slow  of  utterance,  in- 
dolent and  unmethodical  in  his  business  habits,  and  needed  a  spur 
to  exertion,  which  the  limited  practice  of  a  country  town  did  not 
supply.     But  he  was  much  better  adapted  by  nature  for  the  bench 
than  the  bar.     Be  had  an  eminently  judicial  mind,  and  having  now 
a  sufficient  inducement  to  exertion,  he  soon  won,  in  his  new  posi- 
tion, both  the  respect  of  his  associates  and  of  the  bar — a  respect 
which   steadily  increased   during  the  reSt  of  his  life.     The  whole 
action  of  his  mind  was  deliberative,  perpending,  judicial.     "  Well, 
now  let's  see,"  was  his  favorite  coimecting  and  lubricating  clause, 
in  all  the  breaks   and  joints  of  conversation,  discussion  and  argu- 
ment.    The  members  of  the  bar,  both  old  and  young,  throughout 


1432  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  State,  regarded  him  with  much  respect,  mingled  with  a  feel- 
ing of  complacency  closely  bordering  on  affection.  He,  on  his 
part,  was  fond  of  young  men,  and  enjoyed  their  society  and  con- 
versation. He  called  people  by  their  first  names.  He  knew  the 
children,  and  stopped  to  talk  with  them.  He  made  equability  a 
study,  and  though  by  no  means  devoid  of  temper,  he  rarely  show- 
ed more  of  it  than  a  passing  flush. — "  Whatever  happens,"  was  his 
advice  to  a  young  friend,  "make  it  a  point  never  to  get  angry. 
Lawyers  will  abuse  you,  witnesses  disappoint  you,  clients  deceive 
and  cheat  you,  and  judges  will  decide  against  you,  when  you 
know  you  are  right ;  but  whatever  happens,  take  it  all  coolly, 
laugh,  if  you  can,  if  you  can't  laugh,  smile,  and  wait  for  time  to 
make  things  right." 

His  legal  opinions  are  without  the  graces  of  style,  but  they  are 
attractive,  because  they  come  directly  to  the  point,  and  cover  the 
whole  ground  in  a  manner  quite  peculiar  to  the  judge  himself.  He 
seems,  without  labor  or  effort,  to  find  the  true  solutions  of  inty. 
cate  questions,  and  the  conclusions  are  so  natural,  that  the  reader 
adopts  them  with  confidence,  as  being  those  of  his  own  mind.  As 
has  been  well  said  by  a  distinguished  member  of  the  bar,  "  his 
honesty  seemed  rather  to  be  constitutional  than  to  come  from  any 
very  nice  conscientiousness.  He  seemed  to  go  right  because  he 
could  not  help  it." 

The  State  of  Connecticut  has  been  extremely  fortunate  in  the 
presiding  judges  of  her  highest  Court,  and  though  some  have  ex- 
celled him  in  legal  accumen,  or  brilliant  genius;  yet  for  that  rarely 
balanced  common  sense,  which  equals  either  of  these  gifts  in  util- 
ity, and  for  sterling  honesty,  few  names  will  hold  a  higher  place 
than  that  of  Joel  Hinman. 


EDWARD    J    HUBBARD, 

Was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Conn.  Received  a  Common  and  High 
School  education.  Studied  law  with  Henry  B.  Graves  and  Wil- 
liam Cothren,  Esqrs.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
and  immediately  commenced  practice  with  William  Cothren  at 
Woodbury.  In  the  fall  of  ]8b5,  as  there  seemed  to  be  a  better 
opening  at  Naugatuck,  Conn.,  he  opened  a  law  office  there,  and 
remained  till  the  fall  of  1866,  when  the  amount  of  business  not 
being  satisfactory,  he  emigrated  West,  and  opened  an  office  at 
Trinidad,  Colorado  Territory,  where  he  at  present  resides,  in  the 


HISTORY      OF      AXCIENT      WOODBURY.  1433 

full  practice  of  his  profession.  He  holds  the  offices  of  County 
Attorney  and  United  States  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  of 
his  District. 


HON.    .TAMES    HUNTINGTON, 

Was  born  in  South  Coventry,  Conn.,  .Tune  4,  1833.  Received 
a  High  School  education,  and  was  fitted  to  enter  the  Sophomore 
class  in  College.  Studied  law  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Loren  P. 
Waldo  and  Alvan  P.  Hyde,  at  Tolland,  Conn.  Entered  the  Na- 
tional Law  School  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  graduated 
in  1857,  and  received  the  degree  of  LL.B.  Was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Tolland  County,  in  April  1859,  and  opened  an  office  in 
Woodbury,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  where  he  still  continues  to  re- 
side, in  the  full  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  elected  Judge 
of  Probate  for  the  District  of  Woodbury,  in  April,  1861,  and  has 
continued  to  hold  the  office  till  the  present  time. 


WYLLIS    LAMBERT. 

In  July,  IB*/!,  the  writer  communicated  to  the  public  points  the 
following  slight  sketch  of  Mr.  Lambert : — 

"  The  angel  of  death  still  seems  to  hover  over  our  devoted  town 
— the  first  Congregational  society  in  particular.  On  Wednesday, 
the  7th,  another  of  the  "fathers"  in  our  church  passed  away, 
after  a  few  days  illness,  aged  seventy.  Wyllis  Lambert  descended 
from  an  old  and  respectable  family,  was  born  in  this  town,  and  was 
a  life-long  resident.  At  an  early  age  he  joined  the  first  Congre- 
gational church,  and  was  ever  a  consistent  and  valued  member. 
For  a  long  period  of  years  he  was  an  able  and  efficient  officer  of 
the  church.  To  his  wise  counsel  and  calm,  considerate  action, 
when  causes  of  difference  arose,  the  church  is  indebted  as  much, 
or  more,  than  to  any  other  man  in  it,  for  its  long  period  of  repose 
and  prosperity.  Thongli  of  a  stern  and  nnbending  character  by 
nature,  yet  he  was  slow  to  speak  and  slow  to  anger,  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  interests  of  the  visible  church.  He  was  always 
in  his  place  of  duty,  bearing  well  his  part  in  the  church  of  his 
choice,  in  society,  and  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  All  public 
trusts  and  duties  committed  to  his  care  by  his  fellow  townsmen, 
were  faithfully  and  scrupulously  executed  with  judgment  and  dis- 
cretion.    In  him  was  to  be  found  the  discreet  and  wise  counselor. 


1434  HISTORY     OP      ANCIENT      WOOUBURT. 

Faithful  in  liis  friendships  and  in  all  the  duties  of  life,  he  has 
moved  on  in  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  and  rounded  out,  in  a 
well-spent  life,  the  alloted  period  of  three  score  years  and  ten. 
His  death  leaves  a  void  in  the  church  and  community  that  will 
not  be  filled.  The  fathers  are  passing  away,  and  there  are  none 
to  take  their  places.  Happy  those  that  remain,  if,  when  life's 
"fitful  dream  is  o'er,"  they  can  meet  death  with  calm,  expectant 
hope  of  a  bright  hereafter,  and  sure  faith  in  the  mercy  of  the 
great  Creator,  as  did  the  deceased,  who  longed  for  the  appearing 
of  his  Redeemer,  and  to  be  absent  from  the  earth,  that  he  might 
'  be  present  Avith  the  Lord.'  " 


HENRY    MINOR. 


In  the  month  of  January,  1871,  the  writer  furnished  the  follow- 
ing account  of  Mr.  Minor,  for  the  public  press: — 

"  Woodbury  has  been  peculiarly  unfortunate  during  the  last  few 
months  in  the  loss  of  an  unusually  large  number  of  prominent 
citizens,  in  middle  life,  cut  down  in  the  full  strength  of  the  vigo- 
rous period  of  men's  lives,  and  at  the  very  height  of  their  useful- 
ness. The  best  and  most  useful  period  of  a  well  preserved  man's 
life,  is  the  interval  between  the  fiftieth  and  sixtieth  year  of  his 
age.  All  his  powers  of  mind  and  body  are  ripe  and  vigorous  and 
effective.  We  can  ill  afford  to  spare  our  leading  men  at  this  time 
of  their  lives. 

"  Among  those  whom  we  have  lately  lost,  was  Mr.  Henry 
Minor,  whose  death  occurred  on  the  2d  of  January,  at  the  age  of 
54  years.  Mr.  Minor  was  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Matthew  INtinor, 
a  lawyer  of  note  in  this  town  for  many  years.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  was  an  active  business  man  all  his  life,  having  business  re- 
lations, in  all  its  various  phases,  with  a  large  number  of  persons 
in  several  States.  But  he  was  the  most  identified  with  our  own 
town.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  for  Litchfield  County  during  more 
than  twenty  years,  and  bore  various  offices  of  trust  in  the  town. 
As  a  Sheriff,  he  had  not  a  superior,  if  even  an  equal,  in  the  State. 
In  the  difficult  duties  pertaining  to  this  office,  he  was  always  affa- 
ble, kind  and  considerate,  with  the  courage  and  ability  to  be  se- 
vere when  necessary.  He  favored  the  settlement  of  litigation, 
and  was  quite  successful  on  numerous  occasions  in  inducing  con- 
tending parties  to  arrange  their  differences  amicably.    He  was  a 


niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1435 

lover  of  peace,  and  his  advice  was  valuable  in  his  various  relaliotis 
in  the  society  in  which  he  moved,  in  business,  in  his  party,  and 
his  church.  He  was  not  a  profuse  talkei-,  but  a  word  Htly  spoken 
by  him  very  often  had  a  controlling  influence  in  the  difficulties  of 
his  time.  He  was  a  kind,  unflinching  and  sincere  friend.  No  in- 
ducement could  ever  induce  him  to  desert  one.  No  one  would  go 
further  and  endure  more  to  do  a  favor.  He  was  an  honest  and 
accurate  business  man,  in  all  his  dealings,  and  a  valuable  man  in 
every  relation  in  life. 

"For  the  last  three  or  four  years,  he  has  been  a  great  sufiwrer, 
confined  to  his  house,  on  his  bed  much  of  the  time.  But  he  bore 
up  through  it  all  with  cahn  Christian  fortitude,  closing  up  his  bu- 
siness, and  setting  his  house  in  order  for  the  last  great  change. 
He  was  fully  aware,  in  his  last  sickness,  that  his  hour  liad  come, 
and  he  met  death  with  the  fortitude  and  composure  which  had 
characterized  his  life.  He  seemed  to  have  almost  a  prophetic  in. 
timation  of  his  last  day.  And  thus  he  passed  away,  through  great 
suflering  and  weariness,  and  ascended,  as  we  fondly  believe,  to  his 
bright  reward  above." 


REV.  ELISr^A.  MITCHELL,  D.  D   ' 

Elisha  Mitchell,  D  D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and 
Geology  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington, Conn.,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1793.  He  Avas  the  oldest 
son  of  Abner  Mitchell,  a  respectable  farmer  of  that  town,  whose 
wife,  Phoebe  Eliot,  was  a  descendant,  in  the  5th  generation,  of 
John  Eliot,  the  celebrated  "  Apostle  to  the  Indians.  Dr.  Mitchell 
was  thus  a  member  of  a  family  now  very  widely  spread  over  the 
United  States,  and  reckoning  many  who  have  exercised  much  in- 
fluence in  commerce,  politics,  science  and  leligion.  He  possessed 
many  of  the  characteristics  which  marked  the  Eliots,  especially  of 
the  earlier  generations.  The  Rev.  Jared  Eliot,  M.  D.  and  D.  D,, 
minister  for  many  years  at  Killingworth,  Conn.,  was  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell's great-grandfather.  He  was  distinguished,  in  his  own  times 
for  his  knowledge  of  History,  Natural  Philosophy,  Botany  and 
Mineralogy,  while,  as  a  theologian,  he  was  sound  in  the  faith,  and 
delighted  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel   of  grace.     Anions  his 

*  ThU  memoir  of  Dr.  Mitchell  was  prepared  by  Prof.  Charles  Phillips 
38 


1436  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

correspondents  were  Dr.  Franklin  and  Bishop  Berkeley,  and  in 
1V62,  he  was  honored  by  the  Royal  Society  of  London  with  a  gold 
medal,  for  a  valuable  discovery  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  This 
ancestor,  Dr.  Mitchell,  closely  resembled  in  many  peculiarities 
of  body  and  soul.  Both  were  men  of  large  stature,  of  great  bodily 
strength,  of  untiring  activity,  of  restless  curiosity,  of  varied  and 
extensive  attainments,  of  quaint  and  quiet  humor,  of  persevering 
generosity,  and  of  a  well-established  piety.  His  desire  for  excel- 
lence in  things  pertaining  to  the  mind,  was  a  prominent  feature 
in  Dx-.  Mitchell's  character,  from,  early  childhood.  When  only 
four  years'  old,  he  acted  a  spirited  part  in  an  exhibition  of  the 
school  he  then  attended,  greatly  to  his  own  satisfaction,  and  to 
the  delight  of  his  friends.  As  he  grew  older,  he  was  never  so 
well  pleased  as  when  his  playmates  would  gather  around  him,  to 
hear  him  tell  what  he  had  read  in  his  books,  and  explain  the  pic- 
tures they  contained.  His  preparation  for  college  was  completed 
by  the  Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.  D.,  who  maintained  for  many  years 
a  classical  school  at  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  and  was  afterwards  the 
first  President  of  Hamilton  College,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Backus  was  famous, 
in  his  day,  for  his  skill  in  training  boys.  He  exercised  a  very 
strong  control  over  even  the  vicious,  by  his  genial  disposition,  his 
good  common  sense,  his  keen  wit,  liis  sleepless  vigilance,  his  long- 
suffering  patience,  his  respectaV)le  attainments  in  science,  and  his 
devout  deference  to  the  will  of  God.  Those  who  knew  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell, will  readily  believe,  that  many  of  his  excellent  peculiarities  as 
a  man,  and  as  a  professor,  must  have  received  an  important  devel- 
opment by  his  association  with  Dr.  Backus. 

Dr.  Mitchell  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1813,  along  with  Hon. 
Geo.  E.  Badger,  Dr.  Olmsted,  President  Longstreet,  Mr,  Thomas 
P.  Deverenx,  Rev.  Mr.  Singletary,  and  others,  who  have  been  of 
note  in  various  walks  in  life.  Among  these,  he  was  counted  as 
one  of  the  best  scholars  in  their  class,  being  especially  distinguish- 
ed for  his  knowledge  of  English  Literature.  He  was  very  popu- 
lar with  his  college  mates,  and  the  younger  members  of  the  insti- 
tution, especially,  delighted  to  do  him  honor.  The  College  Soci- 
ety to  which  he  belonged  depended  on  him  to  gain  it  credit  on 
public  occasions.  His  fine  physiognomy,  the  dignity  of  his  per- 
son, the  originality  of  his  discussions,  and  the  humor  that  enli- 
vened them,  rendered  his  orations  acceptable  to  audiences,  and  se- 
cured him  respect  from  men  of  taste  and  education.  It  was  not 
till  the  Senior  year,  that  he  became  thoughtful  on  the  subject  of 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1437 

religion.  The  kind  and  gentle  persuasions  of  a  classmate — a  man 
of  humble  powers  of  mind,  but  of  exemplary  \nety — had  great 
influence  in  leading  him  to  that  serious  examination  of  Iiis  life  and 
hopes,  which  resulted  in  his  conversion. 

On  quitting  College,  Dr.  JNlitchell  taught  a  school  for  boys,  un- 
der the  care  of  Dr.  Eigenbrodt,  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.  Afterwar<ls,  iu 
the  spring  of  1815,  he  took  charge  of  a  school  for  girls  at  Xew 
London,  Conn.  Here  he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Miss  Maria 
S.  North,  daughter  of  an  eminent  physician  of  that  place,  who  be- 
came his  wife  in  1819.  Experience  has  shown  the  wisdom  of  this 
choice,  as  for  nearly  forty  years  this  lady  prei^ided  over  his  house- 
hold in  a  manner  to  command  his  entire  esteem,  love  and  confi- 
dence. In  1816,  Dr.  M.  became  a  Tutor  in  Yale  College,  and 
while  so  engaged,  he  was  recommended  to  the  favorable  notice  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  North  Carolin.a.  This  was  done 
through  Judge  Gaston,  by  the  Rev.  Sereno  E.  Dwight,  a  son  of 
President  Dwight,  and  at  that  time  Chaplain  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  Ever  since  1802,  one  of  the  most  active  and  judi- 
cious of  the  Trustees  of  the  University,  Judge  Gaston  was,  at 
that  time  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  on  terms 
of  intimacy  with  Mr.  Dwight.  Because  of  this  recommendation, 
in  1817,  these  gentlemen  were  appointed  each  to  a  professorship 
in  the  University  of  North  Corolina — Dr.  Mitchell  to  the  chair  of 
Mathematics,  then  vacated  by  Dr.  Caldwell's  elevation  to  the  Pres- 
idency, and  Dr.  Olmsted  to  the  chair  of  Chemistry,  then  first  es- 
tablished at  the  University.  After  spending  a  short  time  at  the 
Theological  Seminary  in  Andover,  Mass.,  and  receiving  a  licence 
to  preach  the  Gospel,  from  an  orthodox  Congregational  Association 
in  Conn.,  Dr.  Mitchell  reached  Chapel  Hill  on  the  31st  Jan,  1818, 
and  immediately  began  to  discharge  his  duties  as  a  professor — a 
labor  from  which  he  ceased  only  by  reason  of  death.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  these  duties,  he  exhibited  an  enei-gy,  a  vigilance,  an  in- 
telligence, a  good  common  sense,  a  self  denial,  an  attention  to  mi- 
nute particulars,  and  a  success  rarely  surpassed  or  even  equaled 
During  the  thirty-nine  and  a  half  yesu's  of  his  connection  witii  the 
University,  his  absence  from  his  post  on  account  of  sickness,  visits 
to  the  seat  of  government,  attendance  on  ecclesiastical  bodies,  and 
for  all  other  causes,  did  not  occupy,  on  an  average,  more  than 
three  days  in  the  year.  Indeed,  it  may  safely  be  stated,  that 
throughout  that  entire  period,  his  days  and  nights,  in  term  time 
and  in  vacation,  were  devoted  to  his  professorship.     No  one  of  the 


1588  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

LuiidredR  of  students  who  have  been  connected  with  the  Univer- 
sity during  the  last  generation,  will  be  able  to  recall  the  memory 
of  his  absence  from  morning  and  evening  prayers,  but  as  a  rare 
exception  to  the  general  rule. 

Dr.  Mitchell  preached   his   first  sermon  in  the  College  Chapel 
shortly  after  his  arrival  there,  and   his  last  in  Salisbury,  N.  C, 
when  on  his  way  to  the  scene  of  the  labora  that  cost  him  his  life. 
He  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  Christian  ministry  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Orange,  in   Hillsborough,  N.  C,  in  the  fall  of  1821. 
During  his  long  ministry,  there  were  very  few  weeks  in  which  he 
did  not  declare  to  his  fellow  men   the  will  of  God  for  their  salva- 
tion.    He  always,  and  most  heartily,  acknowledged  that  this  Kos- 
ipos,  with  whose  varied  phenomena  he  was  very  conversant,  was 
created  and  controlled  by  a  personal  God,  whose  wisdom,  power, 
goodness  and  holiness,  he  set  forth  with  no  little  skill,  and  often 
with  very  striking  originality.     This  he  did  during  a  time  wherein 
too  many  of  his  associates  in  the  investigation  of  Nature,  indulged 
in  speculations  and  clothed   them   in  language,  that  ignored  the 
existence  of  an   authoritative  revelation   concerning  creation  and 
Providence.     His  minute  acquaintance  with  the  Archaeology  and 
Geograi)hy   of  the  Holy  Scriptures,   rendered   his    exposition  of 
them  at  times  luminous,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  and  most  deeply 
interesting.     For  the  redemption  of  the  one  race  of  mankind  from 
the   abyss  of  ruin   and  misery  into  which   the  fall  of  Adam  had 
plunged  it,  he  looked  only  to  the  mystery  of  the  Cross  inwrought 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  received  by  faith  into  the  heart  of  e^ich 
individual,  and  he  rested   his  own  soul  thereon  with  sincere  and 
deep-felt  emotions.     During  his  eventful  life,  he  was   ever  an  at- 
tentive observer  of  the  signs  of  the  times,  being  a  great  reader  of 
newspapers,  and  other  periodicals.     In   these   he  had  noticed  so 
many  associations  for  the  reformation  of  the  evils  in  humanity, 
skillfully  organized,  and  vehemently  recommended,  and,  after  all, 
superseded  by  their  original  ))rojectors,  that  while  he  did  not  op- 
pose schemes   which,  devised  by  man,  relied  on  the  organization 
of  his  fello\»-men  for  the  attainment  of  reformation,  he  was  not 
disappointed   when  these  attempts  failed — and  he  persevered  in 
the  old  way  of  presenting  to  his  hearers  the  necessity  of  a  prompt 
and  persevering  dependence  on  the  power  of  ])ersonal  and  reveal- 
ed religion  to  regulate  the  affections,  and  the  daily  life. 

But  it  was  as  a  professor  that  Dr.  Mitchell  displayed  the  most 
energy,  and  accomplished  the  greatest  results.     Until  1825  he  pre- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBUKY.  1439 

sided  over  the  department  of  matliematics  and  natural  philosophy. 
During  this  period,  the  doctrine  of  Fluxions,  now  called  the  Cal- 
culus, was  introduced  into  the  college  curriculum,  and  the  degree 
of  attainment  in  other  branches  ef  mathematics  was  elevated  con- 
siderably. In  1825,  when  Dr.  Olmsted  accepted  a  situation  in 
Yale  College,  Dr.  Mitchell  was  transferred  to  the  chair  thus  vacated, 
and  left  his  own  to  be  filled  by  Dr.  Phillips.  The  pursuit  of  nat- 
ural science  had  always  been  a  delightful  employment  with  Dr. 
Mitchell ;  even  while  a  professor  of  mathematics,  he  had  frequently 
indulged  his  taste  for  Botany  by  excursions  through  the  country 
around  Chapel  Hill.  After  he  took  upon  himself  instruction  in 
Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  he  extended  and  multiplied 
these  excursions,  so  that  when  he  died,  he  was  known  in  almost 
every  part  of  North  Carolina,  and  he  left  no  one  behind  him  l)et- 
ter  acquainted  with  the  mountains,  valleys  and  plains,  its  birds, 
beasts,  bugs,  fishes  and  shells,  its  trees,  fiowers,  rivers  and  mosses, 
its  rocks,  stones,  sands,  clays  and  marls.  Although  in  Sillinian's 
Journal,  and  in  other  periodicals  less  prominent,  but  circulating 
more  widely  nearer  home,  he  ])ubli.shed  many  of  his  discoveries 
concerning  North  Carolina,  yet  it  is  to  be  regretted  he  did  not 
print  more,  and  in  a  more  permanent  form.  It  would,  doubtless, 
thus  have  appeared  that  he  knew,  and  perhaps  justly  estimated 
the  worth  of  many  fsicts,  which  later  investigators  have  proclaim- 
ed as  their  own  remarkable  discoveries.  But  the  information  be 
gatheredwas  for  fiis  own  enjoyment,  atid  for  the  instruction  of  his 
p-upils.  On  these  he  lavished,  to  the  utmost  capacity  for  recep- 
tion, the  knowledge  that  he  gathered,  by  his  widely  extended  ob" 
servations,  and  had  stored  up  mainly  in  the  recesses  of  his  own 
singularly  retentive  memory. 

But  it  was  not  only  for  accuracy  and  intelligence  as  a  pergonal 
observer,  that  Dr.  Mitchell  was  famous,  marked  as  his  exeilions 
were  by  a  wonderful  activity  of  body,  patience  of  labor,  and  in- 
sensibility to  fatigue.  He  read  greedily  all  that  he  had  a  chance 
to  read  on  the  subjects  directly  or  indirectly  concerning  his  pro- 
fessorship, and  on  many  other  things  besides.  So  that  he  well  de- 
served the  name  of  "  the  walking  Encyclopedia."  There  were 
very  lew  subjects  on  which  men  of  polite  literature,  and  of  abstract 
as  well  as  natural  science  converse,  wherein  he  was  not  an  intelli- 
gent and  appreciative  listener,  or  instructive  teacher.  His  knowl- 
edge of  Geography  was  wonderful.  It  was  a  constant  amuse- 
ment for  liim  to  read  the  advertisements  in  a  larae  commercial 


1440  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

newspaper,  to  learn  what  things  were  bought  and  sold  in  the 
markets  of  the  world,  and  then  to  sit  down  and  find  out  where 
the  things  were  manufactured.  Such  was  his  reputation  for  these 
acquisitions,  that  when  any  one  wanted  some  rare  information,  or 
a  historical,  or  geographical,  or  more  strictly  scientific  matter,  it 
was  a  common  thing  to  say, — "Go  ask- Dr.  Mitchell."  He  also 
kept  himself  supplied  with  periodicals  and  magazines,  in  which 
the  scit  nces  he  taught  were  developing ;  for  he  loved  to  have  his 
knowledge  fresh,  arid  would  not  wait  for  others  to  winnow  the 
true  from  the  false.  He  took  pleasure  in  removing  the  pure  metal 
from  the  crude  ore  for  himself.  His  large  library  contained  some- 
thing on  almost  everything.  But  it  was  in  such  a  form,  and  ob- 
tained in  such  times,  and  at  such  prices,  that  in  the  market,  it 
never  would  have  brought  any  approximation  to  what  it  cost  him. 
The  sciences  which  he  taught  were  developing,  while  he  taught 
them,  and  he  felt  it  incumbent  on  him  to  have,  at  the  earliest  mo- 
ment, whatever  treatise  he  heard  of,  as  likely  to  secure  him  the 
latest  and  best  information.  Much  of  what  Dr.  Mitchell  had  to 
read,  is  not  now  necessary,  and  many  of  his  acquisitions  may  seem 
to  ot-'ers  useless,  but  he  thus  provided  that  no  one  of  his  pupils 
J  eft  his  laboratory  without  having  an  opportunity  of  hearing  all 
tliat  was  of  any  interest  or  of  use  to  him,  on  the  subject  there  dis- 
cussed. Nor  were  his  remarkable  accomplishments  as  a  professor 
confined  to  his  own  apartment.  In  the  Ancient  Languages  he 
was  frequently  ready  and  able  to  help  a  colleague,  who  was  pre- 
vented from  discharging  his  own  duties.  In  the  mathematics,  he 
would  often,  at  public  examinations,  propose  such  questions  that 
showed  that  his  earlier  love  still  retained  a  hold  on  his  attention 
and  affections.  He  was  a  good  writer,  and  in  the  department  of 
Belles  Letters,  he  was  a  well  read  and  instructive  critic.  When  it 
was  known  that  he  was  to  deliver  an  address  before  the  North 
Carolina  Agricultural  Society,  a  friend,  who  knew  him  well,  ex- 
claimed, "  1 11  warrant  that  Dr.  Mitchell  begins  at  the  Garden  of 
Eden."  And  so  he  did.  But  by  the  time  that,  passing  through 
Egypt  and  Canaan,  Greece  and  Rome  and  Great  Britain,  he  got 
to  Cuatham  County,  N.  C,  he  furnished,  as  usual,  an  essay  full  of 
rare  information,  judicious  suggestions,  peculiar  humor,  and  ex- 
cellent common  sense. 

As  a  teacher,  Dr.  Mitchell  took  great  pains  in  inculcating  the 
first  ])rinciples  of  science.  These  he  set  forth  distinctly,  in  the 
very  beginning  of  his  instructions,  and  he  never  let  his  pupils  lose 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1441 

sight  of  them.  When  brilliant  and  complicated  phenomina  were 
presented  for  their  contemplation,  he  sought  not  to  excite  their 
wonder,  or  magnify  himself  in  their  eyes,  as  a  man  of  surprising 
acquirements,  or  as  a  most  dexterous  manipulator,  but  to  exhibit 
such  instances  as  most  clearly  set  forth  fundamental  laws,  and  de- 
manded the  exercise  of  a  skillful  analysis.  Naturally  of  a  cautious 
disposition,  such  had  been  his  own  experience,  and  so  large  was 
his  acquaintance  with  the  experience  of  others,  that  he  was  not 
easily  excited,  when  others  announced  unexpected  discoveries 
among  the  laws  and  the  phenomina  which  he  had  been  studying 
for  years,  as  they  appeared.  While  others  were  busy  prophesying 
revelations  in  social  or  political  economy,  he  was  quietly  awaiting 
the  decisions  of  experience.  He  consequently  taught  his  pupils 
that  there  were  times  wherein  they  must  turn  from  the  voice  of 
the  charmer,  charm  he  ever  so  sweetly.  His  influence  on  the  de- 
velopments of  science  was  eminently  conservative,  for  he  loved 
the  old  landmarks.  As  a  disciplinarian  he  was  vigilant,  consci- 
entious, long-suffering,  firm  and  mild.  Believing  that  the  preven- 
tion was  better  than  the  cure  of  the  ills  of  a  college  life,  he  was 
constantly  watching  to  guard  the  students  from  a  violation  of  the 
rules  of  morality,  and  common  propriety.  When  offences  were 
committed,  to  the  offender  he  set  forth  his  conduct  in  its  true 
light,  and  often  in  very  plain  language.  But  when  punishment 
was  to  be  inflicted,  he  generally  proi)osed  that  which  appealed  to 
the  culprit's  better  feelings,  and  left  him  a  door  open  for  a  return 
to  a  better  mind,  and  an  earnest  attempt  for  his  reformation. 
Many  cases  are  known  where  such  unwearied  and  unostentatious 
kindness  has  produced  the  happiest  results.  How  widely  extend- 
ed it  was  no  one  can  tell  now,  for  it  was  almost  always  shown  to 
the  receiver  alone.  It  sprang  from  a  love  to  man  and  fear  of  God, 
for  Dr.  Mitchell  never  feared  the  face  of  his  fellow.  , 

Dr.  Mitchell  enjoyed  being  busy,  Neither  laziness  nor  idleness 
entered  into  his  composition,  so  that  he  always  had  something 
that  he  was  doing  heartily.  Besides  being  a  professor,  he  educa- 
ted his  own  children,  and  especially  his  daughters,  to  a  degree  not 
often  attempted.  He  was  a  regular  preacher  in  the  College  Chapel, 
and  in  the  village  church,  the  College  Bursar,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  a  Farmer,  a  Commissioner  for  the  village  of  Chapel  Hill, 
and  at  times  its  magistrate  of  Police.  Whatever  plans  he  laid 
were  generally  sketched  on  a  large  scale,  and  when  executed,  they 
were,  commonly,  well  done.     Although  a  man  of  strong  feelings, 


1442  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

his  excitement  rarely  lasted  long,  and  he  did  not  harbor  resent- 
ment, even  when  he  had  to  remove  unjust  suspicions,  or  forgive 
lanmerited  injuries.  His  generosity  was  abundant,  and  was  often 
appealed  to,  again  and  again.  No  friend  of  his  ever  asked  him 
for  help  without  getting  all  he  could  give  him. 

Such  were  the  leading  characteristics  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  who  loved 
God,  and  everything  he  had  made  ;  and  now,  while  colleagues 
mourn  for  one,  who  counselled  with  wisdom,  and  executed  with 
vigor — while  men  of  science  miss  the  co  operation  of  a  learned 
associate,  members  of  the  Cabinet  and  Ministers  to  foreign  coun- 
tries, with  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress,  Governors 
of  the  States,  with  their  Judges  and  their  Legislators,  Ambassa- 
ders  from  the  Court  of  Heaven,  and  men  of  renown  in  the  pro- 
fessions, learned  pi'ofessors,  with  i'amous  school-masters,  and  thou- 
sands of  other  pupils  in  more  retired  positions,  rise  up  in  all  parts 
of  our  country,  to  do  their  revei'ed  preceptor  high  honor.  His  bow 
abode  in  strength  to  the  last,  neither  was  his  natural  force  abated. 
He  died  as  Abner  died,  and  because  they  loved  him,  unlettered 
slaves,  as  well  as  mighty  men,  followed  his  bier  weeping. 

Dr.  Mitchell  perished  on  Saturday,  June  2*7 th,  1857,  in  the 
64th  year  of  his  age.  He  attempted  alone  to  descend  Mount 
Mitchell,  the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain,  Avhich  is  in 
Yancey  Co.,  N.  C.  But  a  thunder  storm  detained  him  on  the 
mountain,  so  that  it  Avas  evening  and  dusk,  as  he  was  groping  his 
way  down  the  mountain's  sid(^s.  Not  far  from  nineteen!  minutes 
past  eight — for  his  watch  marked  that  time — he  pitched  headlong 
some  forty  feet  down  the  precipice,  into  a  small,  but  deep  pool  of 
water,  that  feeds  the  sugar  Camp  Fork  of  Carey  River.  At  the 
bottom  of  this  pool  he  was  found,  July  8,  1857,  by  Mr.  Thomas 
D.  Wilson.-'who,  with  some  200  other  mountain  men,  were  seeking 
for  him  in  every  glen  on  the  sides  of  that  fearful  mountain  mass. 
This  v,as  the  fifth  visit  that  Dr.  Mitchell  had  paid  to  the  Black 
Mountain,  the  others  being  1835,  18.S8,  1844  and  1866,  respective- 
ly. His  object  this  time  was  paitly  personal,  and  partly  scientific. 
He  wished  to  correct  the  mistakes  into  which  some  had  been  led, 
concerning  his  earlier  visits,  and  to  compare  the  indications  of  the 
Spirit  Level  and  the  Barometer,  that  future  explorers  of  moimtain 
heights  might  have  increased  confidence  in  the  results  afforded 
them  by  these  instruments.  His  untimely  end  left  both  parts  of 
this  work  to  be  completed  by  the  pious  hands  of  others. 

Dr.  Mitchell  was  buried  in  Aberville,  N.  C,  July  10th,  1857,  by 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1443 

the  side  of  one  of  his  College  mates.  Bat  at  the  earnest  solicita- 
tiou  of  many  friends,  and  especially  of  the  mountain  men  of  Yan- 
cey County,  his  family  allowed  his  body  to  be  disinterred  and  de- 
posited on  the  top  of  Mount  Mitchell,  the  highest  mountain  jjcak 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  was  done  June  10th,  1858. 
There  he  shall  rest  till  the  Judgment  Day,  in  a  mausoleum  such 
as  no  other  man  has  ever  had.  Reared  by  the  hand  of  Omnipo- 
tence, it  was  assigned  to  him  by  those  to  whom  it  was  given  thus 
to  express  their  esteem,  and  it  was  consecrated  by  the  lips  of  elo- 
quence, warmed  by  affection,  amidst  the  rights  of  our  Holy  Reli- 
gion. Before  him  lies  the  North  Carolina  he  loved  so  well,  and 
served  so  foithfully.  From  his  lofty  couch,  its  hills  and  vallies 
melt  into  its  plains,  as  they  stretch  away  to  the  shores  of  the 
Eastern  ocean,  whence  the  dawn  of  the  last  day,  stealing  quietly 
Westward,  as  it  lights  the  mountain  top  first,  shall  mmhe  him 
earliest  to  hear  the  greeting : — "  Well  done  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant T 


SIMEON    H. 


Was  born  in  Woodbury,  in  the  house  near  Freckerick  M.  Mi- 
nor's, in  Transylvania.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  re- 
moved to  Stamford,  and  resided  there  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  rapidly  won  a  high  position  at  the  Fairfield  County  Bar,  of 
which  he  was  a  prominent  member  till  his  death,  Aug.  2d,  1840. 
The  Stamford  Advocate  of  that  week  paid  a  high  tribute  to  his 
professional  ability.  "  Possessed  of  a  sti'ong  mind,  and  sound  legal 
judgment,  no  member  of  the  Bar  commanded  a  larger  share  of 
practice,  until  his  health  began  to  fail  him,  than  he.  For  fourteen 
years  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  of  State's  attorney.  He 
represented  his  town  six  sessions  of  the  Legislature,  and  was 
Judge  of  Probate  several  years.  In  the  discharge  of  all  his  offi- 
cial duties,  he  was  prompt  and  efficient.  He  married  in  Stamford, 
May  31,  1812,  Catherine  Lockwood,  of  Greenwich.  They  had 
children:  James  Ilinman,  horn  Nov.  I7th,  1813;  Hon.  William 
Thomas^  born  Oct.  3d,  1815;  and  George  Albert,  born  June  19th, 
1817.     His  wife  died  March  29th,  1819. 


1444  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

HON.  WILLIAM    THOMAS    MINOR,  LL.D., 

Son  of  Simeon  H.  above.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in  1834,  and 
studied  law  with  his  father.  After  being  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  in  his  native  town  of  Stam- 
ford, where  he  contined  to  reside.  He  has  always  been  popular  at 
home,  and  his  townsmen,  from  the  first,  had  looked  to  him  as  a 
leader  for  them  in  all  local  movements  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
town.  He  has  represented  the  town  in  the  Legislature  seven 
times,  and  once  his  district  in  the  Senate.  In  1855,  he  was  chosen 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  and  was  re-elected  tlie  next  year.  He 
received,  in  1855,  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.D,  from  the  Wes- 
leyan  University,  at  Middletown.  In  1864,  he  was  appointed,  by 
President  Lincoln,  Consul-general  to  Havana,  which  office  he  re- 
signed in  1867.  He  married,  April  16th,  1849,  Mary  C,  daughter 
of  John  W.  Leeds,  Esq.,  of  Stamford.  They  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  now  living — a  son,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
the  University  of  Munich,  Bavaria,  and  a  daughter. 

On  returning  from  Havana,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  town 
in  the  State  Legislature  ,  and  by  the  Legislature  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  State,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  ' 


REV.  BENJAMIN    C.  MEIGS. 

Rev.  Mr.  Meigs  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Phineas  Meigs  by  his  wife 
Sarah,  who  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Capt.  Isaac  Tomlinson, 
of  Woodbury,  and  was  cousin  of  the  late  Mrs.  Harriet  J.  Bene- 
dict, widow  of  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict.  He  was  born  in  Bethle- 
hem, where  Jiis  father,  mentioned  on  page  387,  was  then  a  practi- 
sing physician.  The  father  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Joseph 
Perry,  of  Woodbury,  and  practiced  his  profession  five  years  at 
Norwalk,  before  his  removal  to  Bethlehem.  The  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  notice  lived  to  be  more  than  90  years  old,  before 
her  death  at  Quakers'  Farms,  Oxford. 

Rev.  Mr.  Meigs  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1809.  Studied 
theology,  and  went  as  a  missionary  to  the  island  of  Ceylon,  where 
he  remained  for  more  than  forty  years,  in  faithful  and  successful 
efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen.  He  then  returned  to 
this  country,  and  was  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Bible  House, 
at  New  York,  till  his  death,  a  few  years  ago. 

*  Huntington's  Hist,  of  Stamford. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1445 


HON.  CHARLES  BARTLETT  PHELPS. 

Quite  a  full  account  of  the  life  of  Judge  Phelps,  appears  on 
page  394.  Since  that  date  he  has  deceased,  and  a  more  extended 
account,  written  by  his  son-in-law,  Rev.  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis,  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  is  introduced  here.  Mr.  Lewis  studied  law 
in  tha  office  of  Judge  Phelps,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield 
County  bar  ;  but  on  account  of  failing  health  he  was  obliged  to  go 
South,  On  recovering  it,  he  studied  theology,  and  was  admitted 
priest.  Since  then  he  has  acted  as  Rector  in  Bethlehem,  Conn., 
Dexter,  Maine,  and  Marblehead,  Mass.  He  resides  now  at  New 
Haven,  Conn. : — 

"  Charles  Bartlett  Phelps  was  born  at  Chatham,  now  Portland, 
Conn.,  May  31st,  1788.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Elisha 
Phelps,  a  physician  of  some  repute.  He  entered  the  Litchfield 
Law  Schr.ol,  when  he  was  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  where  he 
had  as  fellow-student  John  C.  Calhoun,  John  M.  Chiyton,  and 
others,  who  have  since  become  illustrious  as  lawyers,  jurists,  and 
statesmen. 

So  assiduously  did  he  apply  himself  to  his  studies,  in  order  to 
keep  pace  with  his  fellow-students,  most  of  whom  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  age  and  a  superior  education,  that  his  he.alth  failed.  In 
his  Diary  may  be  read  freqiient  entries  like  the  following  ; — "  Stud* 
ied  eighteen  hours  this  day."  At  last,  being  threatened  with 
pulmonary  disease,  he  left  Litchfield  for  Woodbury,  where  he  en- 
tered his  name  as  a  student  with  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict.  Here 
lie  became  an  inmate  of  the  house  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death — since  known  as  the  "Judge  Phelps  Place,"  but  more  re- 
cently as  the  "  Parker  Academy." 

Li  1809  he  married  Elsie,  youngest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John 
Rutgers  Marshall,  first  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury. 
The  following  are  his  children  by  this  marriage.  George  Butler 
Pheli)s,  of  Pittsburgh,  P;i.,  Charles  Elisha,*  Edward  Marshall, 
Judge  of  the  Ohio  District  Court,  St.  Mary's,  O.,  John  Rutgers, 
Paolo,  111.,  Susan  Moseley,  wife  of  Daniel  Judson,  Esq.,  Ogdens- 
burgh,  N.  Y.,  and  Elisha.  , 

He  married,  2d,  Amanda,  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  Parker,  of 
South  Farms,  now  Morris.  Children  by  this  raarraige,  Elsie 
Amanda,  and  Sarah  Maria,  wife  of  the  liev,  Alonzo  Norton  Lewis, 

*  Deceased. 


1446  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  now  of  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

After  the  usual  course  of  study,  he  was  called  to  the  Bar,  and 
was  a  trusted  and  honored  counsellor  and  advocate,  to  the  day  of 
his  death.  He  was  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  District  comprising 
Woodbury,  Bethlehem,  Southbury,  and  Roxbury,'  from  1823  to 
1834;  and  was  re-appointed  in  '35,  '36,  '37,  '42,  '43,  and  '46;  and 
again  from  1849  to  1858,  when  his  age  rendered  him  ineligible. 
During  the  twenty-five  years  that  he  held  this  most  resi)onsible 
office,  he  never  had  a  decision  reversed  by  the  higher  courts.  He 
was  elected  most  of  the  time  "  by  favor,"  the  Probate  Distrct  be- 
ing largely  aga'nst  him  in  politics. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  House  of  Representatives 
in  1831, '37,  and '52.  The  latter  year  he  was  chosen  Speaker.  In 
1843  he  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  and  President  of  that  body. 
He  was  Postmaster  of  Woodbury  from  1831  to  1841.  In  1850  he 
was  appointed  Judge  of  the  County  Court  for  the  County  of 
Litchfield,  and  was  re-appointed  in  1852.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York. 

On  the  21st  of  Dec,  1859,  he  was  present  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Committee  appointed  by  the  Connecticut  Legislature  to  superin- 
tend the  erection  of  a  monument  to  Col.  Seth  Warner,  an  officer  of 
the  Revolution.  The  Committee,  (of  which  Judge  Phelps  was 
chairman,)  met  in  Roxbury,  at  the  house  of  Nathan  Smith,  Esq. 
Gov.  Buckingham  and  other  distinguished  citizens  were  present. 
He  was  addressing  the  Committee  and  other  gentlemen,  upon  the 
subject  under  discussion,  when  he  suddenly  paused,  as  if  hesita- 
ting for  a  word,  put  his  hand  to  his  forehead,  sank  back  into  his 
chair,  and  expired  without  a  struggle,  aged  seventy  years,  six 
months  and  twenty-one  days. 

No  one  ever  saw  Judge  Phelps  without  being  struck  with  his 
genial  face,  portly  form,  and  dignity  of  manner.  No  one  ever 
knew  him  intimately,  without  becoming  deeply  attached  to  him- 
For  more  than  two  years,  the  writer  of  this  sketch  was  most  con- 
fidentially and  intimately  associated  with  him,  and  he  has  no  hes- 
itation in  affirming  that  "  he  was  a  man,  take  him  all  in  all,  we 
shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again!  "  Born  soon  after  the  Revo- 
lution, and  familiarly  acquainted  with  *many  of  the  actors  in  that 
great  drama,  he  was  a  connecting  link  between  the  generation  of 
'76  and  the  present.     In  his  tastes  and  habits,  a  "  gentleman  of  the 


*  Since  erected  into  a  District. 


HISTORY      OP     AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  1447 

old  scliool ;  "  with  a  liigh-tonecl  sense  of  lionor  too  rarely  found 
in  these  niodein  tunes  ;  his  mind  unusually  stored  with  that  knowl- 
edge which  only  habits  of  observation  can  inspire;  a  never-failing 
flow  of  wit,  and  anecdote,  and  keenest  irony^  if  the  occasion  de- 
manded ;  of  great  power  as  a  public  speaker  and  an  advocate ; 
full  of  "  wise  saws  and  modern  instances,"  and  quaint  sayings  and 
comparisons,  which  convulsed  the  listener  with  merriment ;  a  kind 
and  unselfish  neighbor  ;  an  ever  faithful  and  sympathizing  fi-iend  ; 
strong  in  his  likes  and  dislikes ;  a  man  who  read  character  at  a 
glance ;  hospitable,  charitable,  and  generous  to  a  fault, 

"  As  many  a  beggar  and  impostor  knew ; " 

though  a  lawyer  a  peace-maker  ;  (his  proudest  boast  being  that  he 
"  had  settled  more  cases  than  he  had  tried)  ;  "  to  those  who  knew 
him  in  the  sanctity  of  his  home,  (whatever  he  may  have  seemed 
to  the  woi-ld),  a  man  of  deep  religious  feelings  and  yearnings;  in 
the  language  of  another, 

"  Not,  like  too  man_v,  worser  than  he  seemed, 

•  But  always  better  than  himself  had  deemed  ; ' 

Charles  B,  Phelps,  "the  old  Judge,"  will  never  be  forgotten,  so 
long  as  there  is  one  Avho  knew  him  lefi  to  cherish  his  memory  ! 

"  The  Tipright  judge,  the  wit,  the  miird  intent, 
With  the  large  heart,  that  alwaj-s  with  it  went, 
Passing  his  years  among  lis,  noftened,  sage. 
Almost  tlie  feature  of  another  age  . — 
In  one  dread  moment  sent  to  that  far  shore, 
Where  praise  nor  blame  shall  ever  reach  him  more  "  " 

On  learning  of  the  death  of  Judge  Phelps,  a  large  public  meet. 
ing  was  held  at  the  Town  Hall,  to  express  in  an  appropriate  man- 
ner the  sentiments  of  the  people,  at  their  sudden  and  great  loss. 

Rev.  Wm,  T.  Bacon  ofiered  some  very  laudatory  resolutions  in 
relation  to  the  character  of  the  deceased,  accompanied  by  some 
eloquent  and  feeling  remarks.  The  author  responded  as  follows, 
after  which  the  resjlutions  were  unanimously  passed  : — 

Mr.  Chairman  : — I  cheerfully  and  heaitily  second  the  resolu- 
tions just  offered  by  my  llev.  friend,  Mr.  Bacon.     There  are  times 

*  Rev.  W.  Thompson  Bacon's  Woodbury  Centeniel  Poem,  July  4th,  1869.  ^  Ihid. 


1448  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W(>ODBURT. 

when  a  whole  community  is  brought  to  a  sudden  pause,  by  some 
unexpected  calamity.  If  a  thunder-bolt  should  full  out  of  a  clear, 
sunny  and  serene  sky,  all  would  be  shocked,  startled,  electrified. 
In  such  a  manner  as  this,  fell  the  intelligence  of  the  decease  of  our 
honored  fellow-townsman,  Hon,  Charles  B.  Phelps — suddenly  and 
unexpectedly,  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  diseharging  a  public  and 
patriotic  duty,  upon  our  affrighted  ears,  two  short  evenings  ago. 
The  deceased  had  gone  to  Roxbury,  on  Tuesday  morning,  to  meet 
the  Committee  on  the  Warner  Monument.  He  had  left  his  house 
in  a  very  cheerful  state  of  mind,  and  at  the  moment  the  grim  mes- 
senger of  death  approached,  he  was  addressing  the  Committee  on 
the  subject  which  had  called  them  together.  Raising  his  hand  in 
his  accustomed  manner,  when  about  addressing  a  pointed  remark, 
he  faltered,  fell  back,  and  his  hand  remained  raised  in  the  rigidity 
of  death.  Thus  suddenly  was  he  called  to  meet  his  God.  Truly 
did  he  "die  with  the  harness  on."  And  beautiful  is  it  to  die  thus, 
if  we  are  prepared  to  hear  the  dread  summons  to  another  world. 
It  seems  more  like  translation  than  death. 

Although,  my  friends,  I  feel  as  the  senior  surviving  attorney  of 
this  town  and  vicinity,  though  young  in  years,  there  is  a  peculiar 
fitness  in  my  responding  to  these  resolutions,  and  the  more  espe- 
cially as  my  relations  of  friendship  and  professional  courtesy  with 
the  deceased,  were  of  the,  most  intimate  and  pleasant  character, 
yet  since  the  mournful  news  met  me  at  the  cars  on  yesterday  noon, 
having  been  engaged  in  such  offices  of  kindness  to  the  bereaved 
family,  as  my  deep  sympathy  with  their  great  affliction  dictated, 
I  have  not  had  a  moment  to  make  fit  preparation  to  direct  your 
thoughts  or  collect  imj  own. 

It  gives  me  much  satisfaction  to  speak  of  our  pleasant  profes- 
sional relations.  Our  departed  friend  was,  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  an  honorable  practitioner.  Lie  was  particularly  urbane  in 
his  practice.  During  the  last  thirteen  years,  being  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  the  only  lawyers  in  this  town,  he  and  I  have  been 
almost  constantly  on  opposite  sides  in  the  trial  of  cases,  and  yet  I 
speak  it  to  his  unusual  praise,  that  he  has  not  called  me  three  times 
before  the  Court,  to  decide  any  of  the  preliminary  questions  which 
arise  previous  to  the  trial  of  cases ;  nor  have  I  had  occasion  to 
call  him  three  times  before  the  Court,  for  a  like  purpose.  We  al- 
ways agreed  on  such  points,  and  it  was  very  pleasant  to  do  so. 
He  was  kind-hearted  and  genial  in  his  disposition — emphatically 
so.    Pie  possessed  a  keen  knowledge  of  the  character  and  motives 


HISTORY      er     ANCIENT      AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y .  1449 

of  men,  and  often  have  I  seen  him,  when  asperities  arose  in  a  case, 
as  tl)ey  will,  and  must  sometimes  arise,  by  the  dexterous  use  of  his 
never-failing  fund  of  wit  and  humor,  turn  that  into  a  hearty  laugh 
"all  round,"  which  might  otherwise  have  turned  into  an  exchange 
of  blows.  The  same  trait  of  character  enabled  him  to  learn  the 
secrets  of  the  camp  of  his  antagonist,  and  to  interpose  at  the  op- 
portune moment,  to  arrest  the  progress  of  litigation,  and  settle 
contested  cases.  lie  always  avoided  a  trial,  if  possible.  He  often 
said  to  me  that  he  intended  to  so  live,  that  one  thing  of  truth  could 
be  said  of  him,  when  he  was  dead ;  and  that  was,  that  he  "  had 
settled  more  lawsuits  than  any  other  lawyer  in  his  part  of  the 
State."  And  this  can  be  truly  said  of  him.  He  would  allow 
causes  to  go  on  a  while  in  Court,  but  he  generally  found  the  favor- 
able moment  to  settle  them  without  trial. 

A  man  of  superior  intellect,  such  as  the  deceased  certainly  had, 
cannot  reside  as  he  did,  for  fifty  years,  in  a  community,  without 
becoming  identified  with  every  fibre  of  its  institutions.  It  is  no 
matter  that  you  may  be  opposed  to  him  and  his  views  in  politics, 
in  religion,  in  everything.  He  will  have  a  hold  upon  you  —an 
abiding  influence  in  the  community.  The  death  of  such  a  man  i's 
a  public  loss.  It  is  a  removing  of  the  "  ancient  landmarks."  We 
do  well,  then,  to  meet  in  this  public  manner  to  commune  of  our 
public  loss. 

This  is  an  occasion,  the  full  import  of  which  should  sink  deep 
into  our  hearts.  As  we  gather  thus  mournfully  together,  and 
gaze  into  the  open  grave  of  our  departed  friend,  it  becomes  us  to 
consider  "  what  shadows  we  are,  and  what  shadows  we  pursue." 
Here  we  may  take  an  effecting  view  of  the  follies  and  vanities  of 
life.  Here  we  may  consider  how  much  sorrow  and  misery  we 
cause  each  other,  and  how  heartlessly  we  often  destoy  each  other's 
happiness  and  our  own.  It  is  well  to  patise  on  the  brink  of  the 
grave,  and  learn  useful  lessons  for  our  future  lives.  May  we  here 
pledge  each  other  to  imitate  the  virtues  of  the  deceased,  avoid 
his  en'ors,  and  labor  earnestly  for  the  happiness  of  our  race,  while 
life  remains.  All  animosities,  if  any  existed,  in  noble  minds,  end 
here.  There  are  no  contests  in  the  grave.  But  I  will  not  detain 
you  longer.  I  know  full  well  your  own  thoughts  outrun  ray 
words,  and  more  eloquently  express  your  feelings. 


1450  HISTORY      OF      ANCIEXT      WOODBURY. 


REV.  .JOHN    PURVES,  A.  M. 

Mr.  Piirves  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  studied  law  in  the  city  of 
Edenbiirgb,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1834,  studied  theology 
and  was  ordained  Deacon  in  the  Diocese  of  Conn,  in  1840,  and 
Priest  in  1841,  by  Bishop  Brownell.  He  was  Rector  of  St.  Mat- 
thews' Church,  Wilton,  from  1840  to  1843;  of  Si.  Thomas' 
Bethel,  from  1843  to  1845;  at  Humphreysville,  from  1845  to 
1817;  at  Bethel  again,  from  1847  to  1853;  was  next.  Rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Westport,  from  1853  to  1860;  Rector  of  Holy 
Trinity,  Westport,  from  1860  to  1862  ;  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Wood- 
bury, from  1863  to  the  present  date. 


HON.  HENRY  SHELTON    SANFORD,  LL.D., 

Son  of  Neliemiah  C.  Sanford,  was  born  in  Woodbury.  After 
receiving  his  education,  he  engaged  for  a  time  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. But,  for  a  long  period  of  years,  he  has  been  exclusively 
engaged,  in  one  position  or  another,  in  the  diplomatic  service  of 
the  country.  He  has  been  Secretary  of  Legation  to  France  and 
Spain,  and  Minister  to  Belgium.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, he  made  patriotic  presents  of  improved  cannon  for  the  ser- 
vice. 


DR.  AVERY   JUDD    SKILTON. 

This  skillful,  intelligent  and  conscientious  physician,  was  the 
son  ot  James  and  Chloe  (Steele)  Avery,  and  born  Feb.  1,  1802,  at 
Woodbury.  He  was,  during  his  life,  an  intimate  friend  of  the 
writtr,  and  he  desires  to  record  his  worth  upon  these  pages.  The 
following  account  is  taken  principally  from  the  Troy  Daily  Times, 
IS'.  Y.,  of  the  date  of  March  22d,  1858:— 

"  Death,  the  busy  reaper  of  Life's  harvest,  has  stricken  down 
one  of  nature's  noblemen.  Dr.  Avery  J.  Skilton  is  dead.  After 
a  long  and  painful  illness,  lie  h&s  gone  to  obtain  the  reward  of  a 
well-spent  life.  The  hopes  of  recovery,  based  upon  more  favorale 
symptoms  of  his  case,  have  been  sadly  and  finally  disappointed. 
'The  golden  cord  is  loosened,  and  the  silver  pitcher  broken  at  the 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1 45 1 

fountain.'  In  stopping  to  pay  the  merited  tribute  to  one  we  have 
so  long  known  and  so  hie^hly  esteemed,  a  flood  of  conflicting  emo- 
tions crowd  upon  us.  What  the  heart  feels,  tlie  pen  is  powerless 
to  trace. 

"  Dr.  Skilton  died  shortly  after  four  o'clock  on  Saturday  after- 
noon. On  the  6th  of  December,  he  was  seized  with  a  violent  pul- 
monary attack,  which  confined  him  to  his  room.  He  persisted, 
however,  in  attending  to  his  professional  duties,  at  intervals  of 
comparative  relief  from  pain,  until  the  10th  of  December,  when 
lie  was  obliged  to  resign  himself  to  an  invalid's  couch.  From  that 
day,  he  never  left  his  room.  His  disease  was  of  a  most  severe  and 
aggravated  nature,  and  completely  prostrating  in  its  effects.  A 
life  of  unremitting  labor  in  a  toilsome  and  hazardous  pi-ofession 
had  broken  dow^n  a  constitution  naturally  robust  and  vigorous, 
and  he  wasted  rapidly  away.  It  was  r,nly  at  intervals  during 
his  confinement  that  he  Avas  able  to  "converse,  and  only  once 
during  the  long  period  was  he  observed  to  smile.  On  Thurs 
day  last,  he  became  partially  delirious,  and  it  was  not  until  imme- 
diately preceding  his  death  that  he  was  able,  and  then  apparently 
only  by  a  great  effort,  to  comprehend  the  queries  propounded  to 
him,  and  respond  to  them  coherently. 

"Dr.  Avery  J.  Skilton  wns  born  at  Woodbury,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  on  the  1st  of  February,  1802.  He  was  descended  from 
pure  revolutionary  stock, — his  ancestors  having  been  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the. locality,  and  his  great-grandfather  the  flrst 
practising  physician  in  the  vicinity.  He  retained  until  his  death 
the  mortar  and  pestle  which  this  venerable  progenitor  used  in 
compounding  his  preparations.  The  father  of  our  honored  friend 
was  a  well-to.do  farmer,  who  ranked  high  in  that  community  which 
has  produced  so  many  eminent  men,  and  of  which  numbers  of  our 
most  esteemed  fellow-citizens  were  origina.ly  members.  The  first 
fact  which  strikes  us  in  looking  back  upon  his  history,  is  his  early 
aptitude  for  study,  and  his  disrelish  of  manual  labor.  He  was  by  no 
means  calculated  to  become  a  valuable  ajipendage  upon  the  farm; 
his  capacities  and  inclinations  fitted  him  for  a  course  of  develop- 
ment purely  intellectual.  At  school,  to  which  he  was  early  sent, 
he  was  distinguished  for  rapid  acquirement  of  various  branches  of 
information,  such  as  are  taught  in  primary  institutions  of  the  char- 
acter. He  was  always  in  advance  of  his  course.  There  was 
no  dodging  of  duty  by  him — the  complaint  was  that  he  studied 
too  fast.     At  the  early  age  of  fifteen,  he  was  removed  from  school, 

39 


1452  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

and  tiansferred  to  the  farm.  Here  his  peculiar  inaptitude  for 
mere  manual  employments  became  evident.  A  persistent 
course  of  study  had  operated  unfavorably  upon  his  constitution, 
and  left  him  weak,  and  to  a  great  extent  incapable  of  physical  ex- 
ertion. His  father,  who  was  cast  in  one  of  the  sterner  moulds  of 
manhood,  was  not  ready  to  understand  that  a  son  of  his  should  be 
unable  to  perform  the  tasks  which  he  considered  in  some  degree 
inseparable  from  a  Avell-ordered  life,  and  often  reprimanded  him 
for  his  inertness.  Forced  atlength  to  regard  the  peculiar  charac- 
teristics of  his  son,  he  sent  him  to  the  Wfst  Farms  School,  dist- 
ant some  three  miles  from  the  family  homestead.  Here  he  studied 
in  the  same  classes  with  Dr.  Edward  Beecher,  the  talented  author 
of  "  The  Conflict  of  Ages,"  and  maintained  an  equal  position  with 
him  in  school.  It  was  here  that  his  studies  first  assumed  a  dis- 
tinctive character,  and  he  began  to  master  Latin  and  Greek,  and 
to  familiarize  himself  with  the  Classics.  Outside  of  his  profes- 
sional studies,  his  course  of  reading  was  varied,  and  of  the  liigh- 
est  order.  Before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  he  had  exhausted 
.all  the  mental  food  presented  by  the  various  limited  libraries  of 
the  locality  in  which  he  resided,  and  was  forced  to  betake  himself 
to  borrowing  books  from  more  fortunate  possessors.  In  1819,  he 
was  prostrated  with  Inng  fever,  from  which  for  a  time  his  recov- 
ery seemed  impossible.  When  he  did  finally  recover,  he  was  so 
feeble  that  close  mental  or  sedentary  application  was  rendered  im- 
possible, and  his  course  of  reading  was  therefore  interfered  with 
and  obstructed  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1821,  however,  he  took 
hold  of  German.  His  speed  in  the  acquirement  of  language  was 
remarkable.  We  know  him  to  have  been  a  most  enthusiastic  lin- 
Cfuist,  and  have  often  been  indebted  to  him  for  valuable  and  curi- 
ous  information  with  regard  to  obsolete  tongues,  whose  history 
was  unknown,  save  to  the  closest  students.  In  1834,  he  befriend- 
ed the  exile  son  of  a  Polish  nobleman,  named  Rudolph  Gutowski, 
one  of  a  party  who,  by  a  desperate  stratagem,  escaped  from  their 
guards,  while  on  their  way  to  Siberia.  This  young  man  became  a 
member  of  his  family,  and  from  him  he  learned  the  Polish  Ian" 
guage.  In  1847,  he  became  desirous  of  tracing  up  the  genealogy 
of  his  family,  and  he  made  that  a  particular  aim  of  the  remaining 
portion  of  his  life.  His  researches  in  this  direction  led  him  to 
make  a  thorough  exploration  of  the  records  of  Connecticut,  and 
of  that  portion  of  England  whence  his  ancestors  came.  In  this 
way  he  became  possessed  of  a  vast  amount  of  curious  informa- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY.  1453 

tioi),  wliich  to  some  future  collator,  must  prove  highly  valuable 
for  historal  purposes.  He  was  by  tliis  meaus,  also,  led  to  trace 
back  our  language  to  its  roots,  and  to  familiarize  himself  with  the 
vagaries  of  its  ditterent  branches,  since  the  days  of  the  Anglise,  and 
the  Saxons.  He  had  thus  wholly  or  in  part  familiarized  himself 
with  between  fifty  and  sixty  languages,  many  of  which  have  been 
out  of  current  use  for  centuries.  Aside  from  this,  he  has  at  differ- 
ent periods  been  an  enthusiastic  student  of  Natural  History,  in  its 
various  forms.  At  diti'erent  times,  he  has  pursued  the  study  of 
Botany,  Geology,  Mineralogy,  Conchology  and  Paleontology,  fol- 
lowing up  once  branch  persistently  until  he  had  exhausted  it,  and 
then  taking  another.  In  this  way  he  had  collected  a  valuable  phi- 
lological library,  which  embodies  his  peculiar  characteristics,  and 
a  cabinet  of  natural,  mineral  and  fossil  specimens,  which  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  most  complete  of  any  private  collection  in  this 
section.  He  used  to  remark  that  he  purchased  works  and  speci- 
mens much  on  the  same  principle  that  a  farmer  will  try  to  buy  up 
all  the  land  that  adjoins  his  own.  In  the  studies  to  which  he  de- 
voted the  leisure  h')urs  he  could  steal  from  an  extensive  practice, 
he  was  a  thorough  enthusiast. 

"  Dr.  tSkilton  tirst  learned  the  principles  of  medicine  from  works 
which  had  been  studied  by  his  great-grandfather.  At  an  early 
period  he  was  doubtful  whether  he  should  study  for  a  physician 
or  a  clergyman,  but  having  betaken  himself,  after  the  manner  of 
John  Wesley,  to  ])rayer,  he  became  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  enter  upon  the  line  of  life  which  he  did  finally  adopt.  He 
])assed  through  the  usual  course  in  the  Yale  Medical  College,  in 
1826-7,  having  previously  studied  with  a  practicing  Physician 
at  Saugerties,  in  this  State,  He  commenced  his  practice  in  1827, 
in  this  city.  He  had  therefore  just  entered  upon  the  thirtv-first 
year  of  his  practice  in  this  city,  when  seized  with  his  fatal  illness. 
The  general  features  presented  by  the  life  of  a  physician — at  least 
those  which  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  public,  are  monoto- 
nous, and  to  an  extent  unvaried.  Few  may  know  the  trials,  few 
realize  the  necessities,  few  comprehend  the  responsibilities  of  such 
a  life.  To  those  whom  he  has  attended  during  the 'generation 
of  time'  in  which  he  has  practiced  his  jirofession  here.  Dr.  Skilton 
stood  in  the  light  of  a  cherished  brother,  a  noble  protector,  a  kind 
and  sympathizmg  friend.  A  Christian  impulse  governed  every 
action  of  his  life,  and  regulated  his  relations  with  his  ))atients. 
Acute  sympathy,  and  that  ardent  enthusiasm  which  was  a  charac- 


1454  HISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

teristic  of  his  nature,  led  him  to  make  their  interests  his  own.  He 
was  faithful  in  season  and  out  of  season.  In  desperate  cases,  he 
forgot  comfort  and  the  claims  of  nature,  and  every  hour  found 
him  by  the  sufferer's  bedside.  In  this  he  was  remarkable.  Du- 
ring the  cholera  season  of  1849,  he  passed  several  days  at  a  time 
without  removing  his  clothing,  snatching  a  few  moments  sleep  as 
he  was  able  to  do  so.  N'o  danger  ever  deterred  him  from  the  per- 
formance of  his  duty.  He  first  became  noted  here  during  the 
fearful  cholera  season  of  1832,  when  he  frequently  had  as  many  as 
fifty  cases  at  a  single  time.  Since  then,  his  list  of  patients  has 
been  very  large — much  lai'ger  than  a  single  man.  should  have  at- 
tempted to  attend.  A  peculiarity  of  his  practice  was  the  unyield- 
ing obstinacy  with  which  he  fought  disease,  combatting  it  step  by 
step,  and  inch  by  inch,  and  never  giving  over  till  life  was  no  more. 

"Were  the  subject  approachable,  we  should  like  to  dwell  upon 
the  incidental  features  of  Dr.  Skilton's  professional  career  in  this 
city,  but  we  may  not.  During  the  three  cholera  seasons  of  '32, 
'4*7  and  '52,  his  cases  were  exceedingly  numerous,  and  his  time 
continuously  occupied,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  schemes  of  comfort 
and  recreation.  He  had  been  remarkably  successful  in  obstetric 
practice — having  attended  over  three  thousand  five  hundred  births. 
He  made  the  study  of  epidemic  diseases  of  all  kinds  a  peculiar 
professional  duty,  and  was  very  fortunate  in  treating  them.  At 
diiferent  periods,  he  has  held  various  honorable  professional  posi. 
tions.  He  was  a  short  time  since  President  of  the  Rensselaer 
County  Medical  Society,  was  a  member  of  the  Troy  Lyceum  of 
Natural  History,  which  always  during  its  existence  had  his  ear- 
nest attention,  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  American  Med- 
ical Society,  member  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science,  and  Corresponding  member  of  the  State 
historical  Societies  of  Connecticut,  Vermont  and  Wisconsin. 

"In  character,  Dr.  Skilton  was  upright  and  unimpeachable.  He 
was  scrupulously  regardful  of  the  rights  and  feelings  of  others, 
and  exceedingly  careful  to  avoid  wronging  his  fellow-men.  To 
the  poor,  he  was  ever  kind  and  benevolent;  the  poverty  of  his 
patient  was  never  allowed  to  stand  in  the  way  of  his  receiving 
thorough  medical  attendance.  To  all,  he  was  courteous  an«i  affa- 
ble, suffering  much  in  the  way  of  aggression,  but  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  drawn  into  passionate  ebullitions  of  ill-temper.  He 
was  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  an  entire  Christian  man.  lu  him, 
the  medical  profession  of  Rensselaer  county  has   lost  one  of  its 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY,  1455 

brightest  ornaments,  the  State  street  Metliodist  Church,  with 
which  he  had  been  connected  during  his  residence  here  a  consist- 
ent member,  a  zealous  working  Christian,  a  kind  and  benevolent 
man, — and  the  community  at  large  a  citizen  in  Avhom  were  united 
the  most  desirable  attainments  and  tlie  most  brilliant  and  admira- 
able  traits  of  mental  and  moral  character." 


AZARIAH    H.    SHIPMAN,  M.  D.  ^ 

Dr.  Sliipman  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Shipman,  and  one  of  five 
brothers,  all  of  whom  were  physicians,  viz:  Parson  G.,  long  and 
favorably  known  as  an  accomplished  and  skillful  practitioner  in 
the  city  of  Rochestei*,  N.  Y. ;  Azariah  B.,  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir ;  John  O.,  formerly  of  Fayetteville,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  until  suddenly  removed  by  death,  in  the  autumn 
of  1866;  Daniel  M,  also  a  successful  practitioner  in  Rochester; 
and  Joseph  A.,  who  is  now  practising  his  profession  in  Illinois. — 

Di-,  Shipman  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Conn.,  March  22d,  1808. 
His  father,  Daniel  Shipman,  an  early  resident  of  Saybrook,  Conn  , 
was  an  intelligent  f^irmer  in  moderate  circumstances,  a  zealous  old 
school  Presbyterian,  and  distinguished  for  liis  industry  and  integ- 
rity. His  mother  was  Sarah  Eastman,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Azariah 
Eastman,  of  Roxbury,  an  eminent  physician  in  his  day,  who  bore 
the  armor  of  his  profession  for  nearly  seventy  years.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  Daniel  Shipman  was  Temperance  Frank, 
lin,  a  lineal  descendent  of  the  Franklins,  and  a  relative  of  the  il- 
lustrious statesman  and  philosopher. 

Soon  after  Dr.  Shipman's  birth,  his  father  removed,  with  his 
family,  to  Pitcher,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.  The  county  then 
was  new;  most  of  the  inhabitants  were  poor;  and  few  were  the 
hands  exempted  from  toil ;  for  even  the  necessaries  of  life  were 
obtainable  only  through  persevei'ing  industry  and  economy.  Mr. 
Shipman  formed  no  exception  to  the  rule — his  limited  means,  and 
the  increasing  demands  of  a  growing  family,  not  only  pi;#cluded 
extraordinary  advantages,  but  required  the  assistance  of  the  sons 
as  soon  as  they  were  of  sufficient  age  to  render  their  services 
available.     Azariah  was  employed  on  the  farm  in  summer,  and  en- 

'  Curulensed  from  a  Biographical  .sketch  by  II.  0.  Jewett,  M.  D.,  of  Cortland, 
N.  Y. 


1456  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

joyed  such  educational  advantages  as  were  afforded  by  a  district 
school  during  tne  winter  months,  until  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
which  occurred  in  Nov.,  1820.  By  this  event,  at  the  age  of  17, 
he  was  cast  upon  his  own  resources  for  a  livelihood. 

Although  without  money  or  influential  friends,  he  resolved 
upon  attaining  a  profession,  and  accordingly  we  find  him  for  a 
number  of  years,  laboring  in  summer  and  teaching  school  in  win- 
ter, meanwhile  devoting  himself  to  study  whenever  time  could  be 
spared  from  his  other  duties. 

In  1822,  he  went  to  Delphi,  N.  Y.,  to  study  medicine  with  his 
eldest  brother,  Dr.  Parson  G.  Shipman.  Applying  himself  with 
earnestness  and  assiduity,  he  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies, 
and  in  the  winter  of  1825-6,  attended  a  course  of  medical  lectures 
at  Castleton,  Vt.  Tn  the  autumn  of  1826,  he  obtained,  as  was 
then  customary,  a  license  from  the  County  Medical  Society,  and 
commenced  practice  at  Delphi,  In  Jan.  1828,  he  married  Emily 
Clark,  daughter  of  Richard  Taylor,  Esq.,  a  lady  of  refined  taste 
and  culture,  to  whom  he  remained  ardently  attached,  and  who 
now  survives  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind,  indulgent  and  devoted 
partner. 

In  Sept.,  1829,  he  removed  to  Fayetteville,  and  entered  at  once 
upon  a  fair  practice,  with  more  than  ordinary  success.  The  sum- 
mer of  1832,  was  a  season  memorable  for  the  advent  of  the  Asiatic 
Cholera  in  this  country.  Many  cases  occurred  along  the  line  of 
the  Erie  Canal  in  his  vicinity,  creating  intense  alarm  among  the 
population.  Dr.  Shipman  attended  most  of  the  cases,  became  in- 
terested in,  and  made  a  special  study  of  the  disease,  and  treated 
his  cases  with  good  success. 

In  the  winter  of  1832-3,  he  attended  the  lectures  of  the  '•  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,"  and  the  anatomical  demonstrations  at 
the  "Jefferson  Medical  College,"  at  Philadelphia.  On  his  return 
from  Philadelphia,  in  the  spring  of  1833,  he  located  at  Cortland, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  encountered  older  physicians,  who,  with  the  usual 
tenacity,  sharply  contested  the  pretensions  of  the  new  comer.  A 
few  successful  operations,  hovvever,  such  as  had  not  before  been 
performed  in  that  section,  brought  his  name  before  the  public; 
and  Dr.  Shipman  was  soon  recognized,  not  only  as  an  accomplished 
physician,  but  as  the  surgeon  of  that  vicinity,  and  a  few  years 
found  him  engaged  in  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice. 

In  1844,  his  reputaticn  .as  a  surgeon,  and  his  frequent  contribu- 
tions to  medical  literature,  having   made  him  generally  known  to 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOOr>BURY.  1457 

the  public,  Dr.  Shipman  was,  without  solicitation  on  liis  part,  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Laporte,  Ind.  With  no  time  for  preparation,  he  ac- 
cepted the  appointment,  and  entered  at  once  upon  its  duties.  In 
the  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  surgery,  in  ihe 
same  institution — a  position  more  in  consonance  with  his  taste, 
and  which  he  continued  to  occupy  for  five  consecutive  seasons 
laboring  with  all  the  energies  of  his  active  mind,  and  acquitting 
himself  with  much  honor. 

Seeking  a  wider  field  for  tlie  exercise  of  his  special  talent,  lie  re- 
moved to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  where  he  at  once  took  a  high  rank 
amongst  distinguished  surgeons,  and  soon  secured  a  large  medical 
and  surgical  practice  in  the  city,  and  in  the  surrounding  towns. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  late  rebellion.  Dr.  Ship- 
man  entered  the  IT.  S.  Service  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  l7th 
Regt.  N,  Y.  Vols.  He  was  on  dtity  a  part  of  this  time  in  the  field, 
and  a  part  of  the  time  in  hospital,  at  Upton's  Hill,  through  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1861.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Brigade  Surgeon,  and  placed  in  charge  of  a  large 
Hospital  at  Newport  News.  In  the  winter  1863,  he  resigned  his 
commission,  and  returned  to  Syracuse,  Soon  afterwards,  how- 
ever, he  was  induced  to  accept  the  ap{)ointment  of  reserve  sur- 
geon, to  be  called  upon  in  cases  of  emergency,  and  was  almost 
immediately  ordered  back,  to  attend  the  wounded  after  the  st'\ere 
battles  then  being  fought  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  where  he 
remained  until  failing  health  compelled  him  again  to  i-esign  and 
return  home,  nearly  ruined  in  health,  after  his  three  years'  service, 
and  depressed  in  spirits,  to  terminate  his  career,  just  at  that  period 
which  usually  marks  the  full  vigor  of'ripened  maidiood. 

He  resumed  his  practice,  and  though  gradually  declining,  he 
did  much  professional  labor,  until  the  spring  of  1868,  when  it  was 
apparent  to  his  friends,  and  probably  to  himself,  that  his  constitu- 
tion was  broken,  and  the  season  of  his  usefulness  passed.  He, 
therefore  sailed,  with  his  wife,  for  Europe,  March  21st,  1868  ;  ho- 
ping that  a  change  of  climate,  and  lelaxation  of  mind  might  im- 
prove his  health  and  prolong  his  life.  Proceeding  first  to  Paris, 
he  visited  the  principal  cities  of  F'l-ance,  Austria  and  Italy  during 
the  spring  and  sununer  months.  He  spent  several  weeks  at  Koine 
and  Naples,  examining  and  admiring  their  antiquities  and  splendid 
works  of  art.  Charmed  with  the  scenery  around  hiip,  and  stimu- 
lated by  a  lively  interest  in  everything  he  saw,  he  appeared  tor  a 


1458  HISTORY    OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

time  to  be  rallying.  Bat  having  feasted  his  eyes  upon  the  majes- 
tic ruins  and  solemn  greatness  of  the  "  Eternal  City,"  explored 
that  "  piece  of  heaven  fallen  upon  the  earth,"  and  realized  his 
dreams  of  Italian  sunsets,  and  the  grandeur  of  Vesuvius  at  mid- 
night, his  mind  came  home  to  himself,  and  as  the  season  advanced, 
he  began  to  feel  that  the  warm  climate  of  Southern  Europe  was 
prostrating  rather  than  improving  his  health.  Leaviiig  Italy, 
he  rettirned  to  Geneva  and  Paris,  where  he  remained  about  five 
weeks,  scarcely  leaving  his  room,  and  gradually  failing  in  strength, 
until  a  pulmonary  affection  under  which  he  was  laboring  assumed 
an  acute  form,  and  solicitude  began  to  be  felt  for  his  immediate 
safety.  He  was  favored  with  the  best  medical  advice  which  the 
French  capital  afforded,  together  with  the  kind  ministrations  of 
anxious  friends.  But  sympathy  and  science  and  skill  were  of  no 
avail.  He  sank  rapidly,  and  died  Sept.  15,  1868.  His  embalmed 
remains  were  brought  home  to  Syracuse,  and  consigned,  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies,  to  their  final  resting  place  in  Oak  wood 
Cemetery. 

Dr.  Shipman  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  first  at  Castleton, 
Vt.,  and  afterwards  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society, 
having  several  times  represented  his  county  society  in  that  body ; 
and  was  four  times  a  delegate  to  the  "American  Medical  Associa- 
tion." He  was  an  honorary  member  of  several  scientific  and  his- 
torical societies. 


DR.  PARSON    G.  SHIPMAN. 


Dr.  Parson  G.  Shipman  was  born  at  Roxbury,  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  April  18,  1799.  When  a  lad  six  years  of  age  he  came,  with 
his  father,  who  removed  his  family  from  Roxbury,  Conn.,  to  Pitch- 
er, Chenango  County,  N.  Y.  He  was  one  of  five  brothers  who 
were  all  physicians.  Only  two  of  the  number  are  now  living,  viz; 
Joseph  A.,  who  is  practicing  medicine  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and 
Daniel  M.,  so  well  and  f:\vorabIy  known  as  an  accomplished  and 
skillful  practitioner  in  this  city. 

Dr.  Shipman  was  naturally  diffident  and  retiring;  chose  not  to 
appear  often  in  social  life.  When  a  boy,  he  decided  on  his  future 
profession,  arfd  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  received  his  diplo- 
ma, and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Delphi,  Onondaga 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODRURY.  1459 

County,  N.  Y.  He  was  without  money,  and  liad  hut  few  influen- 
tial friendi*.  He  had,  however,  a  strong  will,  which  was  unwaver- 
ing to  duty.  His  will  and  conscience  were  happily  blended,  and 
couL!  not  be  easily  separated.  More  than  this,  he  had  an  unwa- 
vering confidence  in  God.  Converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
he  never,  after  his  conversion,  made  any  change,  or  engaged  in 
any  new  enterprise,  without  imploring  help  and  direction  from  his 
Heavenly  Father.  Possessing  these  qualifications  and  relying  on 
divine  aid,  he  became  the  popular  young  physician  of  Delphi.  His 
enterprisug  spirit,  however,  prompted  him  to  look  for  a  wider 
field  of  usefulness.  He  came  to  Rochester  with  his  family  in  1337, 
opened  an  office,  and  soon  became  a  popular  and  successful  practi- 
tioner in  this  city.  His  increasing  practice  made  liberal  demands 
upon  his  time  and  strength,  but  every  call  was  answered — in  the 
morning,  in  the  evening,  and  at  midnight — each  case  received 
prompt  attention,  whether  the  patient  was  rich  or  poor,  residing 
in  the  mansion,  or  dwelling  in  the  humble  cottage.  He  was  an 
obliging  neighbor,  friendly  to  all,  and  a  perfect  gentleman  at  home 
or  abroad.  Were  it  not  for  invading  the  sanctity  of  home,  we 
would  speak  of  him  where  he  appwired  to  the  best  advantage,  in 
his  own  family  circle,  We  will  only  say,  he  was  an  affectionate 
companion,  and  a  kind  and  loving  parent. 

His  failing  health  for  the  past  year  reminded  him  that  his  days 
would  soon  be  numbered.  This  only  prompted  him  to  arrange 
his  worldly  affairs  in  .^uoh  a  way  that  his  family  would  be  left  with 
as  little  care  and  anxiety  as  ])ossible.  In  the  death  of  Dr.  Shipraan, 
this  community  have  sustained  a  heavy  loss,  but  nowhere  will 
that  loss  be  so  deeply  felt  as  by  the  afflicted  family.  His  useful- 
ness ended  only  with  his  life.  He  received  and  prescribed  for  pa- 
tients at  his  own  house,  after  he  was  unable  to  make  professional 
calls.  His  confidence  in  God  also  continued  to  the  last,  never 
doubting  for  a  moment  that  he  was  accepted  in  Christ,  and  we 
have  no  doubt  has  received  the  crown  which  is  waiting  for  all 
that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Chi-ist  in  sincerity. 


MRS.  MARY  ANN    WOLCOTT    SMITH. 


While  these  pages  are  passing  through  the  press,  Woodbury 
has  been  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  another  of  its  valuable  citi- 
zens.    Mrs.  Smith,  wife  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  died  on  Sat- 


1 460  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

urday,  January  20,  1872.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  late  Rev. 
Samuel  Goodrich,  Congregational  clergyman  at  Ridgefield,  Conn., 
where  she  was  born.  Her  brothers  and  sisters,  through  force  of 
intellect  and  character,  became  widely  known  and  honored.  Sam- 
uel G.  Goodrich,  the  well-know  "Peter-Parley,"  acquired  a  world- 
wide reputation,  and  Mrs.  Whittlesey,  of  the  Mothers'  Magazine, 
a  national  fame  and  usefulness.  No  less  gifted  intellectually  tlian 
they,  and  endowed  with  uncommon  loveliness  and  grace,  she  be- 
came very  early  the  central  attraction  of  a  constantly  increasing 
circle  of  friends.  Very  earnest  in  all  she  did,  she  learned  life's 
lesson  well,  and  her  quick  sympathy  with  others,  led  her  to  impart 
her  wisdom  freely  to  those  who  sought  to  profit  by  it.  And  ihus 
she  became  to  many  striving  souls  a  counselor,  whose  words  and 
thoughts;  hey  will  long  cherish. 

She  made  a  public  profession  of  her  faith  in  1823,  and  joined 
the  First  Congregational  church  in  the  town  of  her  adoption,  of 
which  she  soon  became  an  active  an  influential  member,  the  first 
in  every  good  work,  the  leading  member  among  the  females,  pre- 
siding at  their  meetings  with  unusual  grace  and  dignity,  and  ever 
imparting  great  energy  and  completeness  to  all  their  efforts  for 
supplying  the  needy,  whether  at  home,  or  in  the  missionary  field 
far  away. 

She  was  one  of  a  circle  of  mothers  who,  for  many  years,  met 
each  Aveek  to  pray  for  their  families,  and  for  the  prosperity  of 
Zion.  This  meeting  was  very  dear  to  her,  and  she  continued  to 
attend  it  till  the  weight  of  years,  and  the  decease  of  nearly  all  its 
members,  rendered  its  longer  continuance  impossible,  and  then, 
when  the  stated  time  came  round,  she  observed  the  hour  alone,  in 
her  own  home.  The  ancient  church,  of  which  she  was  for  so 
many  years  a  bright  light,  may  truly  mourn  the  loss  of  a  "  mother 
in  Israel." 

Though  for  some  years  past  partly  withdrawn  from  active  life, 
through  illness,  her  loss  is  still  deeply  felt  by  the  community.  But 
that  loss  is  wholly  ours.  To  doubt  that  it  is  vi-ell  with  her  now, 
would  be  almost  to  doubt  the  "  good  news  "  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment itself,  so  steadfastly  did  she  follow  its  precepts,  and  so  de- 
voutly trust  its  promises.  "  Write  from  henceforth,  blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors,  and 
their  works  do  follow  them." 


HISTORy      OF     ANCIENT    "WOODBURY  1461 


REV,    BENNET   TYLER    D.  D.  ' 

"  Dr.  Tyler  was  born  iu  the  town  of  Woodbury,  (now^  Middle- 
bury,)  Conn.,  in  the  year  1Y83,  and  was  therefore  at  the  time  of 
his  decease  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age.  His  parents  were  intelli- 
gent, industrious,  and  Godly  people  The  family,  in  which  he 
was  the  youngest  child,  was  j^robably  a  fair  representative  of  the 
fathers'  families  in  this  State,  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago.  Of 
his  father's  Christian  experience  and  deat'%  an  account  was  pub- 
lished at  the  time,  in  the  Connecticut  Evangelical  Magazine.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen,  having  pui'su^d  studies  with  Rev.  Mr.  Hart, 
the  ministor  of  the  parish  of  Middlebury,  he  entered  Yale  College. 
Hon.  John  C.  Calhoun,  Rev.  Dr.  McEwen,  Rev.  Dr.  Pierpont,  and 
for  one  year.  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor,  were  his  college  class-n  tes.  He 
graduated  in  the  fall  of  1804,  and  after  a  year  spent  in  teaching 
the  academy  in  Weston,  Fairfield  County,  he  entered  on  the  study 
of  his  profession  with  Rev.  Asahel  Hooker,  of  Goshen,  who,  in 
accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  times,  received  a  class  of  theo- 
logical students  into  his  family.  Here  he  was  associated  Avith 
Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey,  Rev.  Dr.  Woodbridge,  Rev.  Frederick  Marsh 
and  others,  not  now  living,  towards  all  of  whom  he  felt  like  a 
brother  till  the  end  of  his  life.  At  this  period,  his  constitution, 
naturally  strong,  became  much  enfeebled  by  diligence  in  study, 
while  neglecting  suitable  bodily  exercise,  and  a  stooping  habit 
which  he  had  formed  by  bending  over  the  book,  or  his  paper,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  decline  seveial  calls,  to  inviting  fields  of  labor, 
and  devote  himself  for  a  year  or  more  to  the  restoration  of  his 
health. 

"  W^hen  it  seemed  safe  to  resume  preaching,  he  entered  on  the 
work  in  the  parish  of  South  Britain,  in  the  town  of  Southbury, 
As  his  health  then  was,  the  circumstance  of  the  parish  being  unu- 
sually small,  rather  recommended  it ;  but  its  distracted  condition 
might  indeed  make  a  settlement  there  formidable  to  any  minister. 
The  Lord's  Supper  had  not  been  administered  for  six  years.  The 
preceding  pastor  had  been  deposed  by  the  Consociation,  and  with 
a  small  party  had  set  up  a  seperate  church.  The  aspect  of  affairs 
in  the  parish  had  become  every  way  so  disheartening  that  the 
churches  in  the  neighborhood  had  really  given  up  all  hope  of  their 

'  This  account  is  taken,  principally,  from  the  Hartford  Courant,  printed  in 
1858,  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Tyler's  death. 


1462  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

re-organization,  and  the  establishment  of  the  public  means  of  grace 
among  them.  At  the  earnest  entreaties  of  tliis  people,  including 
all  classes,  he  consented  to  take  up  his  abode  among  them.  His 
health  was  gradually  confirmed,  and  the  first  fourteen  years  of  his 
mini^stry  were  devoted  to  hearty  and  zealous  labors  for  their  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  welfare.  Few  men  ever  preached  moi-e  in  the 
same  space  of  time  thin  Dr.  Tyler,  while  in  South  Britain.  It  is 
believed  by  the  writer  that  he  preached  as  often  out  of  the  pulpit, 
in  the  school-houses  and  dwellings  of  his  parish,  as  in  it.  At  the 
same  time  he  taught  the  sons  of  his  parishioners  Latin  and  Greek, 
and  in  some  cases  their  daughters,  the  higher  branches  of  an  Eng- 
lish education.  A  considerable  number  of  young  men  also  stud- 
ied theology  under  his  instruction. 

"He  left  this  people  on  a  call  to  the  Presidency  o^  Dartmouth 
College,  when  thirty-nine  years  of  age.  He  nominated  his  succes- 
sor at  their  request,  who  was  accepted  with  unanimity  ;  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  his  successor  could  not  have  found  a  more  harmo- 
nious and  vigorous  church,  or  more  agreeable  parish  in  the  State. 

"He  was  connected  with  Dartmouth  College  six  years  from 
1822  ;  associated  with  a  faculty  of  excellent  men,  whom  he  greatly 
respected,  and  with  whom  his  relations  were  eminently  happy.  In 
addition  to  the  labors  belonging  to  his  department  in  the  college, 
for  a  large  share  of  the  time,  (owing  to  the  impaired  health  of  the 
Professor  of  Divinity,)  he  officiated  as  preacher  to  the  students 
and  the  village  church.  It  was  during  this  period  that  the  revi- 
val of  1826  occurred,  which  is  a  memorable  event  in  the  history 
of  the  college  and  the  village. 

"An  unanimous  invitation  of  the  Second  Congregational  church 
and  society  in  Portland,  to  enter  the  pastoral  office  made  vacant 
by  the  removal  of  the  lamented  Payson,  revived  the  memory  of 
his  early  successful  miiiisti"y,  and  confirmed  the  impression  that 
had  been  growing  upon  his  mind,  that  his  talents  better  fitted  him 
for  usefulness  in  the  pulpit  and  pastoral  work,  than  in  the  Presi- 
dency of  a  college. 

"He  parted  painfully  with  the  Trustees  and  Professors,  some  of 
whom  were  venerable  for  age  while  he  was  but  a  youth — one  of 
whom  yet  lives,  patiently  waiting  his  turn  to  be  called  to  the  fel- 
lowship of  kindred  spirits — and  took  up  his  residence  in  Portland. 
Here  he  found  a  large,  intelligent,  and  harmonious  church  and 
people.  He  had  laid  upon  him  heavy  demands  for  study  and  labor, 
but  he  also  enjoyed  health  and  vigor,  and  cheerfully  undertook 


HISTORY   OF   ANCIENT   WOODBURY.      146.'^ 

and  performed  what  he  found  to  do.  His  ministry  in  Portland 
was  a  success.  Scarce  a  communion  season  occurred  at  which 
some  persons  were  not  received  into  the  church,  and,  as  the  fruits 
of  one  revival,  he  was  permitted  to  gather  into  the  churcli  more 
than  one  hundred  souls. 

'•  In  the  fall  of  1833,  the  Theological  Institute  of  Connecticut 
was  founded,  and  he  was  appointed  President,  and  Professor  of 
Christian  Theology.  It  need  not  be  said  that  now  for  a  season, 
his  mind  was  deeply  moved.  He  could  not  dismiss  this  call  with- 
out deliberation,  ui'ged  upon  him  as  it  was,  by  men  wlio  were  his 
tried  friends  from  his  youth,  with  whom  he  had  been  accustomed 
to  take  counsel.  He  was  happily  hiboring  in  a  field  where  the  bles- 
sing of  God  had.  been  with  him,  and  the  prospect  for  the  future 
seemed  only  fair  and  proinising.  The  institution  to  which  he  was 
invited  was  new — unprovided  with  funds — an  experiment.  He 
would  leave  a  certainty  for  an  uncertainty  as  regards  support. 
The  result  is  known.  He  decided  to  come  to  Connecticut ;  and 
in  this  place  it  should  be  recorded  that  he  never  saw  an  hour  after 
this  decision  was  formed,  in  which  he  felt  any  distressing  doubts 
as  to  its  correctness.  So  he  has  recently  written.  On  the  ques- 
tion touching  the  wisdom  of  the  course  pursued  by  him  in  taking 
the  stand  he  did,  and  connecting  himself  with  the  Theological  In- 
stitute, men  will  form  a  different  judgment,  according  to  their  po- 
sitions and  sympathies  in  the  theological  world.  It  is  just  that 
the  writer  (who  knows)  should  say  in  his  behalf,  that  it  was  not 
only  his  conviction  that  the  seminary  was  needed  at  the  time  he 
assumed  tlie  duties  of  a  professor,  but  that  he  believed  to  the  last 
that  it  had  been  instrumental  of  great  good  to  the  church,  by  the 
check  it  had  given  to  the  progress  of  dangerous  errors. 

"  Of  his  merits  as  a  preacher,  of  his  theological  opinions,  of  his 
writings  in  the  form  of  books,  sermons,  tracts,  &c.,  the  writer  will 
not  speak,  His  relatives  and  friends  cheerfully  trust  Iiis  memory 
tj  posterity.  They  respected  him  for  his  talents  and  wisdom,  his 
zeal  and  ardent,  though  safe,  enthusiasm  in  every  woik  in  which 
he  engaged;  but  for  large  and  generous  charity,  for  his  paternal 
interest  in  their  welfare,  they  loved  him  with  a  love  that  can 
never  die.  He  was  the  Ciiristian  grandfather  to  the  children 
of  his  own  sons  and  daughters;  and  not  only  so,  but  grand- 
father to  all  children  that  knew  him.  Though  his  final  sickness 
was  brief  and  distressing,  yet   his  mind  was  clear   to  the  last  mo- 


1464  HISTORY     OF     ANCI  ENT    W  O  OD  BU  R  Y, 

ment,  and   he  died  with  words  of  kindness   on  his  lips  to  all  that 
came  near  his  bedside,  and  with  peace  in  his  own  soul. 

"  Who  shall  live  his  life  again." 

"  In  some  accounts  which  have  been  printed,  errors  appear  in 
relation  to  his  family.  He  was  the  fatlier  of  twelve  childi'en,  six 
of  whom,  with  a  widow  of  72  years,  survive.  Rev.  J.  E.  Tyler, 
now  resident  at  East  Windsor  Hill,  with  whom  he  has  lived  since 
he  resigned  his  place  in  the  Seminary;  Mrs.  Greely,  widow  of  the 
late  Hon.  Philip  Greely,  Jr.,  Boston  ;  Mrs.  Goddard,  widow  of 
Rev.  John  Goddard;  Edward  Tyler,  Esq.,  Cashier  of  the  Suffolk 
Bank,  Boston  ;  Mrs.  Prof.  Gale,  and  Rev.  Josiah  Tyler,  Mission- 
ary in  South  Africa." 


HON.    ISAAC   TOUCEY. 

Isaac  Toucey  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Toucey,  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  ecclesiastical  society  of  South  Britain,  in  Soutbbury. 
He  livfcd  in  a  house  a  little  easterly  from  the  present  residence  of 
Bethnel  Russell.     Thomas  Toucey  afterwards  removed  to  New- 
town, Conn.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  Nov,  5, 
1795  ;  so   that   he   was  a  grandson  of  Ancient    Woodbury.     He 
studied  law  with  Hon.  Asa  Chapman,  of  Newtown,  afterwards  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  of  this  State.     Mr.  Toucey 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hartford,  in  1818,  and 
soon  obtained  a  high  rank  at  the  bar.     He  held  the  office  of  State 
Attorney  for  Hartford    County  from  1822   to  1836.     In  the  latter 
year  he  was    elected  a  representative  to  Congress,  and  continued 
to  represent  his  district  in  that  capacity  for  four  years.     In  1846, 
he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State.     During  the  latter  part  of 
President   Polk's   administration,  Mr.  Toucey  tilled   the   office  of 
Attorney  General  of  the  United  States.     In  1850,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Senate  of  his  native  State.     In  1S51,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  held  that  office  through  his 
term  of  six  years.     When  Mr.  Buchanan  became  President  of  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Toucey  went  into 'his   cabinet,  and  held   the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Navy  during  that  administration,  at  the 
close  of  which  he  went  back  to  private  life.     In  addition  to  the 
public  stations  which   he   filled  during  his  long  life,  there  were 
otheis  which  he  was  offered  and  declined.     Among  these  was  a 
seat  on   the  bench  of  the   Supreme  Court  of  tlie  United  St-ttes. 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1465 

From  liis  admission  to  the  Lar  till  Iiis  election  to  U.  S.  Senate,  in 
1851,  Mr.  Toncey  was  constantly  devoted  to  the  duties  of  liis  pro- 
fession, with  the  exception  of  the  four  years  during  whicli  lie  rep- 
resented his  distrct  in  the  lower  house,  of  Congress.' 


ARTHUR    B.  "WARNER, 

Son  of  Sherman  B.  Warner,  Esq.,  of  Southbury,  where  he  was 
born.  He  was  educated  in  Woodbury ;  studied  law  with  Hon. 
James  Huntington,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Litchfield 
County,  in  the  spring  of  1872.  He  continues  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Huntington,  as  liis  assistant,  and  is  also  Clerk  of  Probate  for  the 
District  of  Woodbury.  He  thus  casts  in  his  lot  with  us,  "  for 
better  or  for  worse." 


COL.  SETH    WARNER, 

On  page  411  of  the  last  edition,  the  author  criticised  the  inhab- 
itants of  Roxbury,  for  the  shameful  neglect  in  which  they  had 
allowed  the  remains  of  Col.  Warner  to  lie.  It  is  not  to  be  sup- 
posed that  that  criticism  had  any  effect.  But  the  fact  is  so,  that  a 
movement  was  soon  after  set  on  foot,  which  resulted  in  an  appro- 
priation by  the  State  of  |1,000,  on  certain  conditions  to  be  per- 
formed by  the  inhabitants  of.  Roxbury,  which  were  fulfilled,  and 
a  beautiful  monument  of  Quincy  granite  was  erected  on  the  Centre 
Green,  in  Koxbury,  April  30,  1859,  to  the  memory  of  the  brave 
deceased.  To  this  ])lace  the  remains  had  been  removed,  from 
their  ancient  resting  place  in  the  "Old  Burying  Ground,"  about 
a  mile  from  the  centei-,  on  the  20th  of  the  preceding  October. 
There  are  historical  inscriptions  on  each  of  the  four  raised  panels 
of  the  die.  Some  of  the  dates  differ  from  those  given  in  the  for- 
mer edition  of  this  work,  which  were  those  given  by  Mr.  Chip- 
man,  of  Vermont,  in  his  work.  But  the  matter  of  dates  was  care- 
fully investigated  by  Ex-Gov.  Hiland  Hall,  of  Vermont,  George 
W.  Warner,  Esq.,  of  15ridgeport,  Conn.,  a  descendent  of  Col.  Seth 
Warner,  and  the  writer,  and  the  dates  put  upon  the  monument  are 
believed  to  be  correct. 

On  the  east  (front)  side  is  inscribed  : — "  Col.  Seth  Warner,  of 
the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  born  in  Roxbury,  Ct.,  May  17,  1743, 

*  Hon.  Wm.  D.  Shipmaii,  U.  S.  District  Judge. 


I46G 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


a  resident  of  Bennington,  Vt.,  fron--  1765  to  1784;  died  in  his 
native  parisli,  Dec.  26,  1784."  On  the  north  side  appears  : — "  Cap- 
tor of  Crown  Point,  Commander  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  in 
the  repulse  of  Carleton  at  Longueil,  and  at  the  battle  of  Hub- 
bardton,  and  the  a>-sociate  of  Stark  in  the  victory  at  Bennington." 
On  the  south  side  is  inscribed  : — "  Distinguislied  as  a  successful 
defender  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  and  for  bravery,'  saga- 
city, energy  and  humanity,  as  a  partisan  officer  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution."  On  the  west  side  appears: — "  His  remains  are  de- 
posited under  this  monument,  erected  by  order  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  A.  D.,  1859." 


HON.  WARREN    W.  OUTHRIE. 

Mr.  Guthrie  was  born  in  South  Britaiii,  Southbury.  He  is  a 
great-grandson  of  Judge  William  Edmond,  late  of  Newtown. 
After  receiving  an  Academic  education,  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  William  Cothren,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  with  diligence 
and  fidelity  for  tliree  years,  wlien  he  was  admitted  to  the  Litch- 
field County  bar,  in  1855,  and  immediately  opened  a  law  office  at 
Seymour,  Conn.  He  remained  there  a  year,  and  had  more  than 
the  ordinary  success  of  a  young  lawyer.  Desiring  a  wider  field, 
lie  removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  has  since  remained,  and  is  now 
in  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  at  Atchison,  Kansas.  Soon  after 
his  settlement  in  Kansas,  he  was  elected  to  the  oflace  of  Attorney 
General,  and  held  it  for  four  years. 

Thus  tlie  just  criticism  of  the  former  volume  is  removed.  And 
here  we  close  our  list  of  the   worthy  ones   whom  Woodbury  de- 
isfhts  to  honor. 


C  II  \  P  T  E  II    XII. 

(iKXKAl.OGIKS — COXTIXUI'^D    FROM    PAGK    481. 


IlE  lecoiduig  of  the  history 
of  the  geiieiati(  IIS  ot  men 
is  always  an  intrrestiiig, 
tlioiigh  most  laljorious  work.  It  recalls  us  to  all  that  is  tender 
and  affecting  in  the  several  relations  in  life.  The  man  who  does 
not  "care  who  his  fither  was,"  and  has  no  curiosity  to  know  from 
what  branch  or  stock  lie  has  derived  his  existence,  in  the  line  back 
towards  Adam,  is  a  confessed  boor,  who  should  be  closely  watched 
in  all  the  transactions  witli  which  he  is  connected.  Tiie  views  of 
the  writer  on  this  interesting  branch  of  human  inquiry,  were  fully- 
given  in  the  first  volume  of  this  work. 

Doubtless  many,  in  looking  through  this  part  of  the  work,  will 
wonder  why  their  family  histories  have  not  been  recorded.  The 
answer  is  brief.     Though    the  author   has  importuned   them  for 

40 


1468  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

eighteen  years,  they  have  not  furnished  tlie  material.  Everything 
has  been  introduced  that  could  be  obtained.  But  now  the  "sum- 
mer is  past  and  the  harvest  ended."  Nobody  will  ever  have  the 
courage  to  write  the  history  of  our  town  the  next  two  hundred 
years. 

In  writing  such  extended  genealogies  as  were  introduced  in  the 
first  volume,  with  its  myriad  of  facts  and  dates,  it  was  to  be  ex- 
pected tliat  errors  would  occur.  Where  such  have  been  brought 
to  the  writer's  attention,  they  are  here  corrected.  But  instead  of 
writing  the  genealogies  over  again,  which  would  require  much 
space,  the  writer  has  simply  re-written  certain  portions  of  the 
genealogies  in  which  the  corrections  occur.  So  that  in  giving  the 
account  of  any  particular  family,  in  this  volume,  it  will  be  under- 
stood that  where  it  diifers  from  the  former  account,  the  present 
account  is  the  correct  one.  Any  one  .interested  in  a  particular 
family,  can,  by  an  examination,  make  the  necessary  corrections. 

In  this  part  of  the  author's  work,  he  has  been  most  kindly  and 
effectively  aided  by  Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  of  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y., 
one  of  the  most  careful  and  laborious  historical  and  genealogical 
investigators  in  this  country.  If  anywhere  the  writer  has  differed 
with  him,  it  has  been  after  the  most  careful  investigation  of  the 
facts.  At  the  time  the  former  edition  was  written,  little  attention 
had  been  given  this  branch  of  inquir_y.  But  since  then,  it  has  en- 
gaged the  lime  and  attention  of  multitudes,  and  a  much  more 
just  appreciation  of  the  matter  has  become  prevalent.  Works  of 
this  kind  have  become  numerous,  and,  it  is  believed,  the  new  in- 
quiries have  been  vastly  beneficial. 

In  recording  the  following  families,  the  author  has  followed  the 
plan  adopted  by  the  several  persons  who  have  furnished  him  the 
family  records,  and  not  that  plan  which  he  deems  best  for  all  fam- 
ily records,  explained  on  page  484. 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1469 


ALLEN  FAMILY.' 

Samuel  Allen  was  a  petit  juror  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  March  5th.  1644. 
The  inventory  of  his  estate  was  £76  18s.  8p.,  as  pre.'^ented  in  the  settlement  of 
it,  Sept.  8th,  1668.  He  died  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  April  28th,  1668  It  does 
not  appear  whether  he  was  of  the  same  family  as  Hon.  Matthew  Allyn,  of 
Hartford  and  Windsor,  which  family  had  a  leadin*?  influence  in  the  latter 
place,  and  a  higli  standing  in  the  Colony.  The  orthosfrajihy  of  the  name  is 
not  conclusive  upon  this  point.  Deacon  Thomas  Allen,  of  Middletown,  being 
regarded  as  a  brother  of  Hon  Matthew  Allyn,  and  the  common  form  of 
spelling  used  by  him,  and  more  usual  in  Enj^lish,  and  equally  nearer  to  the 
foreign  form,  Allyn,  which  may  have  been  the  original  name.  Nor  would 
the  personal  circumstances  of  the  parties  be  conclusive  on  the  same  point. 

Stiles,  in  his  History  of  Ancient  Windsor,  states  from  private  authority,  that 
Ann,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Allen,  removed  from  Windsor  to  Northampton, 
Mass.,  having  three  sons,  Samuel,  Nehdiiiah  and  John,  and  then  married 
W^illiam  Hurlburt. 

Nehemiah  Allyn  and  Sarah  Woodford,  are  recorded  as  having  been  mar- 
ried at  Northampton,  Sept.  21st,  1664.  Their  son  Samuel,  was  b.  Jan.  3d, 
1665 

The  record  of  marriages  at  Northampton,  between  1685  and  1695,  is  miss- 
ing, but  the  births  of  children  of  Samuel  and  Mercy  Allen^  appear  in  order  : 
Nelumiali,  b.  Sept.  21st,  1693  ;  Mero),  b.  June  2.9th,  1695  ;  Neheminli,  b.  Sept. 
19th,  1697  ;  Mary,  b.  Oct.  22d,  1699  ;  Hcder,  b.  Feb.  26th,  1704. 

At  Deerfield,  Mass.,  first  appears  the  death  of  Hester,  dau.  of  Samuel  and 
Mercy  Allen,  Dec,  18th.  1707.  Then  follow  births  of  Joseph,  their  son,  b. 
Oct.  14th,  1708  ;  and  Ehenezer,  b.  April  26tli,  1711.  One  or  two  intervals  in 
the  family  record  may  have  to  be  supplied  from  some  other  town.  A  name 
or  two  in  the  examination  of  records  may  have  been  overlooked.  An  inter- 
val of  time  occurred  after  the  latest  date  found  at  Deerfield,  during  which  the 
movements  of  the  family  are  lost  sight  of.  The  birth  of  the  youngest  child, 
and  the  death  of  Samuel  Allen,  the  father,  are  not  found. 

The  lineage  of  Mercy  Allen  is  given  in  the  New  England  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Register  for  1850,  (Vol.  IV,  \).  355),  in  a  notice  of  the  descend- 
ants of  D(!a.  Samuel  Wright,  of  Sjiringfield,  Mass.  His  name  is  first  men- 
tioned there  in  1639,  three  years  after  the  settlement  was  commenced.  He  re- 
moved to  Northampton  in  1655,  and  died  there  Oct.  17th,  1665.  Of  the  eight 
children  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Wright.  Judah,  the  seventh  in  order,  was 
b.  in  Springfield,  May  10th,  1662.  Judah  Wright  m.  Mercy  Burt,  Jan.  17th, 
1667.  They  had  eight  children,  the  second  of  whom  was  Mercy,  b.  1669.  The 
father  of  the  distinguished  Senator,  Silas  Wright,  who  removed  from  Am- 
herst, Mass.,  to  Weybridge,  Vt.,  when  his  son  was  an  infant,  tlirougli  an 
older  line  of  descent,  was  in  the  sixth  generation  of  the  same  family. 

'  This  account  is  furnished  by  Mr.  Phillii)  Battell,  of  Middlebury,  Vt. 


1470  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

By  the  records  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  it  is  found  that  widow  Mercy  Allen 
removed  to  that  place  from  Coventry,  Conn.,  ahout  1720.  She  had  with 
her,  Nehemiah,  an  adult  son,  and  Daniel,  Joseph,  Ebenezer,  Lydia  and  Lucy, 
minor  children.  She  d.  Feb.  85th,  1728.  The  family  had  land  at  Litchfield, 
a  third  part  of  which  was  conveyed  by  Daniel  Allen,  as  executor  upon  his 
mother's  death,  to  Joseph,  his  brother,  March  1st,  1729  ;  one  hundred  acres 
was  conveyed  by  the  latter  to  his  sister  Lydia,  in  1732,  and  the  same  quan- 
tity to  Paul  Peck,  Jr.,  the  following  year. 

Joseph  Allen,  b.  as  above,  at  Deerfield,  Mass.,  in  1708  ;  m.  Mary  Baker,' 
dau.  of  John  Baker,  of  Woodbury,  Conn.,  March,  1737.  Their  chh.  were 
Gen.  Ethan,  b.  Jan.  10th,  1738 ;  Heman,  b.  Oct.  15th,  1740 ;  Lydia,  b.  April 
Gth,  1742  ;  Heber,  b.  Oct.  4th,  1748;  Levi,  b.  Jan.  16th,  1745;  Lucy,  b.  April 
2d,  1747  ;  7Amzi,  b.  Dec.  10th,  1748 ;  Ira,  b.  1751. 

Of  this  family,  most  of  whom  were  born  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  Lydia,  Mrs. 
Finch,  lived  and  died^  in  Easton ;  Lucy,  Mrs.  Beebe,  in  Sheffield,  Mass. 
Heman  was  in  business  in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  a  man  of  vigorous  mind  and 
solid  judgment,  only  temporarily  engaged  in  the  local  affairs  of  Vermont, 
Zimzi  and  Heber  were  not  concerned  in  public  affairs ;  the  former  d.  in  Shef- 
field, Mass.,  the  latter  in  Pultney,  Vt.  Levi  Allen  was  pervere  and  eccentric ;  i 
took  the  wrong  side  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  d.  at  Benington,  Vt.,  | 
in  1801.  The  oldest  and  youngest  of  the  family  exemplified  its  peculiar 
qualities  of  energy  and  intellect ;  the  latter  more  particularly  in  private  en- 
terprise ;  but  both  in  the  public  afiairs,  momentous  and  critical  of  the  new 
State,  alike  in  personal  vengeance,  perhaps,  in  patriotic  ardor ;  the  elder,  a 
leader  of  the  masses,  both  in  counsel  and  inaction. 

Gen.  Ethan  Allen  m.  first,  Mary  Brownson,  of  Roxbury  Parish,  in  Wood- 
bury, June  23d,  1762.  The  chh.  of  this  marriage  were  Lorane,  Joseph,  Lucy, 
Mary  Ann  and  Pamelia,  born,  it  is  said,  before  the  family  removed  to  Ver- 
mont. His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Fanny  Buchanan,  whom  he  mairried  at 
Westminster,  Vf.,  Feb.  9th,  1786.  The  chh.  by  this  marriage  were  Ethan 
Voltaire,  Hannibal  and  Fanny.  The  first  wife  died  in  Sunderland,  Vt.  The 
second  m.  Hon.  Jabez  Penniman,  of  Colchester,  Vt.,  and  died  there  about 
1832.  The  dau.  Lucy,  m.  Hon.  Samuel  Hitchcock,  a  distinguished  man  ill 
Vermont ;  Pamelia  m.  Eleazur  W.  Hayes,  Esq.  Both  resided  and  died  in 
Burlington,  Vt.  Ethan  V.  and  Hannibal  Allen  became  officers  of  the  United 
States  army.  The  latter  died  at  Norfolk,  Va. ;  the  former  at  the  same  place, 
Jan.  Gth,  1845,  leaving  a  son  of  his  own  name,  who  has  resided  in  New  York. 
Fanny  bec4.me  a  nun  of  the  Hotel  Dieu,  at  Montreal,  Canada,  where  she  was 
distinguished  sometimes  by  visitors  from  curiosity,  for  a  peculiar  dignity  of 
person,  as  well  as  by  the  prestige  of  her  family.  Gen.  Ethan  Allen  d.  at 
Burlington,  Vt.,  Feb.  I2th,  1789.'' 
John,  3d  son  of  the  Juror,  Samuel  m.  Mary  Hammond,  and  was  killed  by 


■  Mary  Baker,  b.  at  Woodbury,  March,  1709,  was  dau.  of  John  Baker,  b' 
at  New  London,  Doc.  24th,  1681,  who  was  s.  of  Jo.shua  Baker,  b.  in  Boston, 
Mass..  in  1642,  s.  of  Alexander  Baker,  of  Boston.     See  ante.,  p.  502. 

'  See  Lecture  of  Prof.  Z.  Thompson,  in  Vermont  Historical  Gazetteer,  Vol. 
II.,  p.  360. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  1471 

the  Indians  at  the  battle  of  Bloody  Brook,  Deerfield,  Mass.,  Sept.  18th,  1675. 
His  two  sons  fled  to  Enfield,  Conn.,  to  escape  the  Indians,  prior  to  1700.  From 
this,  John,  brother  of  Nehemiah,  Hon.  H.  W.  Allen,  of  Warehouse  Point,  is 
descended. 


ATWOOD  FAMILY,  p.  490. 

Mary,  dau.  of  Wheeler  Atwood,  b.  Dec.  9th,  1814  ;  m.  Julius  F.  Smith,  who 
d.  March  25,  1868,  at  Watertown."  They  had  chh.  Mary  AU,  b.  26th  Aug., 
1837 ;  MartlM  Annie,  b.  Oct.  31st.  1839 ;  John,  Fenn,  b.  April  3d,  1842  ;  and 
Truman  Julius. 

H.  W.  Atwood,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  (p.  494),  m.  Josephine  V.  Wood,  and 
had  chh.  Hattie  E.  and  Robert  E. 


BACON  FAMILY. 

Nathaniel,  son  of  Jabez.  Sen.,  d.  March  4th,  1846,  aged  78. 
Nathaniel  Almoran,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  d.  Sept.  1st,  1870,  aged  72. 
Almira,  wife  of  Nathaniel  A.,  d.  Sept.  30th,  1867,  aged  64. 
Ellen,  d.  of  Nathaniel  A.,  d.  March  18th,  1857,  aged  29. 
Rebecca,  d.  of  Nathaniel  A.,  d.  May  8th,  1864,  aged  30. 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Daniel,  d.  Aug.  15th,  1855,  aged  81. 
Maria,  d.  of  Daniel,  d.  Aug.  26th,  1859,  aged  64. 
Julia,  d.  of  Daniel,  d.  Nov.  3d,  1869,  aged  69. 
Fanny  T.,±oi  Daniel,  m.  Edmond  D.  Estilette,  Nov.  11th,  1857. 
Julia  L-,  d.  of  Daniel,  m.  Eugene  L.  Richards,  Nov.  27th,  1861. 
Daniel  P.,  s.  of  Daniel,  d.  April  30th,  1855,  aged  5. 
J.  Knifjht,  s.  of  Wm.  T.,  m.  Sophia  Marsh,  Dec.  15th,  1868. 
Williani  T.,  Jr.,  s.  of  Wm.  T.,  m.  Elizabeth  Thompson,  May  8th,  1867. 
Walter,  s.  of  Wm.  T.,  b  Feb.  19th,  1851. 
Daniel,  s.  of  William  T.,  b.  June  1,  1853. 
James,  s  of  William  T.,b,  Jan.  15th,  1856. 


BATTELL  FAMILY. 

Thomas'  Battell,  (spelled  by  him  Battelle)  emigrated  from  England  to 
Massachusetts ;  settled  at  Dedham,  where  he  m.  Mary  Fisher,  dau.  of  Joshua 
Fisher,  Sept.  5th,  1648,  and  d.  Feb.  28th,  1706. 

John^,  son  of  Thomas',  b.  July  1st,  1652 ;  m.  Hannah  Holbrook,  Nov.  18tli, 
1678,  d.  Sept.  20th,  1712. 

Jihn,^  mn  of  John^  born  April  17th,  1689,  m.  Abigail  Draper,  Jan.  9th, 
1710,  d.  Feb.  14th,  1730. 

John*  son  of  John',  b.  April  20tli,  1718,  m.  Mehitabel  Sherman,  dau.  of 
William  Slierman,  and  sister  of  Roger  Sherman,  April  26th,  1739. 

William'' ,  mxv  of  John*,  b.  Aug.  12th,  1748;  went  from  Dedham  to  Mil- 
ford,  Conn.,  m.  (1st)  Sarah  Buckingham,  dau.  of  Josiah  and  Sarah  (Brins- 
made)  Buckingham. 


1472  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

His  cliildren  were — 

1.  William,  h.  at  Milford,  March  35th,  1773,  and  d.  unmarried  at  Torring- 
ford,  July  8th,  1841. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  at  Milford,  July  31st,  1774  ;  settled  at  Norfolk,  and  m.  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Animi  R.  Robbins.  and  Elizabeth  (Le  Baron)  Robbins,  July 
34th,  1805.  He  d.  Nov.  30th,  1841,  leaving  his  wife  and  nine  children.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Battell,  his  wife,  d.  Sept.  23d,  1854.  The  children  are  all  living  at  this 
date,  (1870). 

3.  Josiah  Buckingham,  b.  at  Woodbury,  March  1st,  1776,  m.  Sarah  Gillett, 
of  Torrington  ;  had  three  dau.,  all  deceased  ;  he  died  May  7th,  1843. 

4.  John  Brinsmade,  b.  at  Woodbury,  July  21st,  1779,  d.  in  Manchester, 
Va.,  Nov.  7th,  1819,  unmarried. 

5.  Sally,  b.  at  Woodbury,  May  20th,  1781,  m.  the  Rev.  Abel  McEwen,D.D., 
of  New  London.  They  had  seven  chh.,  three  s.  and  four  dau.  She  died 
March  9th,  1859. 

6.  Ann,  h.  at  Woodbury,  Feb.  30th,  1783,  m.  the  Rev.  Harvey  Loomis,  of 
Bangor,  Maine.     They  had  two  sons.     She  d.  July  27th,  1861. 

7.  Harriet,  b.  at  Torringford,  June  7th,  1785,  d.  Feb.  24th,  1822,  un- 
married. 

8.  Urania  Phillips,  b.  at  Torringford,  May  15th,  1787,  d.  Jan.  23d,  1814, 
unmarried. 

9.  Charles  Isaac,  b.  July  23d,  1789;  resided  in  Evansville,  Ind, ;  d.  April 
12th,  1868,  unmarried. 

10.  Charlotte,  b.  Feb.  19th,  179(5,  m.  Aaron  Austin,  has  one  son  living. 
(1870). 

Wi'Miin,  father  of  the  above,  m  a  second  time,  in  1807,  Mrs.  Martha 
Mitchell,  his  cousin,  and  dau.  of  the  Rev.  Josiah  Sherman  of  Goshen  and 
Woburu,  Mass.,  and  sister  of  the  Hon.  Roger  M.  Sherman,  of  Fairfield. 
Mr.  Battell  d.  Feb.  39th,  1832  ;  his  second  wife  d.  October  35th,  1829. 


BUCKINGHAM  GENEALOGY. 

I.  Thom.\s,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  country,  belonged  to  the  company 
that  first  settled  New  Haven.  They  arrived  at  Boston,  June  26th,  1637,  and 
the  next  Spring  came  to  Quinnipiack. 

His  house-lot  was  in  "  Mr.  Gregson's  Quarter,"  and  about  where  Mr.  Mur- 
dock  lived.     He  had  a  family  of  four  persona,  and  an  estate  of  £60. 

He  removed  to  Milford  in  tlie  Autumn  of  1639,  with  Rev.  Mr.  Prudden  and 
his  company,  who  settled  that  town.  His  house-lot  there  was  a  little  above 
the  3d  Congregational  Church,  on  the  corner  where  the  old  Bergen  House 
stood  a  few  days  ago.  On  the  old  church  records  at  Milford,  his  name  stands 
among  the  seven  who  first  consented  to  walk  together  as  a  church  (the  "  Seven 
Pillars  "  as  they  were  called)  and  to  these  the  others  were  added  among 
them,  Hannah,  his  wife. 

Upon  the  death  of  Minister  Prudden,  he  was  sent  to  Boston  to  procure 
another  Minister,  and  d.  there  1657. 

He  left  five  children  :  (1).  Hannah,  b.  1633,   m.  ^Velsh  ;  (2).  Daniel,  called 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  lilS 

Serg.  and  afterwards  "  Elder,"    which  office  he  held  39  years,  b.  1G36,  d. 
1711;  (3),  Samuel;  (4).   Mary;  (5).  Bev.    Thomas,   of  Saybrook,  one   of  the 
founders  of  Yale  College,  b.  1B46,  d.  1709. 
This  is  Qov.  Buckingham's  ancestor  : 

II.  "Elder"  JDa niel  h&d  seven  children  ;  (\.)  Hannah  :  (2).  Banid  ;  {3). 
Mary;  (4).  Rev  Thomas,  of  the  South  Church,  Hartford;  (5).  Joint;  (,6). 
Gideon  ;  (7).  Josiah. 

III.  Gideon  was  born  Oct.  4th,  1675,  d.  1719.  He  married  Sarah  Hunt, 
Feb.  3d,  1700,  and  had  six  children  : 

(1).  Gideon;  (3).  John:  (3).  Daniel;  (4).  Alice,  m.  Treat  ;  (5).  Joniah ;  (6). 
Clement,  m.  Josephine  Hunt. 

IV.  JosiAH  Bap,  March  33d,  1718,  d.  1784,  m.  Sarah  Brinsmade.  He  had 
five  children  : 

(I).  Judge  Gideon,  b.  June  23d,  1744,  d.  Dec.  8th,  1809  ;  (3).  Isaac,  m.  Belden, 
of  Wethersfield ;  (3).  Sarah,  m.  Wm.  Battell,  b.  1753,  d.  1806;  (4).  Urania, 
m.  Phillips,  of  Long  Island,  Nov.  10th,  1785  ;  (5).  Ann,  who  died  at  30. 


BUTLER  FAMILY. 

Richard  Butler  was  among  the  earliest  Stratford  settlers,  and  had  two 
daus.,  P/<efe  m.  Benj.  Peet ;  and  Mary  m.  John  Washborn,  of  Hempstead,  L.  I., 
in  1655,  and  afterwards  Thomas  Hicks,  and  thus  became  ancestress  of  Elias 
Hicks,  founder  of  the  Hicksite  sect.  There  was  in  Stratford,  a  Dr.  John  Butler, 
from  1684,  till  his  death  in  1695.  He  was  a  grantee  of  lands  in  Woodbury  be- 
fore 1697.  He  was  probably  son  of  Dr.  John  Butler,  of  Boston,  afterwards  of 
Branford,  Conn.,  where  he  died  in  1680.  John,  Son.,  had  sons,  Jo/in,  Richard, 
Jonathan  and  Jonas.  There  was  a  Dea.  Richard  Butler  in  Hartford,  who  died 
in  1684,  and  had  sons,  Thomas,  Samuel,  Nathaniel,  Joseph  and  Daniel.  Their 
descendants  are  numerous.  Zebulon  and  John  Butler,  who  figured  in  the 
troubles  in  Wyoming  Valley,  was  of  this  race.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  late 
Attorney  General  of  New  York,  was  also  of  this  lineage,  Capt.  Zephaniah 
Butler  WHS  in  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Wolfe  at  Quebec,  marching  with  other 
brave  soldiers  from-  Woodbury.  His  son,  father  of  Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Butler, 
now  member  of  Congress,  was  a  Captain  of  the  War  of  1813,  and  Gen.  Butler 
has  his  commission  signed  by  Madison,  as  well  as  the  powder-horn  of  his 
grandfather,  who  fought  under  Wolfe,  marked  "  Zephaniah  Butler,  his  horn, 
Woodbury,  Connecticut,  ye  37,  1758."  Thi^  Zephaniah  and  his  brother 
Benjamin  moved  to  Nottingham,  N.  H.,  and  settled  there. 

Gen  B.  F.  Butler,  M.  C'.,  gives  the  writer  the  following  account  of  his 
family : 

My  grandfather  was  m.  to  Abigail  Cilley,  of  Nottingham,  d.  of  Gen. 
Joseph  Cilley  of  that  town.  By  her  he  had  children,  Benjamin,  Susan, 
Enoch,  Alice,  William  and  John,  who  was  my  father. 

Benjamin  m.  Betsey  Morrill,  at  Deerfield,  N.  IL,  and  d.  childless. 

Susan  was  never  m.,  and  lived  and  d.  in  Nottingham 

Enoch  m.  Abigail  Page,  settled  in  Loudon,  and  had  by  her  two  children  : 
Betsey  Morrill,  who  d.  unmarried  ;  Enoch,  who  married  Sarah  Marden,  by 
whom  he  had  children,  Benjamin  M.  and  Clymena,  both  now  living. 


1474  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Sarah  m.  Israel  Bartlett,  of  Nottingham,  and  had  three  children  :  Sarah, 
who  d.  childless  ;  Hamilton,  now  living',  unmarried ;  and  a  younger  brother, 
name  forgotten,  now  deceased,  childless. 

Alice  m.  Samue!  Philbrook,  of  Washington,  N.  H.,  subsequently  removed 
to  the  State  of  New  York.  She  had  children  :  Samuel,  who  settled  in  Savan- 
nah, and  d.  leaving  one  dau.,  now  living;  Betsey,  who  m.  Mr.  Mapes  and 
settled  in  New  York  ;  Franklin  also  settled  in  New  York  ;  both  the  last  are 
living,  having  children. 

William  d.  a  bachelor. 

JorN  m.  Sally  Bachelder,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  daughters, 
Mary,  Sarah  and  Betsey. 

Mary  m.  Theodore  Houlton,  and  d.  in  Greenville,  Me.,  bearing  one  child, 
Albert,  now  living. 

Sar.\h  m.  Jonathan  Maloon,  and  had  three  children,  John,  Horace,  and 
Sarah,  the  two  former  now  deceased,  the  latter  living.  Mrs.  Maloon  is  now 
living. 

Beysey  m.  Daniel  Stevens,  of  Nottingham,  and  had  children :  Betsey, 
Thomas  Addis,  Amanda,  Charlotte,  Joanna,  John  and  Walter. 

Betsey  m.  Col.  J.  B  Bachelder,  still  living,  having  one  child  Sarah ;  Thos. 
Addis  ni.  Sarah  Sanborn,  and  has  three  children  all  living ;  Amanda  and 
Charlotte  living  unmarried  ;  Joanna,  deceased ;  John,  still  living ;  Walter, 
still  living. 

The  wife  of  John,  ancestor,  having  d.  he  m.  Charlotte  Ellison,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children,  Charlotte,  Andrew  Jackson  and  Benjamin  F. 

Charlotte  m.  Horace  Houlton,  and  d.  leaving  one  child,  Francis  ;  Andrew 
J.  m.  Joanna  Harris  and  had  one  child,  now  living,  Geo.  H.  Butler,  Consul 
General  at  Alexandria,  Egypt.  Andrew  is  now  deceased.  Benjamin  F,  the 
writer,  m.  Sarah  Hildreth,  and  had  three  children.  Blatwlie,  who  married  Gen. 
Adelbert  Ames,  U.  S,  Senator  from  Mississippi,  and  two  boys,  Paul  and  Ben 
Israel,  all  living. 


BOOTH  FAMILY. 

RiCH.\RD  Booth  m.  Elizabeth  Hawley  ;  chh.  Jolin,  m.  1st,  June  16,  1678, 
Dorothy  (who  d.  1710)  dau.  of  Thomas  Hawley  ;  2d.,  m.  Hannah,  wid.  of 
Robert  Clark,  she  d.  1717. ;  chh.  IViomas,  b.  March,  1679  ;  Jonathan,  Martha, 
Ephraim,  John,  and  probably  Sarah  and  Ann ;  John  Booth,  Jr.,  had  a  son 
John,  b.  1726,  d.  17'28,  p.  510  ;  Samuel  Booth,  who  m.  Sarah  Walker,  was  son 
of  Nathan,  who  was  son  of  Zechariah,  who  was  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  son 

of  Richard.     He  was  b. ,  1748,  p.  610  ;  David  Booth  was  son  of  David, 

son  of  Josei)h,  son  of  Richard. 


BRINSMADE  FAMILY. 

John  Brinsmade  appeared  first  in  Charlestown,  1637,  was  made  freeman, 
1638.  His  wifes  name  was  Mary,  who  survived  him.  His  children  were 
Marg,  b.  July  24th,  1640.     She  m.  John  Bostwick.     John,  b.  March  2d,  1643  ; 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBUKY, 


1475 


Daniel ;  ZorJiary,  1647,  drowned  in  1667.     fThe  only  manuscript  eer- 

mon  of  Mr.  Israel  Chauncey,  now  extant,  is  one  preached  at  the  funeral 
of  Zachary.     Prof.  Fowler  owns  it).     Paul,  Sarah,  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  B.  removed  to  Stratford  before  IGRO;  was  representative  1669  and  '71  ; 
and  d.  1673.  His  son  John  d.  before  1680,  and  his  brother  shared  his  estate. 
Paul,  m.  Oct.,  1678,  Elizabeth  Hawkins,  a  daufrhter  of  Anthony  H.,  of  Wind- 
sor (whose  wife  was  Ann,  danohter  of  Gov.  Thorn.  Wells).  Paul  had  Ann 
b.  Oct.,  1679;  John,  1681;  Zechariah  in  1684  ;  Hester,  Delwah.  Elizabeth 
was  unmarried  in  1673. 

Daniel  Brinsmade  m.  Sarah,  dau.  of  Daniel  Kellogg,  of  Norwich.  He 
d.  in  Oct.,  1702,  and  his  widow  m.  John  Betts,  of  Norwalk.  Daniel  and  Sarah 
Brinsmade  had  children  :  Mary,  1684 ;  Daniel,  1687  ;  Abigail,  1691  ;  Samuel, 
1694;  Ruth,  1700. 

Daniel  Brinsmade,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah,  m.  Mercy  (or  Mary)  about 
1715.     She  was  b.  in  1696,  and  d.   in  1731,  Oct.  35.     He  then  m.    Hannah 

,  of  New  Haven,  in  1732.     By  his  first  wife  he  had  Mary,  b.  May, 

\1l^;  Daniel,  July,  1118  ;  Hannah,  May,  1720;  Abraham,  Feb.,  1726-7; 
Mary  m.  Israel  Munson  ;  Hannah  m.  Abraham  Hawley ;  Daniel  m.  Rhoda 
Sherman  ;  Abraham  m.  Mary  Wheeler,  Jan.,  1747-8. 

Daniel,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mercy,  m.  Rhoda  Sherman. 

Abraham  Brinsmade,  son  of  Daniel,  settled  at  Trumbull,  and  has  de- 
ecendents  there. 

Zechariah,  son  of  Paul,  m.  Sarah  Cobbett,  of  Fairfield,  Oct.,  1710.  They 
had  10  children. 


CAPEWELL  FAMILY. 


This  family  was  descended   from  How  Capell,  of  Hereford.    The  descend- 
ants spell  the  name  Capewell. 
Arms. — Chequy  or.  and  az.,  on  a  fesse  gu.,  three  mascles  az. 


1476  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Crest. — A  plume  of  three  Ostrich  Feathei's,  two  az.  and  ope  gu. 

Motto. — Fide  et  fortitudine. 

Mark  Capewell,  father  of  George  and  Joseph.  Mark  Capewell  was  born 
in  Dudley,  England,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  Lord  Hanks,  in  the  Glass 
Works,  and  m.  Mary  Southall,  of  Birmingham  Heath.  SBe  was  sister  to 
William  and  Joseph  Southall,  of  Dudley.  Josejih  Southall  was  a  Constable 
in  Dudley,  and  William  was  a  Nail  Manufacturer  in  Dudley. 

Mary  Southall,  wife  of  Mark  Campbell,  was  mother  to  Oeorge,  Joseph  and 
Mark  Capewell,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1840,  and  have  resided  in 
this  town  since  that  date,  except  that  Mark  Capewell  d.  Sept.  27th,  1854,  and 
left  two  children:  George  Joseph  and  Eliza. 

George  Joseph,  son  of  Mark,  m.  in  West  Cheshire,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  has  two  children. 

Eliza,  d.  of  Mark,  m.  James  Bates  of  Roxbury,  where  they  now  reside,  and 
have  two  children. 

Joseph  Thomas,  was  b.  in  England,  December  1st,  1818,  and  married  Sarah 
Pitt,  Aug.  7th,  1838,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Pitt.  Sarah  Pitt  was  born 
June  8th,  1820.  Children:  Sarah  Ann,  b.  Oct.  7th,  1840.  Married  July  1st, 
1858,  Henry  S.  Conrad.  He  d.  in  the  U.  S.  service.  She  afterwards  m.  George 
Warner  of  Woodbury,  and  now  resides  in  Watertown  ;  John  Pitt,  b.  Aug.  2d, 
1842,  d.  Aug.  28th,  1851  ;  Julia,  b.  May  23d,  1844,  m.  Sept.  14th,  1864,  Charles 
E.  Warner,  of  Roxbury  ;  Ennly,  b.  Dec.  8th,  1845,  m.  Oct.  22d,  18G5,  George 
L.  Beardslee,  of  Bridgewater ;  Ellen,  b.  Jan.  10th,  1848,  m.  Dec.  3d,  1870, 
Frank  J.  Atwood  ;  Joseph  Thomas,  b.  June  10th,  1851,  d.  July  I5th,  1861; 
Walter  Stanley,  b.  June  I6th,  1853. 

John  Pitt,  father  of  Sarah  Capewell,  was  b.  in  England,  Dec.  2d,  1791 ; 
served  seven  years  in  the  British  army  under  the  Duke  of  Wellington  ;  was 
wounded  by  a  bombshell,  and  afterwards  got  his  discharge  and  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  Feb.,  1848,  and  d.  19th  of  Aug.,  1870,  aged  79  ;  George  Au- 
gustus, b.  Jan  27th,  1817,  m.  May  9th,  1836,  dau.  of  Thomas  and  Harriet 
Davis  ;  Harriet  Davis,  b.  Sept.  25th,  1818,  George  Bans,  b.  June  '27th,  1737, 
m.  Nov.  22d,  1866,  Mary  E.  Judson,  dau.  of  Nathan  S.  and  Flora  Judson  ; 
Caroline  Elizabeth,  b.  Dec.  18th,  1840,  m.  Jas.  Sheldon  Stone,  Dec.  28th,  1858, 
son  of  Sheldon  and  Julia  A.  Stone;  Marcus  Augusttis,  b.  ,Jan.  8th,  1843,  d, 
Jan.  nth,  1843  ;  Mary  Ann,  b.  April  30th,- 1845,  m.  April  30th,  1867,  Charles 
Henry  Percy,  son  of  Clement  and  Louisa  Percy  ;  Martha  Louesa,  b.  Oct.  28th, 
1848,  d.  Feb.  27th,  1862  ;  Seymour  Landon,  b  Dec.  14th,  1849  ;  Hannah  Eliza, 
b.  Sept.  22d,  1853,  d.  Feb.  7th,  1857;  John  Edward,  b.  June  17th,  1856; 
Harriet  Amelia,  b.  March  22d,  1858 ;  Frank  Eugene,  b.  Aug.  37th,  1860 ; 
James  Henry,  b.  Marah  15th,  1863,  d.  same  day. 


CRAFTS  FAMILY. 
During  the  early  settlement  of  Massachusetts,  two  brothers  by  the  name  of 
Crafts  emigrated  from  Great  Britain  and  settled  at  Newtown,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston,  Mass.  One  of  the  brothers  died  leaving  no  posterity  ;  the  other 
left  a  number  of  children,  some  in  Newtown,  and  some  in  Boston  and  its 
vicinity.  And  it  is  believed  from  this  original  stock,  all  who  bear  the  name 
of  Crafts  within  the  United  States,  descended.    Of  these,  Samuel  Crafts 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY,  1477 

came  from  Newtown  and  settled  in   Pomfret,  Conn.,  in  lOSfi.     Jasrpli,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  son  of  Samuel,  m.  Susannah ,  and  d.  Jan.  2r)tli,  1754. 

His  wife  d.  Aug.  38th,  aged  84. 

Joseph  had  nine  sons  and  six  daughters.  These  children  were  Siimniiah, 
b.  Sept.  23d,  1720,  m.  Abial  Lyon,  and  d.  Sept.  2d,  1748 ;  Samuel,  b.  July  15th, 
1722  ;  Joseph,  b.  July  4th,  1724;  Mary,h  Nov.  27th,  1725  ;  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept. 
12th,  1727;  Mehetuble,  b.  March  27th,  1728;  Hannah,  b.  March  8th,  1730; 
Joseph,  h.  March  8th,  1782;  Benjamin,  b.  Feb  20th,  1734;  Orifflji,  h.  Feb. 
21st,  1736,  d.  May  llth,  1737;  Orijin,  b.  July  9th,  1738,  d.  Jan.  20th,  1743; 
Ebenezer,  b.  Sept.  22d,  1738  ;  Erands,  b.  Jan.  27th,  1743 ;  Moses,  b.  April  15th, 
1744;  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  6th,  174G,  d.  Jan.  20,  1750. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  Judith  Crafts:  Griffin,  h.  July  18th,  1748; 
Sarah,  b.  April  13th,  1750.  Edward,  b.  April  19th,  1752,  d.  March  I7th, 
1821;  Samuel,  h.  May  19th.  1754,  d.  Jan.  23d,  1755;  Samuel,  b.  Jan  15th, 
1761 ;  John,  b. . 

Children  of  Joseph  and  Crafts  :  Samuel,  John,  Royal,  Polly  and 

Susan. 

Children  of  Benjamin  and  Aijna  Crafts:  Susannah,  b.  Jan.  2d,  17G2,  d, 
Sept.  21st,  1764;  Frederick,  b.  Oct.  llth,  1763;  Susannah,  b.  Nov.  23d,  1765; 
Gardner,  b.  Jan.  Ist,  1768  ;  Benjamin,  b.  March  4th,  1770  ;  Anna,  b.  July  5th, 
1772  ;  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  I5th,  1774;  Hannah,  b.  July  13th,  1777;  Moses,  b.  July 
4th,  1780,  d.  Aug.  18th,  1780. 

Children  of  Col.  Ebenezer  and Crafts  :  Gov.  Samuel  C,  Matilda, 

who  m.  Mr.  Corbin  ;  Augusta,  who  m.   Dr.   Paddock,  and  two  dau.  who  d. 
young. 

Children  of  Griffin  and  Hannah  Crafts  :  Elizabeth,  m.  Martin  Bridge; 
Judith,  m.  Erastus  Lathpp ;  Sabrina,  m.  Wm.  Campbell ;  Mehetabel,  m.  A. 
Grover  ;  Erastus  and  Alfred,  ch.  by  Sarah,  his  second  wife ;  infant  son  d. ; 
Sarah  Emily,  infant,  d. ;  Samuel. 

Dr.  Edward  Crafts  m.  Ist  Abigail  Clark,  b  1759,  d.  Oct.  23d,  1795  ;  2d, 
Ann  Baldwin,  b.  1759,  d.  June  8th,  1813;  3d,  Mellissa  Holbrook,  b.  1769,  d. 
Jan.  19th,  1844.  Children  by  first  wife :  Julia,  b.  1781,  d.  Sept.  16th,  1801; 
Samuel,  b.  1783,  d.  at  sea  June  5th,  1810;  Pea/rl,  b.  1785,  d.  Dec.  29th,  1821 ; 
Chauncey,  b.  June  1st.  1787,  d.  Oct.  13th,  1828  ;  Laura,  b.  1789,  d.  June  15th, 
1805;  Edward,  b.  1790,  d.  Feb.  20th,  1892  ;  Edward,  b.  1794,  d.  Nov.  1826. 

Dr.  Pearl,  son  of  Edward,  m.  Sarah  Blakeley.  Children  :  Edward  B.,  b. 
Jan.  13th,  1814  ;  Elizabeth  M.,  b.  May  30th.  1816.  Married  Edward  S.  Clark; 
Jidia  M.,  b.  Dec.  31st,  1817,  d.  Oct.  I4th,  1818  :  Samuel  P.,  b.  1820,  d.  July 
31st,  1833. 

Gen.  Chauncey,  son  of  Dr.  Edward,  m.  Maria  Bacon,  Sept.  llth,  1811 ;  she 
was  b.  Sept.  3d,  1794,  d.  Aug.  26th,  1859.  Children:  A  dau.  b.  May  30th 
1813,  d.  same  day  ;  Julia  Maria,  b.  Aug.  30th,  1814,  m.  Rev.  B.  Y.  Messenger, 
Feb.  7th,  1838,  d.  Aug.  35th,  1839  ;  twins  b.  July  1st,  1816,  d.  same  day ; 
Charles  Bacon,  b.  July  18th,  1817,  m.  Cornelia  A.  Trowbridge,  Sept.  llth, 
1868;  Chamicey.h.  March  30th,  1820,  d.  June  18th,  1841;  Rebecca  Bacon,  h. 
May  7th,  1822,  m.  Wm.  B.  Hotchkiss,  June  6th,  1843,  Their  ch.  were  Lydia 
T.  C,  b.  Ju!y  3d,  1846;   William  Jodah,  b.  Jan.  6th,  1850  ;  Chauncey  Crafts, 

b.  Oct.  28th,  1852  ;  James, ;  Samuel  Pearl,  b.  March  30th,  1824  ;  Fanny 

A.,  b.  June  4th,  1826,  m.  1st,  Samuel  W.  Andrew,  Jan.  4th,  1848,  and  had 


14V8  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

Samuel  W.  Andrew,  Jr„  h.  April  20th,  1849  ;  m.  2d,  Wm.  S.  Charnley. 
Children:  Fanny  Adele,  b.  June  22d,  1856,  d.  March  1st,  1864  ;  Edith,  b.  Aug. 
3d,  1861  ;  George  Bethume,  b.  July  26th,  18G4;  Lydia  lliompson,  b.  Dec.  2d, 
1828,  d.  July  25th,  1846. 

Edward  B..  son  of  Dr.  Pearl,  m.  Sarah  Ann  Thompson,  Oct.  15th,  1845. 
Children :  Elizabeth,  b.  July  25th,  1848  ;  Edward,  b.  Dec.  29th,  1850  ;  John  Y., 
b.  Jan.  8th,  1852,  d.  Sept.  20th,  1852. 

Samuel  Pearl,  son  of  Gen.  Chauncey,  m.  Sarah  A.  Thompson,  July  13tli, 
1859.     Child :  JVellie,  b.  July  23d,  1860,  "d.  July  9th,  1862.  . 


COLTON  FAMILY. 

A  considerable  i^art  of  the  following  Genealogical  record  was  taken  from  a 
manuscript  left  by  Rev.  George  Colton,  of  Bolton,  Conn.,  who  was  a  great- 
grand-son  of  George  the  Ancestor,  or  Pilgrim. 

The  record  is  principally  confined  to  the  descendants  of  Ephraim,  the  second 
son  of  the  Pilgrim,  through  Benjamin,  his  fifth  son. 

The  account  of  this  branch,  in  the  original  manuscript,  is  brought  down  to 
the  time  of  George,  who  was  the  son  of  Benjamin,  and  gives  the  names  of 
Benjamin's  children,  with  those  whom  they  married,  where  the  account 
ceases. 

Three  or  four  generatio;i8  have  since  appeared,  and  the  descendants  of 
Benjamin  are  numerous.  Their  names  and  alliances,  as  many  as  could  be 
ascertained,  have  been  here  recorded,  taken  principally  from  the  recollections 
of  one  who  has  been  familiar  with  their  history.  The  part  thus  added  occu- 
pies about  one-third  of  the  succeeding  pages.  Much  difficulty  was  found  in 
transcribing  some  portions  of  the  manuscript  of  Rev.  George  Colton,  owing 
to  the  apparent  endeavor  of  the  author,  (no  uncommon  thing  we  believe  with 
writers  of  that  day),  to  crowd  the  greatest  number  of  words  into  the  small- 
est quantity  of  space,  the  faculty  of  doing  which  he  seems  to  have  possessed 
in  a  good  degree,  and  to  have  exercised,  ad  libitum.  Consequently  many 
abbreviations  occurred  not  to  be  found  in  the  list  in  Webster's  Spelling  Book, 
and  not  a  little  puzzling,  making  the  exercise  of  copying  often  slow  and  per- 
plexing. 

Such  care  however  has  been  taken  that  very  few  mistakes,  it  is  believed, 
have  been  made,  and  the  copy  may  be  considered  mostly  correct. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  this  history  is  so  defective  in  regard  to 
dates  and  localities,  and  yet,  imperfect  as  it  is,  it  will  be  highly  valued  by  all 
who  feel  an  interest  in  the  Colton  Family. 

George  Colton,  the  first  of  the  family,  of  whom  we  have  any  record, 
came  from  Sutton  Cofield,  England  and  settled  in  that  part  of  the  old  town 
of  Springfield,  called  Long-Meadow,  where  he  is  known  in  the  records  as 
Quartermaster  Colton.  He  came  first  to  Windsor,  and  married  Deborah 
Gardner,  of  Hartford.  They  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz  :  Isaac,  b. 
Nov.  21st.  1646,  d.  Sept.  3d.  1770;  Ephraim,  b.  April  9th,  1648,  d.  1715; 
Mary,  b.  1649  ;  Thomas,  b.  1651,  d.  1728;  SaraJi,  b.  1653;  Deborah,  b.  1655, 
d.  1783  ;  Hepzibah,  b.  1657;  John,  b.  1659,  d.  1727  ;  Benjamin,  b.  1661. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1479 

Deborah,  liis  w'ife,  d.  Sept.  5th,  1689.  His  second  wife  was  Lydia  Lamb, 
whom  hem,  March  1st,  1693.    George  and  Lydia  d.  the  same  year,  1699. 

JSAACjn.  Mary  Cooper,  from  Springfield,  Mass.,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons  and  four  dau.,  Oeorge,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Deborah  and 
Hannnh. 

George  m.  Mary  Hitclicock,  by  whom  he  had  four  s.  and  five  dau.,  Timo- 
thy, Oeorge,  Isaac,  Jonathan,  Mary,  Saiah,  Rebecca,  Elizabtih  and  Miriam. 

Joseph,  second  son  of  Isaac,  m.  Abiline  Chapin,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  by 
whom  he  had  two  s.  and  four  dau.,  Joseph,  Gideon,  Mary,  Hannah,  Dinah 
and  Mary. 

Benjamin,  third  son  of  Isaac,  m.  Elizabeth  Pynchion,  by  whom  he  had 
fifteen  or  sixteen  children,  some  of  whom  were,  Benjamin,  Charles,  Isaac, 
Oideon  and  William. 

Mary,  first  dau.  of  first  Isaac,  m.  Daniel  Graves. 

Rebecca,  second  dau.,  m.  Joseph  Stebbins. 

Deborah,  third  d.,  m. Morgan. 

Hannah,  fourth,  m.  Benjamin  Chapin. 

Ephraim:,  second  son  of  the  Pilgrim,  or  Quartermaster,  m.  Mary  Drake,  of 
Windsor,  by  whom  he  had  four  s.,  Ephraim,  Samiuel,  Josiah  and  Job. 

Mary  d.  Oct.  19th,  1681.  He  m.  2d,  Esther  Marshall,  or  Mari^hfield,  March 
25th,  1685.  Children:  Josiah,  Benjamin,  David,  Isaac,  Nathaniel,  Noah, 
Thomas,  Esther,  Sarah,  Margaret  and  Mary. 

Ephraim  1st,  s.  of  Ephraim,  m.  Magaret  Nolle,  of  Weathersfield,  Conn. 
Children  :  Ephraim,  John,  Samuel,  Mary,  Deborah,  Jerusha,  Demaris,  Han- 
nah ;  Ephraim  m.  Sarah  Burt ;  John  d.  young;  Samuel  m.  Mary  Store  ;  Debo- 
rah m. Store  ;  Jerusha  m.  David  Burt ;  Hannah  m.  Stephen  Heep. 

Samuel,  2d  s.  of  1st  Ephraim,  m.  1st,  Margaret  Bliss,  by  whom  he  had  a 
dau.,  who  m.  Capt.  Frost,  and  a  s.  Samuel,  who  m.  Flavia  Colton.  Married 
3d,  Lucy  Colton. 

Josr.\H,  fourth  s.  of  lat  Ephraim,  m.  Margaret  Pease,  of  Enfield. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  1st  Ephraim,  and  grandson  of  the  Pilgrim,  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  West  Hartford,  Feb.  34th,  1713,  and 
continued  his  labors  there  till  his  death,  March  1st,  1759.  He  m.  1st,  Ruth 
Taylor.  Children  :  EU,  Benjamin,  Ruth  and  Theodosia.  Married  3d,  Eliza- 
beth Pitkin,  of  East  Hartford.  Children :  Lueina,  Elizabeth,  Abijah,  Esther 
and  George. 

Ei,i,  first  8.  of  Rev.  Benjamin,  m.  Eunice  Smith,  of  Simsbury.  CliiUlren  : 
Jonathan,  Samuel,  Eliakim,  Eunice.  Eliakim  m.  Betsey  Viets;  Jonathan  m. 
Ist,  Alenda  Wells,  m.  3d,  Mirriam  Benton  ;  Eunice  m.  Josejdi  Iligby. 

Benjamin,  second  s.  of  Benjamin,  m.  Anna  Whiting.  Children :  Benja- 
min, Anna,  Joseph  and  Ruth. 

Joseph  m.  Esther  Belden,  d.  7th  March,  1800.  Children:  Joseph,  h.  \~Mi 
Nov.,.  1776  ;  Anna,  b.  38th  Oct.,  1778  ;  Ruth,  b.  10th  March,  1781  ;  Esther,  b. 
8th  Oct.,  1783;   Benjamin,  l^.  I6th  Jan.,  1785;    Laura,  b.  33d   Dec,  1786; 

Alma,  b.  8th  June,  1790  ;  Sarah,  b. ;   Whiting,  b.  4tli  March,  1793  ; 

Benjamin,  b.  30th  Oct.,  1794,  n.  April  21st,  1850;  James,  h.  5tli  Ai)ril,  1797. 

Laura,  b.  Dec  32d,  1786,  m.  Dr.  Samuel  Steele,  Nov.  6th,  1811.  Children  : 
Laura  Sophia,  b.   March  4th,  1813,  m.  Wm.  E.  Woodruff,  April  23d,  1841  ; 


1480  HISTORY     OF      ANCIBN^T     W  O    )  J)  B  U  K  Y  . 

Eslher  \r.    b.  Oct.  m\A%\^^\^Mary  Joannx,  b.  Nov.  7tli,  1820,   m.  William 
Cothrcn,  Sept.  3d,  1849. 

Alm.^  m.  John  DeForest,  June  16th,  1831,  d.  14th  Jan.,  1868.  Had  one  ch. 
Abigail,  b.  July  15th,  1835,  who  m.  John  A.  Candee,  March  25th,  1845,  and 
have  out!  son.  Eiward  D.,  b  25th  Feb.,  1849'. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Sabrina  Howe.  Children  :  1  Mary,  ^  Melancthon, 
3  Charles,  "^  N'tthemiaJi,  And  o  J, )S:^,ph  1  Mary  in.  Dr.  Edwnrd  Brace,  of  West 
Hartford,  Conn  Ohild:  John  M  O.,  who  m.  Mary  Crane,  of  West  Hartford. 
3  Charles  in.  1st,  Mary  Grant;  2d  Ruth  Winship  4  Nehnmiah  was  b.  Nov. 
8th,  1812,  m.  Harriet  Atkins  Leach,  Feb.  22d,  1»-1:4.  Ch'ild  :  Mary  H>m,  b. 
Jan.  5th,  1845. 

Ruth  in.  1st,  Amis  Sedgwick.  Children:  Joseph  Oolton  and  Sabrina 
Sabrina  m.  Gilbert  Somers  Minor  ;  chh.  Frederick  M.,  m.  Samantha  Frank, 
lin.  Children  :  Thomas  B.,  Ellen  F.,  and  Seth'  Franklin.  Sabrina  F., 
m.  Alfred  F.  Betts.  Children  :  Sabrina  F,  Gilbert  S.,  Walter  W.,  and  Edwin 
M.,  m.  3d,  Daniel  Hosraer.  Child  :  Maria,  m.  Richard  Parsons,  and  has  two 
children. 

Esther  m.  John  Perkins,  d  May  27th,  1847,  and  was  buried  in  Woodbury, 
aged  (i'i.  Her  mother,  Esther  Colton,  d.  in  Woodbury,  Aug.  30th,  1826. 
Children;  ^  Laura,  and  '^  Lucy  Ann.  1  Laura  was  b.  Jan.  2d,  1805,  m. 
Marcus  DeFore.st,  Jan.  22d,  1822,  d  Feb.  7th,  1862.  Marcus  DeForest  was  b. 
July  6th,  1794.  Children:  ^  John  Perkins,  b.  Feb.  23d,  1823;  ^George,  b. 
Jan.  15th,  1825,  d.  April  2d,  1871  ;  ^  Marcm,  Jr.,  b.  Aug  27th,  1826;  '^Lucy 
Ann,  b.  Jan  13th,  1833.  1  John  P.,  m  Mary  Jane  Morris,  Feb.  10th,  1847. 
Children:  Emily  Mmis,  b.  Nov.  2  )th,  1849;  Martha  Jane,  b.  Nov.  18th, 
1853;  J^hn  L''.si,  b,  July  231,  1856,  d.  July  30th,  18>8  ;  Mary,  b.  Aug,  27th, 
i860,  d.  25th  Sept.,  1863;  Charles  Eli.  2  George  in.  Mary  A.  Linsley,  Oct. 
3d,  1849.  Child  :  George  L.,  b.  July  15th,  1851.  3  Marcus,  Jr.,  m.  Mary  Hine, 
of  Middlebury,  Dec.  29th,  1839.  He  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  success- 
ful practitioner  of  medicine  in  the  town  of  Middlel)ury.  4  Lucy  Ann  m. 
David  S.  Bull,  March  12th,  1860.  Children:  Laura  Elizabeth,  \>.  Nov.  9th, 
1861 ;  Thinvts  Mircas.  b.  Aug.  27th,  1863  :  Lucy  Emily,  b.  Aug.  lOth.  1805, 
d.  Nov.  28th,  1871. 

Benj.X-MIN  m.  Jerusha  W.  Porter,  of  Hadley,  Mass.  He  d.  April  21  st,  1850, 
aged  57.  '  She  d.  Feb.  27th  1825,  aged  28.  Children  ;  1  Julia  M.,  D.  Marcli 
2d,  1819,  ra.  Theodore  Judson.  March  11th,  1852.  He  was  b.  Feb.  7th,  1818. 
2  Harriet,  b.  March  5th,  1820,  d.  Nov.  19th,  1852,  m.  Henry  Lambert. 
Children:  Wilaur  Colton,  b.  Dec  17th,  1846;  Margaret  Emily,  b.  March  2d, 
1851.  Z Benjamin  AuguMin,h  April  2d,  183',  m. Catherine  Williams,  Jan.  9th 
1851.  '^Frederick  Pierpont,  b.  April  20th,  1823,  ra.  Ann  Maria  Austin,  Oct. 
22d,  I8l5.  Children:  i?!/ya/«,!;/i  S\ipn9wr,  b.  May  17th,  1848,  d.  Aug.  Ist, 
1851  ;  Julia  Maria,  b.  July  16th,  1851. 

The  author  has  a  large  numl)er  of  additional  names  in  this  family,  but  as 
not  a  single  date  is  furnished,  it  is  not  thought  best  to  insert  them. 

Rev.  Willis  S.  Colton,  furnishes  the  following  in  regard  to  his  branch 
of  his  family : 

(1.)  My  great  grandfather.  Rev.  Bkn.i.wiin  Colton,  lineal  descendant  of 
George  Colton,  of  the  north  of  England,  and  of  Puritan  stock,  was  born  in 
Long-Meadow,  Mass.,  16S7;  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1710.     He  settled   in 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1481 

the  Gospel  Ministry,  over  the  Congregational  Church,  in  West   Hartford, 
Conn.,  1713, and  d.  there  in  1759. 

His  first  wife  was  a  dan.  of  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Westfiekl,  Mass.,  and  d. 
in  172.5,  p.ged  28. 

His  second  wife,  Mary  Pitkin,  was  a  sister  of  Gov.  Wm.  Pitkin,  of  East 
Hartford,  Ct.,  she  d.  in  West  Hartford,  1761  or  '60,  at  the  age  of  70.  Her 
children  were  the  following:  1.  Lusina  C'olton,  who  d.  a  maiden  lady  in  West 
Hartford,  1817,  Dec.  9th,  aged  92;  2.  Ahijah,  my  grandfather,  who  d.  Aug. 
8th,  1815,  aged  85.  He  was  for  many  years  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  West  Hartford  ;  3.  Elizabeth,  who  m.  Josiah  Steele,  of  same  place, 
and  d.  in  "Vermont,  aged  84;  4.  Oeorge  Colton,  b.  1735,  who  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  for  more  than  forty  years  in  Bolton,  Ct.,  and  d.  there  June 
12th,  1812,  aged  77  ;  Esther,  who  m.  a  Mr.  Allen,  and  her  dau.  Nancy  Allen 
was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Goodrich,  father  of  Prof.  Goodrich  formerly  of  Yale 
College. 

(2.)  The  children  of  Dea.  Abijah  Colton  (my  grandfather)  were  the  fol- 
lowing:  1.  Mary,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Faxon,  of  West  Hartford,  b.  March  30th, 
1775,  d.  1850,  at  74.  They  had  three  or  four  children  ;  2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb. 
1777,  d.  in  West  Hartford,  1859,  aged  82  ;  3.  Oeorge,  b.  Jan,  12th,  1779,  d.  in 
Wethersfield,  Conn.,  Feb.  13th,  1858,  aged  79.  He  was  educated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege; graduated  with  the  Class  of  1804  ;  studied  for  the  ministry  with  Dr. 
Nathan  Perkins  ;  was  a  Home  Missionary  from  1806  to  1808  ;  afterwards  was 
a  Presbyterian  Clergyman  in  New  York  State,  at  Westford,  Otsego,  Oo.,  and 
at  Royalton,  Elba,  and  Wyoming,  in  Niagara  and  Genessee  Counties,  for  many 
years;  1  Chester,  h.  Dec,  1783,  d.  in  Ohio,  1851,  aged  68,  having  had  two 
children  ;  5.  Charles,  b.  March  5th,  1787,  d.  1816,  Jan.  lOth,  aged  29  ;  6.  Rod- 
erick, b.  17'J0,  d.  (I  think)  in  West  Hartford,  in  1863,  aged  73.  He  had  four 
children. 

(3.)  The  children  of  Rev.  George  Colton,  were  as  follows:  1.  John  0.,  b. 
at  Westford,  N,  Y.,  1810,  March  13th,  and  d.  (Pastor  of  the  Chapel  Street 
Church,  New  Haven,  Conn.)  April  20th,  1840,  aged  30;  2.  Oscar  C,  b.  April 
r2th,  181-2,  a  lawyer  by  profession;  3.  Amelia  D.,  b.  Oct.,  1814,  d.  at  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y  ,  1843,  aged  84;  4.  Horace  B  ,  b.  Sept.  29th,  1816,  d.  in  the  Civil 
War,  a  member  of  the  139th  Penu  Vols.,  at  Stafford  Court  House,  Va.,  near 
Fredericksburg,  Dec.  1st,  1862,  aged  46  ;  5.  Oeorge  H.,  b.  Oct.  1818,  d.  in  New 
York  (while  editing  Whig  Review)  in  Dec,  1847;  6.  Theron  0  ,h.  July, 
1820,  now  a  Congregational  Clergyman  in  Whitewater,  Mass  ;  7.  Julia  P.,  b. 
at  Royalton,  N.  Y.,  Oct.,- 1824  ;  8  Henry  M.,  b.  Nov.,  1826,  now  teacliing  a 
Classical  School  in  New  York  City  ;  9.  Willis  S.,  b.  June  25th,  1828,  at  Royal- 
ton, N.  H. ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1850  ;  Avas  Reactor  in  that  Institution 
from  1852  to  1S56;  was  scuttled  in  the  ministry  as  Pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Churcli  at  Wallingford,  Conn.,  Sept.  27th,  1856,  and  installed  as  Pastor 
of  the  Churcli  in  Wasliington,  Conn.,  Aug  22d,  1866. 

Of  my  brothers,  four  are  graduates  of  Yale,  one  obtained  his  tlegree, 
thougli  not  a  graduate,  and  four  have  been  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 


]4S2  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOOUBURT 


COTHREN  FAMILY. 
[Corrections  and  additions  to  page  524.] 


7.  Jane  (Cothren)  Fish,  b.  15tli  Aug.  1770,  and  d.  at  North  Anson,  Maine, 
Jan.  31,  1869,  in  tlie  99tli  year  of  her  age. 

22.  William,  b.  at  Farmington,  Maine,  Nov.  28,  1819,  graduated  at  Bow- 
doin  College,  in  1843,  received  his  second  degree  there  in  1846,  and  degree  o  f 
Master  of  Arts,  ad  eundem,  at  Yale  College  in  1847.  Eemoved  to  Woodbury, 
Conn.,  Nov.,  1844,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  that  place,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  married  Mary  J.  Steele,  of  Woodbury,  Sept.  3,  1849, 
Chh. :  William  Steele,  b.  Sept.  1,  1850,  d.  April  25,  1858.  Mary  BeUe,{&do]^te6. 
daughter,)  b.  Aug.  25,  1862. 

23.  Charles,  b.  16th  June,  1822.  Grad.  Bowd.  Coll.,  1849.  Resides  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Does  business  in  N.  Y.  City.  He  m.  Ist,  Betsey  Ann  Mitchell, 
who  was  the  widow  of  David  C.  Hinman,  Aug.,  7th,  1854,  chh.  Helen  Flw 
ence  b.  July  28,  1855,  d.  Sept.  2d,  1856.  Sarah  May,  b.  May  31,  1857,  d.  Aug. 
15,  1857.  His  1st  wife  d.  Aug.  3d,  1861.  m.  2d,  Alice  RadcliflF,  Sept.  5th,  1862. 
She  was  born  at  Saddleworth,  England,  Sept.  15th,  1832. 

24.  N.\THANiEL,  b.  June  21,  1825.  Grad.  Bowd.  Coll.,  1849.  Resides  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.  Lawyer  in  New  York  City.  Married  Elizabeth  W.'Corlies,  Eaton- 
town,  N.  J.,  April  2d,  1854.  She  was  b.  July  13,  1838.  Child :  Frank,  How- 
ard, b.  July  1 0th,  1871. 

25.  George  W.,  b.  July  12,  1829.  Married  Eleanor  Hamlin  Craig,  May  9, 
1864.  She  was  b.  Jan.  28,  1840.  Chh.  Mary  Steele,  b.  Oct.  29,  1866,  d.  March 
30,  1870.     Eleanor,  b.  Dec.  25, 1871 — a  Christmas  present. 

26.  Weslly  R.,  b.  Dec.  15,  1837.  Lives  in  Farmington,  Maine.  Married 
Elizabeth  Wendell  Holley,  Dec.  19th,  1861.  She  was  born  Jan.  20,  1842. 
Child  :   WUlinm  Holley,  b.  Sept.  20, 1862. 

30.  Eunice  Cordilia  Cothren,  b.  May  8, 1823.  Married  Albert  F.  Brown, 
who  was  b.  Sept.  4,  1819,  at  Brimfield,  Mass.  They  were  m.  at  Byron,  Ogle 
Co.  111.,  Dec.  8,  1842.  Children  :  Hennetta  Cothren,  b.  Oct.  6,  1844  ;  Edidn,  F. 
b.  Jan.  2,  1847  ;  d.  13th  Jan.,  1847  ;  Charles  F.  b.  May  20,  1849  ;  George  //.,  b. 
March  21,1851;  Esther  Julia,  b.  April  9,  1854;  Cora  Cordelia,  b.  April  IL 
1858  ;  Albert  Chester,  b.  Dec.  25,  1859  ;  Sila  Perm,  b.  Sept.  30,  1863. 

34.  Charles  F.,  m.  Mary  A.  Sage,  Jan.  1868. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      M'  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y. 


1483 


35.  Mart  Isabella,  m.  Lieut.  Henry  P.  Ayres,  of  the  77th  Illinois  Vols., 
Oct.  13,  1864. — Have  had  two  children  ;  one,  deceased. 

9.  Peter,  p.  522,  d.  at  Woods  Hotel,  Mass.,  May  27ih  1864. 

20.  Emily,  p.  523,  d.  childless  in  1852.  Capt.  David  m.  Lydia  A.  Wilson,  of 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  1845. 

8.   Willinm,  p.  522,  d.  at  Martinique,  West  Indies,  instead  of  at  Havana. 


Evergreen  Bower. 


CRANE  FAMILY. 

Most  persons  bearing  the  name  of  Crane,  who  have  lived  in  Connecticut, 
descended  from  "  Benjamin,  of  Wethersfield,"  or  "  Henry,  of  Guilford."  These 
two  men  were  in  business  together  in  Wethersfield,  as  early  as  1G58,  and 
may  have  been  brothers  ;  but  there  is,  so  far  as  now  known,  no  record  of 
the  time  or  place  of  their  birth.  Benjamin  was  born  about  the  year  1630, 
and  Henry,  about  the  year  1636.  Henry  left  Wethersfield  in  1662,  or  earlier, 
and  removed  to  Guilford.  He  soon  after  married  Concurrence  Meigs,  daugh 
ter  of  John  Meigs,  Sen.  ;  another  daughter.  Trial  Meigs,  married  Andrew 
Ward,  the  ancester  (maternal)  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

John  Meigs'  home  lot  adjoined  the  Piablic  Square  in  Guilford,  and  is  the 
same  now  occupied  and  owned  by  R.  D.  Smith,  Esq. 

About  the  time  of  Henry  Crane's  marriage,  the  settlement  of  Killingworth 
was  projected,  and  appears  to  have  been  stimulated  by  a  great  variety  of  re. 
ligious  and  political  disturbances. 

Henry  Crane,  being  then  young,  enterprising,  and  com])aratively  poor  in 
worldly  goods,  and,  withal,  a  man  calculated  to  lead,  rather  than  to  be  led 
cast  his  fortunes  into  this  new  enterprise.  Ho  is  recorded  as  one  of  the 
tliirty  original  planters  of  Killingworth,  in  1665,  and  soon  after  permanently 
located  there.     The  deed  of  Uncas,  in  1669,  conveying  a  large  portion  of  the 

41 


1484  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

lands  in  the  township,  is  attested  by  his  signature.  His  whole  life,  in  this 
community,  till  his  death  in  1711,  was  one  of  unselfish  devotion  to  the  pub- 
lic good.  He  took  an  active  and  leading  part  in  all  public  affairs,  civil  and 
religious.  He  was  Captain  of  the  militia,  magistrate,  and  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Court  of  Connecticut,  during  twenty-seven  sessions,  from  1678  to 
1702.  The  confidence  reposed  in  his  honesty,  wisdom,  and  sound  judgment, 
is  attested  by  the  frequency  with  which  he  was  called  to  serve  on  committees 
and  arbitrations  involving  varied  and  important  questions  relating  to  private 
and  public  affairs. 

Henry  Crane,  *  m.  Concurrence  Meigs,  dau.  of  John  Meigs  *  of  Guilford, 
about  1663  ;  she  died  in  Killingworth,  Oct.  9,  1708  ;  he  then  married  Dec.  26, 
1709,  Deborah  Champion,  widow  of  Henry  Champion,. of  Lyme.  He  died 
April  33d,  1711 ;  after  Mr  Crane's  death,  she  married  Richard  Towner.  Had 
children,:  ''John,  b.  about  1664;  *  Elizabeth,  h.-ahoxit  1666,  and  d.  Nov.  33d, 
1686  ;  '  Mary,  b.  Aug.  33d,  1670  ;  '  Phcvbc,  b.  Dec  24,  1663,  who  married  John 
Kelsey,  Jr.,  June  37,  1697.  '  TheophilH.%h.  Jan.  5,  1675  ;  "  Abegail,  b.  April  3, 
1676,  and  died  in  infancy  ;  '  Henry,  b.  Oct.  35, 1677  ;  '  Mercy,  b.  June  21, 1680, 
who  married  John  Hoadley,of  Branford,  and  ^  Nathaniel,  h.  Aug.  7,  1682,  and 
d.  Nov.  17,  1683. 

Of  these  three  surviving  sons,  John  and  Theophilus,  and  the  families  de- 
scendent  from  them  during  two  generations,  remained,  for  the  most  part,  in 
Killingworth,  (now  Clinton,)  but  Henry  removed  to  Durham. 

John,''  eldest  son,  married  Martha  Daggett,  of  Behoboth,  Mass.,  May  28th, 
1694;  he  died  Oct.  18th,  1711;  had  six  children:  ^  John,  b.  March  23d,  1695, 
who  d.  leaving  no  issue,  Feb.  15,  1732;  '^  Hannah,  h.  Aug.  28th,  1697,  and 
married  Jos.  Seward,  Jr.  of  K.,  April  26th,  1720;  ""Jane,  b.  Feb.  10,1701! 
Married  Isaac  Kelsey,  April  2dj  1733  ;  *  Ebenezer,  b.  May  19th,- 1703,  and  mar- 
ried Ann  Wilcox,  Sept.  6th,  l'/33,  and  d.  April  13th,  1736  ;  ^  Concurrence,  b. 
June  4th,  1709  ;  married  Jeremiah  Stevens,  March  9th,  1732,  and  *  Eleanor,  b. 
Aug.  25,  1711,  married  Peter  Hull,  Sept.  5th  1737. 

This  John  Crane  was  a  man  very  much  after  his  father's  pattern  ;  enterpri- 
sing, intelligent,  self-reliant,  and  in  all  his  aspirations  and  endeavors,  thor. 
oughly  devoted  to  the  public  good.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Court 
for  thirteen  sessions  ;  from  1703  to  171 1 — the  year  of  his  death.  He  received 
a  Captains  commission  in  1708,  and  commanded  a  company  in  the  expedition 
against  Canada,  in  1711,  and  died  in  New  York  City,  in  Oct.  of  that  year ;  ex- 
hausted and  diseased  by  the  hardships  and  exposures  of  that  disastrous  cam- 
paign. The  expenses  of  his  funeral  in  New  York  were  paid  by  the  Colony  of 
Conn.,  by  vote  of  the  General  Court,  the  same  being  "  nineteen  pound,  eleven 
shillings  and  sixpence." 

TiiEOPUiLUS, '  second  son  of  Henry,  '  married  Margaret  Lane,  Dec.  5th, 
1699;  he  died  Oct.  26th,  1732.  Children:  ^ Nnthaniel,  b.  Jan.  18th,  1701; 
'  Theophilus,  b.  June  25th,  1703,  and  died  in  early  Ufe  ;  ^ Elizabeth,  \>.  Dec.  20th, 
1705;  married  Josiah  Baldwin,  Jan  29,  17.30;  *  Mar'/.h.  March  4th,  1707; 
'' Mnrgaret.h.  Sept.  26th,  1710,  d.  May  Ist,  1714;  ^Jemima,  b.  April  33d,  1713, 
married  Daniel  Lane  Jan.  8th,  1736;  \Tohn,  b.  March  3l6t,  1730. 

Henry  Cr.vne,*  youngest  son  of  Henry,'  removed  to  Durham  in  1708.  at 
the  commencement  of  that  settlement,  and  was  one  os  the  most  esteemed 


HISTORY      OF      AJSrCTKNT      WOODBURY.  1485 

and  influential  men  in  that  community  ;  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  from  1738 
to  1740,  Representative  to  the  State  Leofislature  for  twenty  eight  sessions, 
from  1718  to  17;J9.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  Church  in  Durham  at  its 
organization,  in  1710,  and  pertbrmed  th^  duties  of  this  office  with  signal  use- 
fulness and  acceptance,  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1741 — and  was  Captain 
of  the  militia  as  well. 

He  married  Abigail  F'lood,  of  Wethersfield,  Jan.  27th.,  1703  :  he  died  A\n'i\ 
lltli,  1741  ;  she  died  Aug.  31  st,  1754,  aged  78  years.  Had  children  ;  '  ^'i7««, 
b.  at  Killingworth,  Jan.  2oth,  I70o  ;  *  Ileiiry,  b.  in  Durh;»m,  March  30th,  171 1  ; 
*  Concurrence,  b.  March  2.jth,  1708  ;  married  Nathaniel  Seward;  *  Abigail,  b. 
June  6th,  1713,  and  died  June  35th  1734. 

Silas,'  son  of  Henry,''  married  Mercy  Griswold,  dau.  of  Samuel  Uriswold. 
Nov.  37,  1739  ;  he  d.  Jan.  I5th,  1763  ;  she  d.  Aug.  39,  1783.  Children  :  'Ahi- 
^ai7,  b. 'Sept.  1 0th,  1730 ;  married  Brotherton  Seward,  of  Durham,  who  re 
moved  to  Norfolk  ;  ^  Jesse,  b.  June  5th,  1733  ;  married  widow  Rebecca  Sew- 
ard, March  3d  1763,  and  probably  had  no  children;  ^  Flood,  b.  Feb.  13,  1734; 

d.  June  3,  1743 .  *  Silas,  h.  Nov.  9th  1737  ;  married  Lucretia ;  ^  Robert, 

b.  Feb.  18th,  1739;  ^Ed,  b.  Nov.  37th,  1743;  '  Flood,  b.  Feb.  27th,  1745,  who 
d.  Jan.  6th,   1763;  ^  Iluldah,  b.  April  30t.h,  1748,  married  Gurdon  Hull,  Nov 
10th,  1773  ;  ^ Ruth,  b.  Dec.  I3th,  1749,  who  probably  never  married;  "  Fred, 
erir.k,  b.  Feb.  24th,  1753,  married  Ann  Babcock,  Jan.  1st,  1778;  ^^  JYathan,  b. 
Sept.  18th,  1754,  and  died  in  1771. 

Henry,'  son  of  Henry ,'^  lived  near  his  brother  Silas,  in  Durham.  Their 
father,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  a  very  large  land  holder,  and  these  two 
sons  divided  the  land  by  a  partition  deed,  conveying  to  Henry  358  acres,  and 
to  Silas,  391  acres,  besides  undivided  laud  rights.  He  married  Mercy  Francis, 
of  Wethersfield,  June  7th,  1833;  he  died  Fe').  1st,  1768;  she  died,  Sept.  19th 
1786,  aged  77.  He  had  children  :  '  John,  b.  March  37,  1733,  who  died  Dec.  12th, 
1736 ;  ^Elihu,  b.  June  24, 1735,  married  Mary  Fowler.  April  3Gth,  1759  ■,^  PJuv^ 
he,  b.  Feb.  6th,  1738,  married  Jonas  Bishop,  Jan.  20th,  1763  ;  *  Mary,  b.  Nov. 
24,  1739;  '  John,  b.  July  1st,  1741,  married  Abigail  Camp,  April  7th,  1762  ; 
'  Concurrence,  h.  Nov.  14th,  1744,  married  John  Johnson,  July  5th,  1765  ; 
Mw?i,  b.  Oct.  8th,  1746,  married  Daniel  Hall,  Sept.  31st,  1766;  *  Henry,  h. 
Dec.  11th,  1748,  married  Jerusha  Parmelee,  June  34th,  1773  ;  ^  Enos,  b.  x\ug. 
10th,  1751,  and  died  Aug.  38th,  1751. 

Robert  Crane,''  son  of  Silas  Crane,'  was  married  in  Durham,  by  Rev. 
Elizur  Goodrich,  to  Mary  Camp,  dau.  of  Eleazar  Camp,  Oct.  31st,  1765.  He 
removed  from  Durham  to  Bethlehem,  April  7th,  1769  ;  bought  the  farm  of 
Hezekiah  Hooker,  near  the  Woodbury  line ;  Mr.  Hooker  having  been  one  of 
the  first  settlers.  His  two  eldest  children,  Mary  and  Robert,  w^ere  born  and 
baptized  in  Durham  ;  the  others  in  Bethlehem.  Children :  '  Mary,  b.  Aug. 
7th,  1767  ;  ''Robert,  b.  Nov.  13th,  1768  ;  ^3IoUy,  b.  May,  1770  and  died  in  May, 
1835  ;  *  Achsnh,  b.  April,  1772,  married  Augustus  Ray,  and  died  at  Monticello, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  29th,  1813  ;  '  Eleazer,  b.  Dec.  28th,  1773 ;  "  Jesse,  b.  in  1775  and  d 
when  six  wec^ks  old  ;  '  Phinelias,  b.  Oct.  10th,  1777 ;  "  Sarah,  b.  in  1781,  mar- 
ried Charles  Prindle. 

Ei.EA'/AR  Crane,*  son  of  Robert,^  married  Anna  Prudden,  Dec.  9th,  17i)8  ; 
lived  in  Woodbury  and  Bethhdiem,  afterward  removt'd  to  New  Hampshire, 
and  frcmi  thence  to  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  where  he  died,  June  I4th,  1839.     His 


1486  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

widow  d.  in  Bethlehem,  April  3d,  1859.  Children:  ^  Emeline,  b.  Jan.  1st 
1800,  married  William  Judson  in  1834  ;  '  Orlando  F.,  b.  May  13tli,  1803,  mar! 
ried  Esther  Murray,  of  Morris,  and  d.  in  Litchfield,  June  30th,  1866  ;  ^  Sarah 
F.,h.  May  13th,  1804, d.  in  Beloit,  Wi^s.,  march,  1847  .  *  Robert  P.,h.  April  17th 
1807,  and  now  lives  in  Beloit;  ^Nathan  F.,  h.  Dec,  1713,  and  d.  when  18 
months  old. 

Phinehas  Crane,^  son  of  Robert,*  married  Irene  Nichols,  of  Woodbury^ 
Jan.  33d,  1800,  (she  was  the  dau.  of  Gideon  and  Abigail  Nichols,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Nov.  1813,  of  "  New  Milford  Fever.")  Phinehas  Crane,  like 
some  of  his  ancestors,  was,  for  a  time.  Captain  of  the  militia,  and,  later  in 
life,  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  Nov.  17th,  1839.  His  widow  d.  March  30th,  1856.  Children  : 
'  John  N.,  b.  March  17,  1801,  d.  Aug.  10th,  1867  ;  ^  Fanny  C,  b.  Nov.  38th. 
1803,  married  B.  S.  Castle,  June  13th,  1830  ;  '  Frederick,  b.  Jan.  8th,  1805, 
now  living  in  Wallingford  ;  *  Catharine,  b.  Dec.  3d,  1806,  married  John  S. 
Kasson,  Nov.  17th,  1831  ;  "  Gideon,  b.  Sept.  14th,  1808,  d.  Dec.  9th,  1836  ; 
^  Nancy,  b  Dec.  13th,  1810,  married  Giinian  E,  Hill,  March  5th,  1834;  ''Abi- 
gail, b.  March  6th,  1813,  married  Wilson  Burritt ;  ^  Mary  A.,  b.  Dec.  37th, 
1814,  d.  Sept.  34l.h,  1843  ;  ^Phinehas  M.,  b.  Jan.  38th,  1819,  d.  March  15th, 
1863;  ^"Robert,  b.  Dec.  37th,  1830,  now  living  in  New  Haven ;  ^^  Nathan,  h- 
Dec.  5th,  1833,  died  March  34th,  1870. 


CASTLE  FAMILY. 

This  family  did  not  reside  in  Stratford  village,  but  in  Stratfi^ld,  the  border 
ground  between  Fairfield  and  Stratford.  The  only  traces  of  the  name  on  the 
records  of  Stratford,  or  Stratfield,  are  as  follows  : — William  Castle  m.  Rebec- 

co ,  Feb.  Ist,  1710-11.     Children:  Tabitha,  b.  March,  1713-13;  Bethia , 

b.  April,  1714  ;  Rebecca,  b.  April,  1716  ;  Jabez,  h.  May,  1718. 


CURTISS  FAMILY. 

Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  of  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y.,  sends  the  author  the  follow- 
ing well  considered  article  on  the  Curtiss  genealogy  : — 

"  Tliis  family  has  singularly  occasioned  the  genealogists  and  histori- 
ans various  errors.  Trumbull,  for  instance,  alledges  that  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Stratford,  'John  and  William  Curtis,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Hawley,  were 
from  Roxbury,';, whereas  in  fact  J.  and  W.  Curtis  were  never  in  Roxbur^  and 
Samuel  Hawley  was  born  in  Stratford — being  the  son  of  Joseph,  the  first  set- 
tler.    Hollister  lias  followed  Trumbull,  and  added   more   remarkable  errors. 

'  Mr.  Fairchild  '  was  not  '  the  first  magistrate  of  the  town.'  'Joseph  Jud- 
son '  was  one  of  three  sons  of  William  Judson,  of  New  Haven — an  original 
patentee  of  Stratford,  and  instead  of  '  Samuel  Wells  from  Wethersfield 
with  three  sone,'  came  John  Wells  son  of  Gov.  Tliomas,  with  four  sons,  of 
whom  Samuel  was  youngest. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1487 

"  Even  the  careful  Goodwin  has  found  a  stumbling-block  in  the  Curtis 
name,  for  in  his  genealogical  notes,  he  marries  John  Wells  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Curtis,  of  Stratford,  and  sister  of  William — a  double  error, 
— for  John's  daughter  would  be  William's  niece — and  neither  John  nor  Wil- 
liam had  any  sister — and  John  Well's  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bourne,  (who,  after 
Well's  death,  married  John  Willcoxson,)  and  when  Mrs.  Ellen  Bostick  in 
her  will  says,  she  and  Mr.  Tomlinson  brought  from  England  under  promise 
to  give  her  a  chid's  portion  (i.e.  ,  adopt  her.) 

"  Mr,  Cothren  must  not  wonder,  therefore,  that  with  such  pioneers  in  that 
line,  the  account  of  the  Curtis  family  collected  for  him,  is  very  erroneous. 
After  a  full  correspondence  with  the  Town  Clerk  of  Scituate — himself  a  Cur- 
tis— and  with  Mr.  Savage,  (to  whom  I  furnished  the  results  of  my  investiga- 
tion, and  who  has  used  them  in  his  Book,  correcting  under  name  '  Welles ' 
the  error  about  Elizabeth  C,  and  after  thorough  examination  of  all  records 
in  Stratford,  and  in  the  Probate  Court  of  Fairfield,  in  Hartford,  &c.,)  I  can 
very  confidently  offer  the  following  as  facts. 

"  John,  Richard,  Thomas  and  William  Curtis,  came  from  England  at  a 
very  early  date,  i)robably  not  in  the  same  year.  They  were  all  at  Scituate, 
between  1643  and  1649.  John  died  there,  leaving  no  family.  Thomas  came 
there  from  York,  Maine,  and  afterward  returned,  leaving  a  son  in  Scituate, 
from  whom  the  Town  Clerk  (in  1860)  was  descended. 

"Richard  went  from  Marblehead  to  Scituate  in  1648.  His  descendants,  who 
are  many,  are  yet  there. 

"William  appears  in  Scituate  in  1643.  His  descendants  are  also  numerous. 
Observe,  of  the  four  Curtises,  none  of  them  landed  in  Scituate,  or  came  there 
in  1632,  and  their  posterity  remained  in  Scituate.  So  much  for  the  Scituate 
Curtises. 

"Now  for  the  Roxbury  name.  William  Curtis,  of  Roxbury,  not  one  of  the 
foregoing,  came  over  in  the  '  Lion'  in  1632.  His  son,  William,  it  is  believ- 
ed, came  over  the  year  previous,  with  John  Elliot.  This  son  died  early  ; 
'  God  took  him  in  1634,'  say  Roxbury  Records.  Another  son,  John,  married 
and  is  believed  to  have  settled  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire.  Another  son, 
Thomas,  died  of  consumption.  A  fourth  son,  Philip,  lived  at  Roxbury,  and 
had  nine  children.     His  descendants  are  to  be  found  there  still. 

"Mr.  Cothren  will  observe  that  his  informant  erred,  Ist,  in  giving  William 
C.  of  Scituate,  tli£  children  belonging  to  William,  of  Roxbury.  2d.  In  put- 
ting the  Scituate  Curtises  among  the  passengers  per  ship  Lion — and  3d,  in 
having  a  son  William  born  to  the  Stratford  family  after  1632;  whereas  the 
William  of  that  family  had  a  child  born  to  him  in  1642,  when,  by  that  show- 
ing, he  would  have  been  about  10  years  old. 

"  We  come  now  to  the  Stratford  Curtises.  The  earliest  mention  of  them  on 
the  Town  Record,  is  in  1652,  (excepting  the  entry  ot  children's  births,)  and 
there  we  read  of  '  widow  Elizabeth  Curtis,  mother  of  John  and  William.'  In 
her  will,  (l6o8)  Mrs.  Curtis  names  John  and  William  and  Mary,  daughter  of 
her  son  Thomas. 

"  There  is  no  evidence  of  any  consanguinity  between  this  family  and  the 
Roxbury  and  Scituate  families,  or  any  of  several  otherssr-as  George,  Henry, 
Thonnis,  Zaccheus — who  appeared  in  various  parts  of  New  England  before 
1645.     Similarity  of  names  among  children  might  suggest  cousinahip,  but  it 


1488  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

is  all  conjecture.  It  is  not  known  where  Thomas,  son  of  widow  Elizabeth  C, 
settled,  if,  indeed,  he  came  from  England,  I  should  have  looked  for  liim  in 
Wethersfield  Thomas,  but  the  latter  seems  not  to  have  had  any  daughter, 
Mary.  There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  Elizabeth  was  a  widow,  when, 
with  her  sons — then  nearly  or  quite  adult — she  crossed  the  ocean. 

"  John  Curtis,  son  of  '  Widow  Elizabeth,'  married  Elizabeth,  who  seems  to 
have  been  a  Welles,  (for  a  grandson  of  Gov.  Thomas  Welles  calls  John  Cur- 
tis '  Uncle  ')  He  seems  to  have  had  no  second  wife  and  died  in  1707,  aged 
96.  His  wife  died,  March,  168^.  The  Margaret,  who  died  1714.  was  not  his 
wife,  but  the  Margaret  (Picketl  wife  of  John  Curtis,  son  of  Benjamin,  son  of 
John — therefore  grandson  of  John  C,  1st.  J.  C.  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Wad 
John,  born  Oct,  1642,  died  before  1686.  He  married  Hannah  Kimberly,  i, wid- 
ow). Israel,  b.  April,  1644.  Elizabeth,  b.  May,  1647.  Thomas,  b.  1648-9.  He 
went  to  Wallingford.  Joseph,  b  Nov.,  1650,  who  married  Bethiah  Bosth. 
Benjamin,  b.  Sept.  1653,  married  Esther,  dau.  of  Joseph  Judson.  Hannah,  h. 
Feb.,  1654,  married  Benjamin  Lewis. 

William  Curtis,  brother  of  John  1st,  died  in  Stratford,  Dec.  21st,  1702. 
His  first  wife's  name  is  unknown.  His  second  wife  married  after  1676,  and 
after  all  his  children  were  born,  was  Sarah  Goodrich  (nee  Marvin)  and  widow 
of  William  G.,  of  Wethersfield.  His  children  by  his  first  wife  are  Sarah,  h, 
Oct.,  1642.  Jonathan,  h.  Feb.,  1644.  He  married  Abigail  Thompson.  Joshua- 
b.  Oct.,  1646.  Abigail,  b.  April,  1650.  Daniel,  b.  Nov.,  1652.  Elizabeth,  b. 
Feb.,  1654-5.  She  married  a  Rose.  -Ebenever,  b.  July,  1667.  Married  Ruth 
Porter.  Zachary,  (Zechariah,)  Nov.,  1659.  Married  Hannah  Porter.  Josiah, 
b.  Aug.,  1662.  married  Abigail,  dau.  of  Joseph  Judson.  She  died  1697.  He 
then  married  Mary.  ,.     ^.'-'" """      '""  ^, 

The  children  of  Josiah  Curtis  Vere^iy  his  wife  Abigail.  '*William,  b.  Sept.^ 
22d,  1693.*  Anna,  b.  1697.  MajmeS  Zechariah  Booth,  I7l8,  and  died  child- 
less in  1733.     By  this  second  wife,  Mary ,  he  had  children,  of  whom  the 

following  are  on  Town  and  Land  Records  in  Stratford. 

"Eunice,  b.  Aug.  1,  1699,  married  Robert  Wells.  Abraham,  b.  1701,  May 
10th.  Josiah,  Jan.  6th,  1702-3.,  Benjamin,  Dec.  25th,  1704.  Peter,  April, 
1707.  Mary,  July,  1711.  Matthew,  Dec.  1712.  Charles,  and  Mehitabel. 
(twins,)  Jan  ,  1715-6.  She  seems  to  have  married  H.  Hooker,  in  tinie  to  leave 
a  child  in  1717,  say  about  1715  or  I7l6.  She  was  probably  born  in  1695,  of 
J.  Curtis  1st  wife,  Abigail." 

Amendments  to  Curtis  genealogy  furnished  by  Hon.  Wm  E.  Curtis,  of 
New  York  City. 

Page  531,  Line  1.     Strike  out  "  Chev  "  and  insert  "  fess."     Strike  out  "  murai 

coronets,"  and  insert  "  crowns  or."     Strike  out  "  sejant  "  and  to  and  in. 

eluding  word  "arms"  and  insert  in  lieu  "  in  his  pp.  colors,  issueing  forth 

of  his  colors  or  and  azure,   thereon  a  fess  danceth,  or  maritted   gules 

doubled  argent." 

Page  531,  Line  5.     Strike  out   "ducal   coronets"   and   insert   "crowns  or.'' 

"  Lin^l5.    After  words  "  Charles  1st,"  insert  "by  grant  under  the 

\.        __^ . 

*  Mr.  Cothren  has  also  Abigail,  whom  I  have  not. 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1489 

Great  Seal,  reciting  that  searcli  having  been  made  in  the  Register  and 
J  Records  for  the  true  and  antient  armes  belonging  to  tlie  Crrtis  name  and 
family,  and  the  same  appearing  by  ould  seales  and  other  good  testimony 
and  proofs  in  the  custody  and  keeping  of  Richard  St.  George,  Clarenci- 
enx  King  of  armes  to  be  the  proper  and  antient  armes  thereof,  and 
which  they  did  theretofore  beare,  they  were  to  them  and  their  issue  and 
posterity  in  memory  thereof,  forever  ratified  and  confirmed,  accoriiiug  to 
the  law  of  armes  and  costome  of  England." 

,  "  "  Lin".  19.  After  word  "  Conn  "  insert  •' This  Wm.  Curtis  became  a 
Freeman  in  Rosbury,  Mass.,  and  the  land  granted  to  him  is  in  part  still 
owned  by  his  descendants  of  the  name." 

Page  534,  Line  1.     After  "  1713"  insert  "  married  Elizabeth  Birdsie." 
"         "  Line  5.     After  word  "  He  "  insert  "  married  Martha  Clark,  and  " 
"         "  Line  6.     After  "  1759  "  insert  "  married  Esther  llolbrook,  July  4th, 
1782." 

Page  534,  Line  8.  After  the  words  "  County  Court,"  insert  "  who  was  born 
July  I4th,  1787,  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1807,  married  Elizabeth  P. 
daughter  of  Hon.  Wm  Edmond,Oct.  7th,  1832,  and  died  Feb.  2 1st  1858." 

Page  354,  Line  10.  After  words  "  New  York  City"  insert  "  born  Sept.  29th, 
1823,  who  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Wm.  H.  Scovill,  of  Water- 
bury,  Sept.  3d,  1851,  and  has  children:  William  Edmond,  b.  June  2d, 
1855.  Henry  Holbrook,  b.  Dec.  15th,  1856.  Francis  Randolph,  b.  Oct. 
11th,  1858.  Eustace  Sanford,  b.  June  13th,  1860.  Frederick  Kingsbury, 
b.  Feb.  3d,  1863.     Mary  Alathea,  b.  Oct  2d,  1867. 

w 

Salmon  Curtis  had  one  other  child,  Polly  Ann,  b.  April  2d,  1783 ; 
married  Capt.  Isaac  Tomliuson,  and  had  children:  Curtis,  died  in  Mis- 
souri, 1839 ;  Ann,  married  Peter  Morton,  of  New  York,  died  1846,  and 
Sarah,  married  Hon.  Charles  Chapman,  of  Hartford." 

Page  542,  Line  26.  Strike  out  words  "  Cork,  Dublin,"  and  insert  in  lieu  "Lon- 
donderry." 

Page  543.     Line  2.     Strike  out  "  Daniel,"  and  insert  in  lieu  "  Hon.  David,  son 
of  second  wife." 
'•        "  Line  11.     Strike  out  "  Colonel,"  and  insert  "  General." 
"   ,     "     "      12.     Insert  "  Hon."  before  word  "  Benjamin." 
"        "  *  "      IS.     Strike  out  "July,  10,"  and  insert  in  lieu  "  Feb.  16" 

Vage  533.     Eunice  Curtis  (52)  m.  Abijah  Stoddard,  son  of  Rev.  Anthony  Stod 
dard. 

Page  534.     Joseph  (53)  m.  Mary  Stoddard,  dau.  of  Rev.  A.  Stoddard. 
J'        "      Prudence,  Curtis, (84  m.  William   Martin,  of  Bethlehem  Society. 

Alfred  A.  Curtis,  of  Bridgeport,  sends  the  following  Curtis  items.  The  ori- 
ginal Curtis  Coat  of  Arms  has  been  in  the  jjossession  of  this  branch  of  the 
family  since  the  first  settlement  of  the  country. 

John  Curtis  was  b.  1611  died  1707.  William  Curtis,  his  brother,  b.  1621,  d. 
1702.  Elizabeth,  first  wife  of  John,  died  1682.  Margaret,  the  second  wife, 
died  1714. 


1490  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      AVOODRURT. 

Children  of  John  :  John,  b.  1642;  Samuel,  h.  1644;  Elizabeth,  b.  1647; 
Thomas,  b.  1648;  Benjamin,  b.  1652;  Hannah,  b.  1654. 

Joseph  Curtis  and  Bethiah  Booth  were  married  Nov.  9th,  1676. 

Joseph  Curtis  had  children  :  Elizabeth,  b.  1677  ;  Anna,  b.  1679;  Ephraim, 
b.  1684  ;  Joseph,  b.  1687  ;  Nathan,  b.  1689  ;  Jonah,  b.  1692  ;  Bethiah,  b.  1695  ; 
Eleazer,  Ebenezer  and  Eliphalet  (triplets,)  b.  1099. 

Fphraim  Curtis  married  Elizabeth  Stiles,  1707.  Children:  Stiles  Curtis, 
b.  1708;  Henry  Curtis,  b.  1709  ;  Anna,  b.  1711  ;  Elizabeth,  1715;  Ephraim, 
b.  1717;  Martha,  b.  1721  ;  Edmond,  1725  ;  Bathsheba,  1728. 

Ephraim  Curtis  d.  1767,  aged  83.  Henry  Curtis  d.  1804,  aged  95.  Joseph 
Curtis  d.  1742,  aged  82  ;  Lewis  Curtis,  son  of  Henry  D.,  1834,  aged  89  ;  John 
Curtis,  d.  I707,aged  96. 

ADDITIONS  TO  CURTISS   FAMILY. 

Oliver  S.  Waller,  p.  537,  d.  Feb.,  1858.  Sarah  Curtis  (161)  d.  March,  1859. 
David  H.  Curtiss  (150)  d.  Feb.,  1860.     His  w.  d.  Aug.,  1866. 

Jamp:r  G.  (No  181)  m.  Jennette  Stiles,  May  17th,  1860.  Children:  Henry 
S.,  b.  13th  March,  1861.  Anna  8.,  b.  2d  May,  1862.  James  G.,  b.  13th  Sept., 
1863.  Nellie  E.  b.  21st  Sept.,  1865.  Flora,  b.  13th  Aug.,  1866.  Oeorge,  b. 
8th  Oct..  1871. 

David  (No.  182,  p.  38)  m.  Edna  E.  Russell,  I2th  June,  1860.  Children: 
Willie,  b.  1st  June,  1801.  Caroline,  b.  18th  March,  1862.  Catherine,  b.  9th 
Oct.,  1865. 

Walter  S.  (No.  183,  p.  35^  m.  Eugenia  E.  Averill,  29th  Nov.,  1865.  Child  : 
Daniel  Averill,  b.  20th  July,  1867. 

Horace  D.  (No.  186,  p.  038)  m.  Hattie  Atwater,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Oct. 
6th,  1868.    Child:  Horace  Atwater,  b.  Dec.  17th,  1871. 

CORDELIA  C.  (No.  187,  p.  538)  m.  George  C.  White,  Jr.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
19th  Sept.,  1867.  Children,  Flora,  b.  28th  July,  1868.  George  Curtiss,  b. 
27th  Oct.,  1871. 


CANFIELD  FAMILY. 

Thomas  Canfield,  Sen.,  of  Milford,  Conn.,  was  not  one  of  the  early  settler^ 
of  the  place,  but  was  there  in  1646;  had  wife,Phebe,  and  two  6ons_and  eigli 
daughters.  His  son,  Jeremiah,  married  Alice  or  Elee. — Both  names  are  on 
the  records  of  M.  He  and  his  wife  both  died  in  N.  M.  He  and  his  four  sons 
went  to  New  Milford.  Rev.  Stanley  Griswold,  in  a  century  sermon  preached 
in  New  Milford,  in  1801,  says,  Canfield's  family  was  the  8th  that  came  into 
town, — in  1706.  One  of  those  sons,  Zorobabel,  resided  in  Bridgewater  Soc, 
m.  and  had  children,  one  of  which  was  Lemuel,  who  m.  Sarah  Burton,  and 
had  issue  as  follows ;— Daniel,  Anna,  Burton,  <''harles  A.,  Augustine,  Lemuel- 
Orlando. 

Burton,  Esq.,  b.  Feb.  28th,  1778,  settled  at  South  Britain  about  1800,  m. 
Polly  Mitchell,  April  1st,  1802,  and  had  'Harriet,  b.  Dec.  27th,  1802,  m.  Anson 
Bradley,  Feb.,  1824  "Mitchell  Munroe,  born  March  30th  1809,  m.  Eliza  J. 
Averill,  Nov.  24th,  1830.     '  Samuel  Munson,  b.  April  19th,  1820,  m.  Emeline 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  1491 

Nortlirop,  March  16tli  1843.  Harriet  Elizabeth,  b.  March  I6th,  1850,  d.  Aug. 
18th,  1870.  Sarah  Eleanor  Burton  d.  Jan.  10th,  1868— his  wife,  Jan.  lOth, 
1861.     Lemuel,  M.,  d.  Sept.  5th,  1854. 

AvERiLL  Burton  m.  Alice  S.  Angevine,  Sept.  9th,  1857.  Children  :  Corne- 
lia Elizabeth,  b.  Dec.  I8th,  1858.  Robert  Monroe,  b.  Feb-  26th  1868.  Averill 
B.,  b.  Nov.  8th,  1831.  Lemuel,  b.  March  26th,  1787  ;  came  to  South  Britain 
with  his  brother  and  m.  Betsey  Mitchell,  1807,  and  d.  March  15th,  1817.  He 
had  one  son. 

Jerome,  b.  March  26th,  1808,  who  m.  Hannah  Smith,  Nov.  20th  1838. 
Children  :  Lemuel  L.  ;  Mitchell  M.  ;  Cornelia  C.  ;  Edward  J.  ;  Chandler ; 
Emma  G.     These  all  removed  from  the  place  years  ago 

Mr.  C. — I  have  endeavored  to  make  out  correctly  the  Canfield  family — my 
branch  of  it — brought  down  to  the  present  time.  The  earliest  name  appears 
on  the  m.  records  spelled  Campfield,  then  Camfield,  then  Canfield. 

Averill  B.  Canfield. 


Deforest  family. 

It  is  a  tradition  in  the  family,  that  three  brothers  of  the  name  of  DeForest, 
or  De  la  Forest,  came  to  New  Amsterdam,  now  New  York,  about  the  year 

1635,  viz.  Hendrick,  Isaac,  and .     The  name  of  the  third  brother  is  in 

doubt ;  if  there  was  one,  his  name  was  probably  Johannes,  {vide  Albany  Colo- 
nial Records,  Vol.  II.,  page  221.)     What  became  of  him  is  not  know^n. 

Hendrick  d.  soon  after  his  arrival,  without  children. 

Isaac  settled  in  New  York,  was  m.  in  1641,  and  d.  about  1672-3.  leaving 
five  sons,  viz.  Johannes,  b.  1650  ;  Phillip,  b.  1652  ;  Isaac,  b.  1655  ;  Henry,  b. 
1657  ;  David,  b.  1669. 

The  descendants  of  Isaac  are  numerous.  One  or  more  of  his  sons  settled 
in  or  near  Albany,  and  intermarried  with  the  Dutch  ;  hence  the  name  became 
corrupted,  and  many  of  his  descendants  are  called  DeFrees,  DeFrieze,  or  De- 
Freat. 

David,  youngest  son  of  Isaac,  b.  in  1669,  settled  in  Stratford,  Conn., 
m.  in  16i»6,  and  ^.  there  in  1721.  The  following  are  his  descendants  in  the 
male  line:  David,  b.  1702:  Samuel,  b.  1704;  Isaac,  b.  1706;  Edward,  b. 
1708  ;  Henry,  b.  1710  ;  Benjamin,  b.  1716  ;  Isaac  and  Henry  d.  without  male 
issue. 

David,  son  of  David,  (2,)  had  sons:  Samuel,  no  male  issue;  David,  Heze- 
kiah,  Elihii,  Ephraim. 

Samuel,  son  of  David,  (2,)  had  sons  :  Joseph,  b.  1731  ;  Samuel,  b.  1739,  no 
male  issue;  Nehemiah,h.  1743:  David, h.  1745;  JoMrt/t,  b.  1748. 

Edward,  son  of  David,  (2,)  had,  Isaac,  b.  1736  :  Elisha,  b.  1738  ;  Edward, 
b.  1743  ;  John,  b.  1745  ;    William,  b.  1752,  no  male  issue  ;  Joseph,  b.  1758. 

Henry,  son  of  David,  (2,)  had,  Henry,  b.  1750  ;  Timothy,  b.  1751  ;  David, 
b.  1755.     Neither  of  them  had  sons. 

Benjamin,  son  of  David  (2,)  had  Hezekiah,  b.  1745  ;  Nehemiah,  b.  1748,  no 
issue;  Benjamin,}},  1749;  Isaac, h.  1758;  Othnicl,  b.  1761. 


1492  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 

David,  SOU  of  David.  (8,)  had,  Elind,  b.  17(59;  Samuel;  David,  no  male 
issue  ;  Isaac  ;  Clark,  b.  1772. 

Hezekiah,  sou  of  David,  (3,)  bad,  Uriah,  no  male  issue;  Hezekiah,  b. 
1770. 

Elihd,  son  of  David,  (3,)  bad,  Joseph,  no  male  issue;  Dacid  L.,  b.  1763  ; 
Benjamin,  no  mail  issue  ;  Bill  Clark,  no  male  issue. 

Epiiraim,  son  of  David,  (3,)  \ii\6.,  Nathan,  b.  1165;  Zalmon,  b.  1770; 
Henry,  b.  1778  ;  Samuel,  b.  1784,  no  sons;  Ephraim  B.,  b.  1787. 

Joseph,  sou  of  Samuel,  (4,)  had,  Samuel;  Abel,  b  1761  ;  Mills,  b.  1763,  no 
male  issue  ;  Elihu,  b.  1777  ;  Gideon. 

Neiiemiah,  son  of  Samuel,  (4,)  had,  William,  b.  1773  ;  Lockwood,  b,  1775  ; 
Philo,  b.  j771)  ;  Delauzua  and  Charles. 

David,  son  of  Samuel,  (4,)  had  Isaac  N. ;  David  L. ;  Samuel  and  Joseph. 
The  first  three  had  no  sons. 

IsA.vc,  son  of  Edward,  (5,)  had  Benjamin. 

Elisha,  sou  of  Edward,  (5,)  had,  Isaac,  b.  1768,  no  male  issue  ;  Daniel,  b. 
1771    had  Albert,  who  d.  without  male  issue. 

Edw.vrd,  son  of  Edward,  (5,)  had  James,  no  male  issue. 
John,  son  of  Edward,  (5,)  ha.d,  Curtis ;  Philo,  b.  1772;  JoJm;  Edward; 
the  two  last  no  male  issue  ;  James  had  a  son  James. 

Joseph,  son  of  Edward,  (5,)  had,  i  William,  b.  1787,  had  sons,  Charles  P. 
and  George  ;  2  Josej)h,  b.  1790,  had  William,  Ciirtis  W.,  RansfordS.,  John  D., 
and  Daniel  A. ;  3  Mitchell,  b.  1797,  had  sons,  Daniel  and  William ;  4  Curtis, 
b.  1803,  had  William,  Darwin  and  Charles. 

Hezekiah,  son  of  Benjamin,  (7,)  had,  PMo,  b.  1782,  and  Samuel  A.,\). 
1784. 

Benjamin,  son  of  Benjamin,  (7,)  had,  Dacid  C ,  b.  1774;  John  K,  b. 
1776;  Benjamin,  h.  1780;  Ezra,  b.  1782. 

Isaac,  son  of  Benjamin,  (7,)  had,  Alonzo,  b.  1788;  Lemuel,  b.  1788; 
Aaron,  b.  1790  ;  Isaac,  b.  1794  ;  Grandison,  b.  1797.  None  but  the  first  had 
male  issue. 

Othniel,  son  of  Benjamin,  (7,)  had,  Linson ;  Sidney,  no  male  issue; 
Charles. 

Elidd,  son  of  David  (8,)  had,  \Hiram,h.  1793,  had,  William  J;  ^Charles, 
b.  1796,  had  Harvey  B. ;  ^  William,  no  sons;  a  Samuel,  b.  1800,  no  sons; 
^  David  L,  b.  18ii4,  had  John  E.  and  Cyrus  R.;  6  Edward,  h.  1806,  had 
Charles  E.  and  Samuel  E. 

Samuel,  son  of  David,  (8,)  had,  William,  no  male  issue;  Henry,  no  male 
issue  ;  Irei,. 

Isaac,  eon  of  David,  (8,)  had,  1  David,  who  had  Legrand  and  David  L.  ; 
i  Harvey,  ha,d  George  and  AlansonB.;  s Lewis,  no  male  issue;  i  Isaac  J., 
had  JosiaJi  and  Samuel  J. 

Clakk,  son  of  David,  (8,)  had,  t  Curtis,  b.  1804,  who  had  Samuel  C  Ran- 
silleB.  imd  William  W.  ;  %Jared,  b.  1807,  had  William  Aland  Giles  A. ; 
3  William  C,  b.  1811,  had  John  W.,  Henry  W.,  Daniel  W-  and/saac;  4 
George,  b.  1812,  had  Si/loeMer,  Charles  H  and  James. 

Hezekiah,  son  of  Hezekiah,  (9,)  h&d,  i  Hiram  0.,  b.  1794;   2  LeGrand, 
b.  1802,  who  had  George  B.,  Charles  E.  and  Stephen  C. 
David  L.,  son  of  Elihu,  (10,)  had,   1  Archibald,  b.  1787,  no  male  issue  ;  2 


HISTORY     OF      ANCIEXT      WOODBURY.  1493 

Alfred,  h.  1791,  uo  male  issue:  'i  Benjaiiiin,  had  D<ickl  L.,  Be  nja/ni/i  and 
Alfred  A. 

Nathan,  son  of  Epliraim,  (11,)  had,  1  Henri/,  b.  1790,  who  Ixad  Edward, 
James,  Hiram  and  John  ;  2  Samuel  J.,  b.  1793,  had  George  8.  ;  3  Silna  G.,  b, 
1794,  had  (?j7&('/"/!;  4,/.  Hoi/t,h.  1800,  had  George ;  5  Charles,  h.  1^()S,  had 
George  and  Vlinrlea. 

Zalmon,  son  of  Ephrahn,  ;11,)  had,  1  Joha  W.,  no  male  issne ;  2  William 
S.,  b.  1815,  had  Jecmes  H. 

Henry,  son  of  Ephraim,  (11,)  had  Henry  E.,  h.  1818. 

Ei'iiRAiM  B.,  son  of  Ephraim  (11,)  had,  i  Willieim  S.,  b.  1812,  who  had 
Albert  ;  2  Samuel  H,  b.  1827  ;  3  David  C,  h.  1822,  had  Charles  H. 

Samuel,  son  of  Joseph,  (12,)  had,  l  Mdrcus,  no  male  issue  ;  2  J^egrand,  no 
male  issue  ;  3  William  C,  had  Joseph  and  Samuel. 

Abel,  son  of  Joseph,  (12,)  had,  1  Henry,  who  had  William  H.  and  Charles  ; 
2  Mills,  no  male  issue  ;  3  William, ;  4  M.  Delauzun,  had  Samuel  M. 

Gideon,  son  of  Joseph,  (12,)  had,  1  Lee,  who  had  George  and  Henry  S.  ; 
2  Abel  B. ;  3  Cyrus  H.,  had  Charles,  Henian  and  James ;  4  Charles  A.,  had 
Charles  A.,  A.  Henry,  Hewitt  (J.  and  Edward  ;  ^  Traey  i^.,  had  Cyras  H, 
Lewis  G.,  Charles  L.  and  Albert  W. 

William,  son  of  Nehemiah,  ^13,)  had,  1  Isaae,  who  had  Thomas  and 
William;  2  Lockwood  M.;  3  William,  had  Edward  ;  4  Marcus. 

LocKWOOD,  son  of  Nehemiah,  ^13,)  had,  1  W.  Wheeler, ,  b  1794  ;  2  George 
B.,  b.  1806,  and  had  Benjamin  L.  and  George  B  ;  S  Henry  G.,  b.  1820,  had 
Robert  W.  and  Loch  wood  ;  4  James  (?  ,  b   18^2  ;  5  Frederick  L.,  b.  1825. 

Philo,  son  of  Neliemiah,  (13.)  had  Delauzun,  b.  1 808,  who  had  George 
and  William. 

Delauzun,  son  of  Nehemiah,  (,13,)  had  William  B ,  b.  1811,  who  had 
William  A. 

Joseph,  son  of  David,  (14,)  had,  1  Lsaac  iV.,  b.  1809,  who  had  Moulton, 
Newton,  Henry  C,  Theodore,  Joseph  and  Charles  ;  '^John  J,  b.  1811  ;  ^  James, 
G.,  b.  1817,  and  had  John  and  Frank. 

Benjamin,  son  of  Isaac,  (15,)  had,  1  Lsaeic,  b.  1791,  who  had  Benjanmi, 
Andrew  and  David  ;  2  Barid.  b.  1801,  had  David. 

Philo,  son  of  John,  (18,)  lived  in  Woodbury,  had,  1  Marcus,  b.  1794,  who 
had  John  P.,  George  and  Marcus,  and  T^uey,  who  m.  David  S.  Bull ;  2  George, 
b,  1804. 

Philo,  son  of  Hezeklah,  (20,)  had,  1  Charles,  who  had  Charles  ;  %  David 
D.,  had  George  H.  and  Frederick  C;  ^John;  4  William,  had  Edward.;  5 
George. 

S.4.MUEL  A.,  son  of  Hezekiali,  (30,)  had  '  Charles,  who  liad  WiUiani  L.  and 
Francis  E,  ;  '  Spencer  H 

David  C,  son  of  Benjamin,  (21,)  and  founder  of  the  "  DeForest  Fund  "  of 
Yale  College,  had  a  son  Carlos  M.,  b.  1813,  who  had  a  son  Dacid,  h.  1847. 

John  H.,  son  of  Benjamin,  (21,)  had,  '  George  S.,  b.  1812,  who  had  Henry 
W.;  ''Henry  A.,  b.  1814;  ^Andrew  W.,h.  1817,  who  had  Edward  L.,  Charles 
S.,  and  Eugene  ;  *John  W.,  who  had  Louis. 

Benjamin,  son  of  Benjamin,  (21,)  had,  \Tohn,h.  180(1,  wholuid  ErastusL., 
b.  1834  ;  ^Samuel  8.,  b.  1811,  no  male  issue  ;  ^Benjamin,  b.  I8I8. 


1494  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

LiNSON,  son  of  Otliniel,  (23,)  had,  1  Charles  H.,  b  1821  ;  ^Linson,  b.  1822, 
had  William  II. 

Charles,  son  of  Othniel,  (23,)  had,  1  Charles  B.,  b.  1819,  who  had  Charles 
E.,  Clarence  R.,  Benjamin  and  William  H. ;  ^  Benjamin, h.  1821  ;  ^Alfred, 
b.  18^2  ;  4  Othneil,  b.  1826  ;  5  David,  b.  1828  ;  6  Thomas  B.,  b.  1832;  T  William 
H.,  b.  1837  ;  ^  Linson,  b.  1839. 


FRAZER  FAMILY.' 

The  liistory  of  the  Frasers,  who  constituted  a  clan  of  the  Highland  Scotts, 
extends  far  back  into  the  region  of  antiquity.  An  elaborate  history  of  the 
clan,  by  John  Anderson,  was  published  at  Edinburgh  and  London  in  1835, 
but  the  limits  of  this  paper  will  allow  of  the  introduction  of  a  simple  pedi- 
gree, only,  of  the  family  now  residing  in  the  city  of  New  York,  with  a  few 
collateral  relatives.  The  Frisels  or  Frasers  are  first  recognized  in  the  array 
of  those  adventurers  wlio  accompanied  the  Norman  William  to  the  English 
shores.  The  precise  time  when  they  extended  northward  is  not  well  defined. 
The  first  Fraser  who  is  supposed  to  be  found  in  characters,  is  Gilbert  De- 
Fraser,  who  flourished  some  time  after  the  year  1100,  during  the  reign  of 
Alexander  I.  The  lands  of  Hales,  in  East  Lothian,  were  held  by  him  under 
the  Earls  of  Dunbar.  He  possessed  large  estates  both  in  Tweeddale  and 
Lothian.  His  third  son,  name  not  preserved,  was  father  of  Bernard  of  Oliver 
Castle,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Alexander  H.  His  son.  Sir  Gilbert  of  Oliver 
Castle,  Vicecomes  of  Tracquair,  lived  in  the  time  of  Alexander  II.  and  III., 
and  was  father  of  Sir  Andrew  (his  second  sonl  of  Caithness,  and  Sheriff"  of 
Sterling  These  were  styled  the  "  Frasers  of  Oliver  Castle."  This  Sir 
Andrew  was  father  of  Simon  Fraser  of  Inverness-shire,  who  m.  the  heir- 
ess of  the  earldom  of  Caithness,  and  was  killed  in  1333.  His  second  son, 
Hugh,  of  Ard  and  Lovat,  m.  Isabel,  dau.  of  Sir  David-  Wemyss,  and  d.  in 
1397.  Hugh,  second  son  of  the  latter,  became  the  first  Lord  Lovat,  and  m. 
Janet,  sister  of  Lord  Fenton.  Their  second  son,  Hugh,  became  the  second 
Lord  Lovat,  and  m.  a  dau.  of  Wemyss  of  Wemyss.  He  d.  in  1450.  Hugh, 
second  son  of  the  latter,  was  the  third  Lord  Lovat.  He  m.  Margaret  Lyon.  Their 
first  son,  Thomas,  was  the  fourth  Lord  Lovat.  He  was  m.  first,  to  Janet,  dau. 
of  Andrew,  Lord  Grey.  He  d.  in  1524,  Hugh,  first  son  of  the  latter,  became 
fifth  Lord  Lovatt,  m.  1st,  Anne  Grant,  of  Grant;  2d,  Janet,  dau.  of  Walter 
Ross,  of  Balnagown.  He  was  killed  July,  1544.  Alexander,  second  son  of 
the  latter,  was  the  sixth  Lord  Lovat.  He  m.  Janet,  dau.  of  Campbell,  of 
Calder.  and  d.  Dec,  1557.  He  had  children  as  follows,  viz.  1.  Hugh,  seventh 
Lord  Lovat,  b.  1534,  who  m,.  Lady  Elizabeth  Stewart,  dau.  of  the  Earl  of 
*Athol,  and  d.  Jan.,  1576  or  '7  ;  2.  Thomas  of  Knockie  and  Strichen,  who  m. 


*  It  was  originally  intended  that  the  information  contained  in  this  article 
should  have  been  incorporated  with  the  information  concerning  Hugh  Fraser, 
contained  on  pa^e  732,  but  it  was  not  received  in  time. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1495 

Isabel  Forbes,  of  Corfuadie ;  3.  James,  of  Ardocliy  ;  4.  Anne,  who  m.  John 
Frasor.  From  James,  of  Ardochy,  was  descended  Anne,  who  was  m.  to 
Alexander  Fraser,  (Tacksman),  of  Drummond.  This  lady,  on  account  of 
great  personal  beauty,  received  the  appellation  of  "  Fair  Anne."  She  was 
second,  or  perhaps  first,  cousin  to  the  Gen.  Fraser  who  lies  buried  at  Saratoga. 
This  Alexander  went  to  Quebec,  accompanied  by  his  sou  Hugh,  a  lad  twelve 
or  thirteen  years  of  age,  as  a  volunteer  in  the  7lst  Regiment,  a  Highland  one, 
and  served  under  Col.  Fraser,  eldest  son  of  the  twelfth  Lord  Lovat,  who  was 
beheaded  in  consequence  of  the  part  he  was  supposed  to  have  taken  in  the 
battle  at  CuUoden.  In  this  capacity  he  was  engaged  in  the  action  on  the 
Plains  of  Abraham,  where  Wolfe  fell.  Alexander  Fraser  was  of  the  Drum- 
mond family,  and  resided  at  Dnimmond  till  he  left  for  Quebec.  Both  Drum- 
mond and  Ardochy  are  situated  in  the  Braes  of  Stratharick,  parish  of  Bole- 
skin,  and  county  of  Inverness.  The  cause  of  Mr.  Fraser's  emigration  was 
liis  dissatisfaction  at  the  feudal  controversies  existing  in  the  clan,  which  was 
very  numerous  and  powerful.  The  remaining  branch  of  the  Drummond 
family  emigrated  to  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia,  in  1H04.  Mr.  Fraser  was  oHered  a 
large  consideration  for  his  moiety  of  the  lease  of  Drummond,  by  "  Tack," 
but  he  chose,  however,  to  make  it  over  to  his  first  cousin,  who  held  the  other 
half,  to  dispose  of  as  he  should  see  fit. 

In  those  days,  the  aristocracy  of  England  owned  much  of  the  land  in 
Scotland.  The  proprietors  were  called  "Lairds."  The  term  "tacksmen" 
was  api)lied  to  the  persons  who  leased  large  tracts  of  those  estates  from  the 
original  proprietors  for  a  long  term  of  years.  Some  of  this  class  lived  on 
these  leased  estates  for  many  generations,  were  of  the  first  respectability,  and 
connected  by  blood  and  marriage  with  the  best  families  in  the  kingdom,  Of 
this  class  was  Mr.  Fraser's  family.  He  never  returned  from  this  country  to 
Scotland  but  died  in  Canada,  two  years  after  the  British  got  possession  of  the 
country-  He  had  by  his  wife,  "  Fair  Anne,"  one  son,  Hugh,  named  above 
being  the  same  mentioned  on  page  732  of  "  Cothren's  History  of  Ancient 
Woydbury."  He  left  his  mother  at  Ardochy,  went  to  Quebec  with  his 
father,  entered  the  counting-house  of  a  relation  there  of  the  name  of  Simon 
Fraser,  generally  known  and  revered  by  the  Canadians  as  ■'  Bon  Homme  " 
Fraser,  ajid  after  remaining  with  him  for  a  few  years,  he  commenced  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  At  an  early  age  he  m  Ann,  dau.  of  Bobert  Jackson, 
a  native  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  an  artillery  ofiicer  under  Gen.  Wolfe, 
at  Quebec.  Mr.  Fraser  carried  on  a  prosperous  business  for  some  years,  when 
he  went  to  England  to  increase  his  stock  in  trade,  leaving  his  Quebec  busi- 
ness in  the  charge  of  his  clerks,  who,  in  his  absence,  managed  it  badly.  On 
his  return,  his  premises,  with  his  entire  stock  of  new  goods,  took  fire  and  were 
entirely  consumed.  From  this  misfortune  he  never  recovered.  His  wife  soon 
after  died,  leaving  him  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Simon,  the  eldest  son,  was  employed  for  nearly  two  years  in  the  counting 
house  of  "  Bon  Homme  "  Eraser,  but  not  liking  the  business,  he  left  it,  re. 
moved  to  the  United  States,  settled  at  Woodbury,  Conn.,  m.  Amy,  dau.  of 
Hezekiah  Thompson,  Esq.,  of  that  place,  had  children,  as  will  be  seen  on  page 
733  of  the  history  before  referred  to,  and  was  lost  at  sea  between  New  York 
and  Wilmington,  N.  C,  whither  he  had  gone?  on  business. 

Alexander,  second  son  of  Hugh   Fraser,  went  to  Halifax,  Nova   Scotia, 


1496  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

where,  under  the  advice  of  his  relative,  the  late  Hon.  James  Fraser,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  draper.  After  serving  his  time,  in  1806, 
Mr.  Fraser  sent  him  to  his  establishment  (Fraser,  Thorn  &  Co.)  at  Miramichi, 
on  Baubonr  Island,  where  he  remained  first  as  clerk  and  afterwards  as  part- 
ner, till  the  death  of  Hon.  James  Fraser,  in  1832.  In  1824,  he  m.  an  Enjrlish 
lady  of  the  name  of  Grej^g,  and  has  seven  sons  and  two  dau.,  viz.  Jn.jnfs, 
Alexander,  Daois  H.,  Wdliam,  John,  Edward,  Robert,  Elizabeth  and  Anti 
Four  other  children  died  young. 

Margahet,  dau.  of  Hugh  Fraser,  after  her  mother's  death,  was  adopted 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beek,  intimate  acquaintances  of  her  mother.  Mr.  Beek  was 
notary  public  and  collector  of  his  majesty's  customs  at  Montreal,  until  his 
death  in  1822.  His  widow  and  adopted  dau.  then  removed  to  Chambly, 
where  Mrs.  Beek  died  two  years  after.  Margaret  then  went  to  Miramichi,  in 
the  fall  of  1824,  to  reside  with  her  brother,  and  in  Oct.,  1825,  was  mar.  to 
John  Fraser.  She  is  now  dead.  They  had  three  children,  viz.  1.  Margaret 
Ann,  who  died  aged  twenty-one  years.  2.  John  James,  now  a  barrister  at 
Fredericton.  3.  Sorah  Jnne,  who  resides  with  her  father.  Hugh  Fraser  died 
in  Canada  in  1838,  aged  82,  and  his  wife  at  the  same  place,  in  1799,  aged  44. 
We  now  return  to  the  relatives  of  "  Fair  Anne,"  of  Ardochy.  William 
Frasar,  of  Ardochy,  her  brother,  studied  law,  and  entered  into  a  lucrative 
practice.  He  held  the  appointment  of  Commissary  of  Increase,  and  became 
the  factor  of  the  leading  landholders  in  the  country,  particularly  those  of  his 
own  name,"  who  were  then  very  numerous  as  large  proprietors,  and  Avere 
deeply  engaged  in  politics.  He  m.  Miss  Fraser,  of  Balnain,  first  cousin  of 
Gen.  Fraser,  who  was  killed  at  Saratoga.  They  had  four  sons  and  four  dau. 
He  died  and  was  buried  at  Halifax,  N.  S.,  in  1826  or  1827. 

William,  his  eldest  son,  m.  at  Halifax,  soon  afterward,  moved  to  the 
United  States,  and  finally  settled  at  Pittsburg,  Penn..  where  his  descendants 
are  numerous  and  respectable. 

Alkxandkr,  second  son  of  William  Fraser,  went  as  a  medical  man  to  the 
East  lndi(!s,  where  he  made  an  ample  fortune.  He  afterwards  returned  with 
his  family,  consisting  of  two  sons  and  four  dau.,  and  settled  in  London.  The 
names  of  the  sons  are  William  and  Hugh,  both  barristers,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  William,  is  a  leader  in  his  profession,  and  is  also  an  author  of  some 
note  The  names  of  the  dau.  are  Jane,  Ann,  Margaret  and  Harriet.  The 
latter  was  m.  to  Dr.  Benjamin  D.  Fraser,  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  James  Fraser, 
of  Halitax,  N-  S. ;  she  lived  only  about  a  year. 

Hugh,  the  third  son  of  William  Fraser,  went  to  the  East  Indies  as  a  mili- 
tary man,  in  the  company's  service,  where,  by  good  conduct  and  bravery,  he 
was  advanced  to  various  lucrative  stations,  amassed  wealth,  attained  the  rank 
of  Major-General,  and  retired  on  full  pay  as  such  in  1828.  He  has  since  been 
knighted  and  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Lieut-General.  .  He  m.  in  India  the 
dau.  of  the  Dutch  Governor  of  Pondicherry,  and  by  her  had  several  children. 
Their  names  are  not  known  to  the  writer.  Some  of  the  sons  are  officers  in 
the  B]ast  India  Company's  service.  Sir  Hugh  purchased  an  estate  at  Brea- 
langwell,  in  Croiiiarty-shire,  on  which  he  resided.  He  m.  for  his  second  wife 
a  Scotch  lady.  He  had  no  issue  by  her,  and  died  about  1853. 
TiioitAS,  fourth  son  of  William  Fraser,  died  young. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1497 

The  daughters,  who  were  Jane,  Ann,  Harriet  and  Marjory,  all  m.  except 
Ann,  who  died  in  early  life. 

Alexander  Fraser,  of  Ardochy,  another  brother  of  "  Fair  Anne,"  a 
merchant  at  Inverness,  where  he  died  at  the  asre  of  eighty  yearvS,  was  father 
of  the  late  Hon.  James  Fraser,  of  Halifax  and  Miramichi,  Nova  Scotia.  He 
arrived  first  at  Halifax  and  spent  some  years  in  one  or  two  of  the  first  mer- 
cantile houses  there.  He  ultimately  formed  a  business  connection  with  Mr. 
Thorn,  at  Miramichi,  where  they  continued  for  twelve  years,  and.  in  1708, 
formed  a  copartnership  with  a  house  in  Liverpool,  Eng. ;  extended  their 
business,  removed  to  Halifax,  and  became  one  of  the  first  houses  in  the  two 
provinces.  In  1803,  Mr.  Fraser  m.  a  Miss  DeWolf,  of  Windso ',  N.  S.,  a 
native  of  Boston,  she  having  removed  with  her  father  and  mother,  who  were 
loyalists,  to  Windsor,  about  1784  They  were  nearly  related  to  the  De Wolfs, 
at  Bristol,  Rhode  Island.  Barney  Smith,  of  Boston,  one  of  whose  dau.  m. 
Mr.  Rush,  while  Minister  of  the  United  States  at  the  Court  of  Russia,  was  an 
uncle  of  this  Miss  DeWolf.  They  had  two  sons  and  six  dau.,  three  of  whom 
died  unmarried.  Rachel,  the  oldest  daii.,  m.  in  1825  the  Hon.  Major  Gore,  a 
brother  of  the  Earle  of  Arran,  Ireland.  He  became  a  Major  General  and  a 
commander  of  the  troops  stationed  in  New  Brunswick,  and  neighboring 
provinces.  Gen.  and  Mrs.  Gore's  eldest  dau.  m.  the  Earl  of  Errol,  a  Scotch 
nobleman,  and  first  cousin  of  Queen  Victoria.  The  Duchess  of  Inverness, 
who  was  m.  to  the  Queen's  uncle,  the  late  Duke  of  Sussex,  is  the  sister  of 
Gen.  Gore.  She  has  apartments  allotted  to  her  in  Kensington  Palace,  and 
when  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Errol  are  in  London,  they  also  have  apart- 
ments in  one  of  the  Queen's  palaces.  Several  of  the  Erasers  residing  in  New 
York  are  second  cousins  to  the  countess,  whose  husband,  the  Earl  of  Errol, 
as  above  stated,  is  first  cousin  to  Queen  Victoria. 


GRISWOLD  FAMILY. 

Joanna  Steele,  b.  March  26th,  1781,  m.  March  12th,  1801,  Ozias  Griswoi.ii, 
She  d.-Feb.  I7th,  1844.     He  was  b.  Aug.  7th,  1772,  d.  Oct.  22d.  1815. 

Children  of  Joanna  Steele  and  Ozias  Griswold:  1.  *Sfl%,  b.  April  9th, 
1802,  m.   May  lOth,   1827,  Solomon   Dunham,  he  was  b.   April    12th,  1795; 

2.  Chester,  b.  Jan.  5th,  1805,  m.  May  10th,  1827,  Ermina  Palmer,  she  was  b. 
July- 2d,  1827,  d.  Aug.  25th,  1864  ;  3.  Allen  Steele,  b.  Oct.  13th,  1808.  m.  Nov. 
18th,  1830,  Mary  Jane  Steele,  she  was  b.  Jan.  16th,  1809  ;  4.  Thnnas  Franklin, 
b.  March  6th,  1813,  m.  May  l2th,  1841,  Mary  Ann  Bishop,  she  was  b.  Nov. 
15th,  1816  ;  5.  Lucy  Joanna,  b.  March  18th,  1815,  d.  March  lOth,  181 B. 

Children  of  Chester  and  Ermina  Ghiswold:  1.  Watson  Chester,  b.  June 
24th.  1829,  d.2M,  1831  ;  2.  /////■,vJ'(?a«yv,«,  b.  July  27th,  1830,  d.  Feb,  16th,  1831  ; 

3.  Thomas  C,  b.  Jan.  9th,  1832,  d.  Ai)ril9th,  1835  ;  4.  James  N.,  b.  March  6th, 
1834,  d.  March  31st,  1835;  5.  Sarah  E.,  b.  Fob.  20th,  1836,  m.  Oct.  2Sth,  185(), 
Julius  Elmore,  he  was  b.  Dec.  4th,  1835 ;  6.  Warren  0.,  b.  May  26th,  1838,  m. 
Dec.  16th,  ls58,  Jane  M.  Dunham,  she  was  b.  Feb.  8tli,  1843;  7.  George  A., 
h.  Oct.  9th,  1843,  d.  April  8th,  1867  ;  8.  Ellen  K,  b.  Feb.  9tli,  1851. 

Children  of  Allen  Steele  and  Mary  J.  Griswold:   1.  Mary  J.,  b.  Jane 


1498 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


2d,  1833;  2.  Samuel  A.,  h.  Dec.  Utli,  1834,  m  June  9th,  1859,  Frances  P. 
Flagg,  slie  was  b.  Nov.  17th,  1837  ;  3.  Charles  Steele,h.  Jan.  9th,  1837,  m.  May 
1 2th,  1858,  Lucia  I.  Bishop,  she  was  b.  June  12th,  1840;  4.  Henry  0.,  b.  Nov. 
2l8t,  1842  ;  n:  8eth  P.,h.  Jan.  27th,  1850. 

Children  of  Thomas  Franklin  and  Mary  Ann  Griswold  ;  I.  SetJi  B.,  b. 
Oct.  22d,  1848,  d.  Sept.  4th,  1849;  2.  Franklin  Steele,  b.  Oct.  6th,  1850;  3. 
Charles  W.,  b.  May  15th,  1852. 

Children  of  Sauaii  E.  GRiswoLDand  Julius  Elmore  :  1.  Mary  E.,  b.  Oct. 
14tli,185S  ;  2.  Lillian  I.,  b  March  13th,  1861  ;  3.  Delia  ^..b.Sept.  18th,  1863  ; 
4.  Alice  O.,  b.  Feb.  1st,  1869. 

Children  of  Warren  and  Jane  M.  Griswold:  I.  Frederick  W.,  b.  Aug. 
Ist,  1861  ;  2.  LenaF,  b.  May  14th,  1867. 

Children  of  Samuel  A.  and  Frances  P.  Griswold:  1.  Edioaed  A.;  b. 
April  22d,  1865  ;  2.  William  8.,  b.  Oct.  28th,  1870. 

;^ Children  of  Charles  Steele  and  Lucia  L  Griswold  :  1.  Charles  A.,  b. 
Sept.  16th,  1860 ;  2.  Gerty  B.,  b.  July  3d,  1863,  d.  July  16th,  1865  ;  3.  Joseph 
H..  b.  May  28th,  1866. 


GORDON  FAMILY. 


^t  ^^^ii 


Az.  three  boars  heads  eouped  or —  • 

Crest. — In  a  ducal  Coronet  or  a  Stag's  head  and  neck,  affrontee  ppr.  attired 
with  ten  tynes  of  the  first. 

Motto — (above  the  Crest) — Bydand  ;  (and  below  the  Shield)  Animo  Non 
Astutia. 

Alexander  Gordon,  and  Jane,  his  wife,  left  Scotland  on  the  27th  day  of 
August,  1719.  They  left  with  five  children,  and  arrived  in  Boston,  Mass.,  on 
the  2d  day  of  Nov.,  1719,  with  three  children. 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  C  !  K  N  T     W  O  O  D  B  U  II  Y  .  1 499 

Alexander  Gordon  d.  July  27th,  1774,  aged  104  years.  He  had  a  son 
Robert.  I  do  not  know  what  became  of  hhn.  Alexander  Gordon  was  buried 
on  the  Plains,  so  called.  I  think  I  can  g'et  more  information  about  them  in  a 
week  or  two. 

D.  GORDON. 

VOLUNTOWN,  May  14th,  1853. 

The  above  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Daniel  Gordon  to  Alexander  Gordon, 
collector  of  the  following  record  of  the  Gordon  Family.  He  was  quite  an 
aged  man  when  he  wrote  the  above,  and  died  soon  after. 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  Robeut  (iORDon,  1st,  (that  our  record  be- 
gins with)  must  have  been  a  grandson  of  the  above  Alexander  and  Jane,  as 
he  was  about  sixty  years  old  when  Robert  Gordon,  1st,  was  born. 

I  think  he  came  to  Woodbury  from  Voluntown.  lie  lived  in  the  north 
part  of  this  town,  near  Bethlehem  line,  where  he  died,  and  was  buried  in 
Bethlehem. 

The  following  record  was  collected  by  Alexander  Cfordon,  3d,  (29)  of 
Woodbury,  Conn. : 

Robert  Goudon,  b.  March  14th,  1730,  d.  March  30th,  1816  ;  JeaneKasson, 
(his  widow,)  b.  July  I6th,  1736,  d.  Oct.  1  tth,  1822.  They  had  seven  children, 
viz.  I  AWt'!/',' (generation  from  Robert),  b.  Dec.  23d,  1757,  d.  March  7th, 
1-26  ;  2  M'ori/;'  b.  Nov.  5th,  1759,  d.  March  23d,  1827  ;  3  Elizabeth,''  h.  Dec. 
6tb,  1761,  d.  June  12th,  1827;  4  George,''  b.  July  3()th,  1764,  d.  Aug.  9th, 
1811  ;  5  Alexander,''  b.  May  1st,  1767,  d.  Feb.  22d,  1821  ;  6  Ja/u',''h.  June  1st, 
1711,  d.  Feb.  18th,  1833 ;  7  Olice,''  b.  Nov.  9th,  1774,  d.  June  8th,  1841. 

Esther  Gordon,"  (2).  She  had  a  dau.,  Minerva  Gordon,  who  was  b.  July 
16th,  1791,  d.  July  1822.     Both  were  buried  in  Bethlehem. 

Mary  Gordon,^  (3,)  m.  Seth  Martin,  fith  Jane,  1788,  of  Bethlehem.  He 
was  b.  March  8th,  1763.  They  had  seven  children,  viz:  1  Sally  3fareiti,^  b. 
March  lOth,  1789  ;  2  Gideon;'  b.  Dec.  12th,  1790,  d.  Feb.  20th,  18G2  ;  3  Polly,^ 
b.  March  21st,  1793,  d.  Jan.  2r)th,  1865:  4  Wealthy,^  b.  July  I4tli,  1795,  d. 
Feb.  2d,  1868  ;  5  Set/i,^  b.  Jan.  3d,  1798,  d.  March  1st,  1871  ;  6  Charles,  b.  Nov. 
4th,  1800,  d.  Oct.  6th,  1851  ;  7  Oliee,  b.  Aug.  17th,  1804,  d.  young.  No  one 
except  Gideon,  were  ever  m.  of  this  family. 

Elizabeth  Gordon,"  (4,)  m.  Daniel  Hannahs,  of  Bethlehem  ;  removed  to 
York  State.  They  liad  four  sons;  may  not  be  in  the  order  as  recorded. 
1  Chnuncy  Hannah,^;  "i  Mttrmn,^ ;  3  WUlia/n,^  a  prominent  merchant  in 
New  York  f 'ity  ;  4  Daniel.'^ 

George  (JorDon,"  (5,)  m.  Bethia  Leavenworth,  of  Woodbury,  Feb.  1786. 
He  d.  Aug.  9th,  1811.  She  ni.  2d,  Nehemiah  Judson,  of  Wooilbury,  and  still 
survives  him.  They  had  three  children,  viz  ;  1  Alt/wra  Gordon,^  h.  April  22d, 
1788,  m.  Jeremiah  Smith,  of  Fairfield,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  had  no 
children  ;  d.  July  29th,  1856  ;  2  William  henry  Gordon,^  b.  Dec.  26th,  1790  ; 
He  m.  and  had  children  ;  he  d.  March  10th,  1H69  ;  3  Julia  Gordon,^  b.  May  22<i, 
1797,  m.  Daniel  Brayton,  of  Fairfield,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  had  no 
children  ;  d.  in  1865. 

Alexander  Gordon,"  (6,)  m.  for  his  first  wife,  Nancy  Burritt,  of  Bethle- 
hem, who  d.  Aug.  25th,  1808 ;   was  buried  in  Bethlehem.     They  had  four 

42 


1  500  II  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF      A  N  C  I  K  N  T     W  O  O  I)  B  U  11  Y  . 

children,  viz:  1  Sophronia  Gordon,^  h.  Dec.  30tli,  1799,  at  Ellsworth,  d.  April 
2d.  18(53;  2  Sumn  Ann,^  b.  Aug.  8th,  1802,  m.  William  Everett,  of  Ellsworth, 
Ct.  Had  four  children.  She  d.  April  lUth,  IStiG;  3  William  CJtauncij 
Gordon,^  b.  July  4th,  1804,  d.  June  1 1th,  1840,  ni.  Martha  Greeuleaf,  of  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.  Had  one  child,  he  d.  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ;  4  Charles  Gordon^  b.  June  7th' 
1806,  d.  Oct.  17th,  1822,  buried  at  Bethlehem. 

Alexander  Gordon,"  (6,)  ni.  for  his  second  wife,  Laner  Marvin,  daughter 
of  David  and  Sylvia  Everett  Marvin.  They  had  four  children,  viz  :  5  Edwin 
Everett  Gordon,''  b.  Jan.  15th,  1811,  m.  Sara  A.  DeGrafF,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  Had 
no  children,  he  d.  at  Mayfield,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  27th,  1851,  was  a  Physician ;  6. 
Eohcrt  Gordon,'^  b.  July  18th,  1812,  m.  Mary  Elizabeth  Hoyt,  of  New  Canaan, 
Ct. ;  had  one  child,  d.  May  9th,  1854,  at  Bedford,  N.  Y.,  he  was  a  Shoemaker ; 
&  AlexiDidcr  Gon^fw,' b.  March  13th,  1814,  ra.  Maria  Holley  Cogswell,  dau_ 
of  Stephen  and  Susan  Whittlesey  Cogswell,  of  New  Preston,  Ct.,  Oct.  16th, 
18S9.  She  was  b.  Sept.  14th,  1816.  They  had  seven  children.  He  is  a  Tan- 
ner and  Currier,  lives  in  Woodbury.  Ct ;  8.  John  Marvin  Gordon,^  b.  June 
27th,  1816,  m.  Ann  B.  Sr\eath  Miner,  a  widow,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Sneath,  of  New  York  City.  They  had  three  children.  She  d.  in  1857  > 
he  d.  July  24th,  18''6,  was  buried  in  Greenwood,  L.  I.,  in  Lot  No.  2,965,  Syca- 
more Avenue,  Blossom  Path. 

Jane  Gordon,"  (7,)  m.  Bristoll  Hall,  Dec.  29th,  1791,  formerly  of  Bethle- 
hem. They  had  ten  children,  viz:  1  Tiinothy  Hall,^  b.  Dec.  3d,  1792, m. Sally 
Knox,  Jan.  9th,  1813.  Had  eight  children,  seven  living  iu  1868,  lived  in 
Tully,  N.  Y.  ;  2  Olire  Ecdl,^  b.  Aug.  20th,  1794,  m.  Russell  Knox,  in  Feb., 
1815,  had  eleven  children;  3  Cyrus  Hall,^  b.  Nov.  25th,  1796,  m.  Almira 
Walker.  She  d.  in  1835,  he  d.  in  Oct.,  1866,  at  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin; 
4  Betsey  Hall,  b.  Aug.  20th,  1798,  m.  Josepli  Beach,  March  16th,  1823.  She 
d.  Aug.  9th,  1823  ;  5  Chaumy  Hall,^  b.  Sept.  8d,  1802,  m.  Matilde  Hotchkiss, 
was  a  Home  Missionary  at  Redwood  Falls,  Minn,  in  1868  ;  6  John  C.  Hall,'  b 
Nov.  1st,  1804,  ni.  Lucetta  Rose  ;  7  Nancy  HaU,^\>.  Aug.  2;st,  1809,  never  was 
m.,  lives  in  Phelps,  N.  Y. ;  8.  George  L.  HaU,^A.  young  ;  9  Clarinda  Hall,^  b. 
Nov.  13th,  1812,  d.  March  4th,  1831  ;  lo  George  L.  Hall,^  b.  Oct.  28th,  1815^ 
m.  Ellen  M.  Cleaver,  is  a  Congregational  Clergyman. 

Olive  Gordon,"  (8)  m.  Elijah  Brown.  They  had  children:  1.  Truman 
Beeman  Broini,"  h.  Aug.  3,  180J,  m.  Amanda  Smith,  Oct.  10th,  1831.  She 
■was  born  Feb.  14th,  1811  ;  lives  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.  2.  Susan  Diana  Brown', 
b.  Sept.  18,1806,  m.  Ludowick  Tabor.  3.  Nancy  M.  Brown',  h.  Aug.  28, 
18()S,  m.  a  Mr.  Conklin.  4.  Ada  Jane  Brmm',  b.  Dec.  11,  1810,  m.  Avery 
Babbitt,  of  Auburn,  had  tliroe  children,  who  died  young.  She  d.  June  1st, 
1804.  5.  Olive  IT.  Browii^,  b.  March  14,  1812,  m.  Edgar  Smith,  Baptist  Cler- 
gyman, are  living  in  Auburn  N.  Y.  6.  Clarinda  Kasson  Brown',  b.  Sej)!.  3, 
1814,  m.  Charles  Smith,  a  Baptist  Clergyman,  and  a  brother  of  Edgar  Smith. 

Gideon  Martin^  (10)  m.  Samantha  Ingersoll,  of  Bethlehem,  Nov.  6,  1820. 
Tliey  had  three  Children,  viz:  Mary  Martin,  h.  Aug.  C,  1821,  m.  George 
Smith,  of  Morriss.  Had  twin  daughters,  and  five  sons.  2.  Henry  J. 
Martin,  b.  March  23,  183:'.,  lives  in  Bethlehem.  3.  Elizabeth  Martin,  h.  Jan. 
14,  1836,  m.  Jarvis  E.  Ellis,  of  Waterbury,  Nov.  2l8t,  1859. 

William  Henry  Gordon,'  (21)  m.  Maria  Cheever,  had  three  children,  viz  : 


HISTORY      OF      A  N  0  I  E  X  T      \V  O  O  I)  15  U  R  Y  .  1501 

1.  Frederick  WiUinm  Gordon,  h.  Jan.,  1819,  d.  Dec.  3,  1851.  2.  Oeor(/e  Chee- 
ver  Gordon,  b.  May,  1827.     3.  Catherine  M.  Gordon,  b.  March,  1832. 

Children  of  Susan  Ann  Gordon  (34).  1.  Ilden,  Sojyhronia  Everett,  b.  Aug., 
18'29,  m.  Enoch  Everett,  of  Ellsworth.  Slie  d.  Sept.  14t.h  18(jr,.  Left  two 
sons.  2.  Sn rah  Amelia  EcereU.b.  July,  18:^3.  3.  Mury  Ely  Ei-crcU,h.  Oct. 
1st,  1836,  m.  Charles  Swift,  of  Cornwall,  Conn.  4.  Martha  Lavinia  Everett^ 
b.  Sept.  19th,  1841.     She  died  in  1842. 

Child  of  William  Chauncey  Gordon,  (25),  Sarah  Itoselia  Gordon,  b.  Sept. 
19,  18:14,  d.  Sept.  12,  18(58. 

Child  of  Robert  Gordon^  (28),  Jidia  Maria  Gordon,  h.  March  22,  1845,  m. 
William  J.  Clark,  of  Woodbury,  Oct.  26,  1870. 

Children  of  Alexander  Gordon  (29).  1.  Willlum  Augustus,  b.  Dec.  28, 1840^ 
m.  Sara  E.  Blake,  dan.  of  J.  P.  and  Emeline  Blake,  of  Waterbury,  Ct ,  Sept. 
3,  1862.  2.  Maria  Cogswell  Gordon,  b.  May  15,  1845,  d.  Feb.  28,  1854.  3.  Al- 
exander Gordon,  Jr.,  b  Nov.  16,  1847.  4.  Smaa  Laiier  Gordon,  b.  April  29, 
1851,  d.  Oct.  31,  1861.  5.  George  Cogsicell  Gordon,  b.  June  30,  1854.  6. 
Charles  Robert  Gordon,  h.  Jan.  5,  1858,  d.  Oct.  26,  1801.  8.  Eeirin  Stephen 
Gordon,  b.  Sept.  20,  1860. 

Children  of  John  Marvin  Gordon  (30)  1.  Elizabeth  Smeath  Gordon..,  b. 
June  14,  1847,  m.  Everett  E.  Dunbar,  Feb.  14,  1867,  d.  July  23,  1868.  No 
Children  2.  Charlen  Chawney  Gordon,  b.  July  30,  185o,  lives  in  Sharon, 
Conn.     3.  Ann  Smeath  Gordon,  b.  Aug.,  1857,  d.  in  infancy. 

Children  of  Truman  Beeman  Brown,  (41).  1.  Charles  Gordon  Brown,  b. 
April  7,  1833.  2.  Alice  Adell  Brown,  b.  July  29,  1837,  m.  a  Mr.  Croel.  Live 
at  Seneca  Falls.     3.  Henry  Jay  Brown,  b.  May  16,  1843,  d.  March  27,  1867. 

Child  of  Olive  H.  Brown,  (45).  ElizaSmith,  d.  N(jv.  25,  186l,a4red  22  years 
6  months  and  6  days. 

Children  of  William  Augustus  Gordon,  (59).  1.  Caroline  Maria  Gordon, 
b.  Jan.  7,  1865.  2.  Susan  Cornelia  Gordon,  b.  Feb.  9,  1868.  3.  Alexander 
Irinny  Gordon,  b.  Dec.  22,  1870. 

Children  of  Mary  Ely  'Everett,  {'m).  1.  Harry  Gordon  Swift,  b.  Feb.  19. 
1869.     2.    William  Ecerett  Swift,  b.  Jan.  1,  1871. 


GRAHAM  FAMILY. 
[Corrections  and  additions.] 

LoA'K  Graham,  spoken  of  on  p.  547,  m.  1st,  John  Hrinkerhoff,  wlio  died  soon 
after  his  marriage,  leavinj?  no  children  She  m.  2d,  Rev  Jonathan  Lee,  the 
let  mihister  of  Salisbury,  Conn.  She  was  hi.s  2d  wife.  The}-  had  children  : 
Chauncey,  Love,  and  Walker. 

Rev.  Chauncey  Lee  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1784,  and  was  made  a 
D.D.  by  Columbia  College  afterwards.  Tie  wa.s  for  tliirty  years  a  minister  at 
Colebrook,  Conn.  Love  Lee  m.  Rev.  Aaron  C.  Collins.  Walker  Lee  m.  and 
hiid  children. 

William  Ilackaliah  Preston  Graham  had  three  children:  1.  M<irie(,  who 
has  deceased.     2.  Elizabeth,  who   m.   Thomas  H.  Pease  (2d   wife)  of  New 


]  502  HISTORY      OF      A  2S^  C  I  E  N  T      W  O  O  D  B  U  K  T  . 

Haven,  bookseller.  She  d.  March,  1849,  leaving  a  son,  Salmon  Qraham  Pease 
From  her  earliest  years  she  was  distinguished  for  uncommon  gifts  and  graces. 
8.   WiUiam  Preston,  now  residing  in  Boston,  Mass. 


HINMAN  FAMILY. 

Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan  furnishes  the  following  items  concerning  the  Hin- 
man  Family  : — 

HiNMAN.  There  is  no  trace  of  the  name  at  Stamford.  It  is  not  among  lists 
of  the  original  or  immediately  succeeding  settlers,  nor  does  Huntington  (Hist, 
of  Stamford)  give  the  name  in  any  of  his  lists  from  the  Records.  Edward 
Hinman's  name  first  appears  in  Stratford  in  1651,  in  which  year  he  has  a 
grant  from  the  town  of  a  home  lot.  He  died  in  Stratford,  Nov.  36,  1681.  The 
children  of  Edward  and  Hannah  Hinman,  were  Sarah,  b.  Sept.,  1653,  m. 
Wm.  Roberts;  Titvs,  b.  Jan.  1655;  Samuel,  h.^&n.  1658;  Benjamin, h.  Feb. 
1662;  Hannah,  \k  July  1666;  Mary,  b.  16G8;  Patience,  \,.  1670;  Edward,  b. 
1673. 

It  does  not  appear  how  Titus  could  have  married  a  Coe,  of  Stamford,  for 
long  before  he  was  marriageable,  that  name  had  become  extinct  in  Stamford- 
Robert  had  gone  to  Stratford  and  died  there,  having  had  a  dau.  Hannah  born 
in  Stratford  in  1651.  But  as  she  is  not  named  in  his  will,  in  1659,  she  had 
probably  died  young.  Robert  Coe,  the  elder,  with  all  the  rest  of  his  family, 
had  gone  to  Hempstead,  L.  I.  Probably  Titus  H.  found  a  wife  over  there 
among  the  Goes  of  Long  Island. 

Edward  Hinman,  Jr.,  youngest  son  of  Edward  Hinman  1st,  married  Han- 
nah   ,  who  was  b.  Aug.  14,  1678,  and  d.  at  Nortli  Stratford,  (Trumbull,) 

Aug.  25,  1777,  99  years  old.  She  died  on  her  birthday.  Twenty  years  be- 
fore her  death,  she  affirmed  that  in  a  dream  one  told  her  she  would  die  on 
her  99th  birth  day,(01d  Style).  Repeatedly,  afterward,  she  said  tlie  same 
thing,  and  in  fact  on  the  day  predicted  she  .died. 

Edward  Hinman,  Jr.  and  Hannah,  had  many  children.  1.  JosiaJi,  b.  Nov. 
5,  1700.  2.  Hannah,  b.  March  3,  1703-3.  3.  Zechariah,  b.  Jan.  37,  1704-5. 
4.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  6,  1705-6.  5.  Jmtus,  b.  Dec.  28,1707.  6.  Ehenezer,  b. 
Oct.  5,  1709.  7.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.,  1711.  8.  John,  b.  Nov.  4,  1713.  9.  Rachel, 
b.  Dec.  4,  1715.  10.  Eunice,  b.  Aug.  16,  1717.  11.  Amos,  b.  Oct.  18,  1730.  12. 
Charity,  b.  June  6,  172S. 

Of  these  children,  I  find  in  Trumbull  Records,  Justus^,  who  married  Han- 
nah, and  had  Mary,  Oct.  1739  ;  Elizabeth,  Jan.  1743-3  ;  Sarah,  Dec.  1749  ;  Ra- 
chel,  Feb.  1753 ;  Mary,  Feb.  1757. 

JonN**,  who  m.  Eunice ,  and  had  John,  Feb.  1748;  David,  Feb.  10, 

1750  ;  Jonas,  March  1753. 

By  3d  wife,  Anna  Nichols,  m.  Aug.  15,  1754,  had  Eunice,  June  1755;  Mar- 
tJia,  Aug.  1757 ;  Ann,  May  1760  ;  Isaac,  April  1763. 

Amos*,  m   Abigail ,  and  ;had  Josiah.  Dec.  1747;  Elijah,  Feb.  1749; 

Patience,  Nov.  1750;  Justus,  i\i\y  1753;  Rachel,  March  1754;  Enoch,  March 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIEXT    WOODBURY.  1503 

1756;  Samuel,  March  1758;  a  son  unnamed,  Jan.  1700;  Phebe,  May  1763; 
Mary,  May  1764;  AbigaU,  Aug.  1770. 

By  all  which  it  appears  that  Samuel,  son  of  Edward  and  father  of  Lemuel 
was  /iot  "  the  ancestor  of"  all  "  the  Fairfield  County  Hinmans,"  by  far. 

Zechariaii  Hinman,  grandson  of  Edward,  Jr.  (but  I  know  not  by  which 
sire)  m.  Mary  (Booth),  and  had  3far>/  Booth,  b.  May  1772. 

Elijah  Hinman,  son  of  Amos,  m.  Mercy  Hoyt,  and  had  a  dau.,  bap.  Dec. 
1776,  {name  not  given). 

JosiAH  IIiNMAN,  son  of  .Amos,  m.  Phebe  Summers,  Jan  16,  1773,  and  had 
Abijah,  Nov.  1776;  Elijah  Summers,  May  1777;  Eunice,  Oct.  1779;  Ruth 
Anne,  June  1783  ;  Patieitee,  March  1786. 

John  Hinman,  son  of  John  and  Eunice,  married  Anna,  and  had  Orilla, 
(probably  Aurelia,)  Aug  1785. 

Justus  Hinman,  (son  of  Amos,)  m.  Abigail  Summers,  of  Stratfield,  Feb.  1, 
1774. 

Jonas  Hinman  (son  of  John  and  Eunice,)  m.  Katy  Fairchild,  May  16, 
1779.  They  had  Joseph  Curtiss,  Aug.  1780.  (Her  mother  was  a  Curtis)  ; 
Polhj,  July  1783;  -Sa%,  July  1786;  James,  Dec.  1738. 

(S'amuel  Hinman,  (son  of  Amos  and  Abigail,)  m.  Hannah  Seeley,  Nov. 
1786. 

Isaac  Hinman,   son  of  John  and  Anna,)  m.  Charity  Edwards,  Jan.  2,  1785. 

Enoch  Hinman,  (son  of  Amos  and  Abigal,)  m.  Hannah  Stratton,  Jan  3, 
1782. 

Hon.  Charles  Adams,  of  Litchfield,  furnishes  the  following  items: — 

Deacon  Scoviul  Hinman,  mentioned  on  page  561,  had  children  :  Myra,  b. 
Feb.  27, 1793,  lived  one  day;  Peter,  b.  July  13,  1784,  d.  Oct.  4,  1775  ;  Serena, 
b.  Aug.  23.  1786.  d.  Jan.  39,  1833  ;  Ei-astus,  b.  Nov.  22,  1798,  d.  about  1835  ; 
Herbert,  b.  Dec.  2ti,  180U,  d.  Feb.  20.  1829;  Giles,  b.  Aug.  22,  l(s03,  d.  Nov.  30, 
1804;  Jane  Cunningham,  b.  May  fi,  1806,  d.  June  10,  182(> ;  Charles  Wm.,  b. 
May  22,  1308,  d.  April  17,  181-5;  Julia  Maria,  b.  Dec.  7,  1810,  d.  Sept.  13, 
1869  ;  Mary,  b.  May  24,  1813,  d.  April  7,  1856  ;  Augusta,  b.  April  19,  1816,  d. 
July  16,  1031  ;  Henry  8.,  b.  April  7,  1819,  d.  Oct.  30,  1818. 

All  the  above  were  born  in  Woodbury  except  the  last  two,  who  were  born 
in  New  Haven. 

Jane  C.  and  Julia  M.  were  m.  to  Charles  .\dams,  of  New  Haven,  (now  of 
Litclifield).  Mary  m.  Rev.  Hiram'  A.  Graves,  of  Boston,  Cliarles  m.  piioda 
A.  Mills,  of  New  Havon.     Henry  m.  Hester  Foster,  of  New  Haven. 

The  wife  of  Deacon  Hinman  was  Deborah  Minor,  dau.  of  Deacon  Josiah 
Minor,  who  was  born  March  9,  1774. 

Of  the  children  of  Deacon  Josiah  Miner,  mentioned  on  page  689  :  Hannah, 
m.  Kollin  Mallory ;  Ann,m.  IMiilo  Judson,  father  of  Rev.  Philo,  who  resides 
at  Rocliy  Hill.  On  page  599  you  have  her  n«ime  Emma  Minor,  instead  of 
Ann,     Pier  2d  husband  was  Deacon  Sf^th  Minor. 

Thankful,  m.  Reuben  Hotchkiss.    Deborah,  in.  Scovill  Hinman. 

Captain  Elisha  Hinman,  b.  March  9tli,  and  baptized  March  10th,  1734,  was 
son  of  Capt.  Andnsw  llinnuin,  of  Woodbury,  grandson  of  Capt.  Titus,  and 
great-grandson  of  Edward  Hinman,  the  Pilgrim,  of  Stratford. 


1504-  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODEUKY. 

He  was  a  seaman  by  profession,  of  an  accomplished  character.  He  settled 
at  New  London.  Ct.,  in  early  life,  where  he  married,  lived  and  died.  In  the 
Revolutionary  War  he  commanded  the  frigate  Alfred.  In  this  ship  he  made 
several  successful  cruises,  and  took  many  valuable  prizes. 

"  He  was  one  of  the  fortunate  naval  officers  who  gained  laurels  for  them- 
selves and  many  valuable  prizes  for  the  country,  by  their  skill  and  bravery, 
during  the  Revolution,  in  that  unequal  contest  at  sea. 

After  Capt.  Hinman  left  the  service,  he  entered  into  mercantile  pursuits  at 
New  London  for  a  time,  and  for  several  years  commanded  the  Revenue  Cutter 
at  New  Loudon.  He  m.  Abigail  Dolebeare,  daughter  of  George  Dolebeare,  of 
New  London,  March  1st,  1777. 

Capt.  Hinman  died  Dec.  89,  181 G. 

His  wife  died  Aug.  29,  1805. 

Their  children  were:  I.  Mary  SJierwood,  b.  Jan.  6th,  1778,  m.  Ebenezer  Di- 
mon,  of  Fairfield,  Conn.,  for  many  years  Sheriff  of  Fairfield  County,  and  d. 
May  35,  1853. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Oct  11th,  1780,  m.  James  Day,  May  19th,  1811,  and  d. 

3.  ElisM,  Jr.,  b  June  29th,  1784,  and  d.  April  7t'h,  1835. 

4.  Ann  Welsh,  b.  July  39th,  1786,  now  living  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  the  widow 
of  Cyrus  Kellogg.     She  had  no  children.  ' 

The  children  of  Mary  Sherwood,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Dimon,  were  :  1.  Eliza- 
beth Ilwdinf/ton,  who  m.  Thomas  B.  Osborne,  resided  at  Fairfield,  Conn., and 
had  three  children  :  Arthur  D.  Osborne,  now  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  ;  TJiomas 
J^iYcA,  deceased  ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  B.  Harrison,  of  New  Haven, 
Conn. 

3.  Mary  8.,  who  m.  Day  0.  Kellogg,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  d.,  leaving  three 
children  :  Gem'ge  D.,  Theodore  and  Day  0.,  Jr. 

5.  Samuel  S.,  who  d.  in  May,  1854,  unmarried. 

4.  David,  now  a  physician  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  unmarried. 

5.  Theodore,  now  a  physician  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  m.  Sarah  Williams,  dau. 
of  Judge  Williams  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  has  three  children:  Theodore  W., 
George,  and  James  Wager. 

6.  George  D.,  who  d.  Sept.  16,  1833,  at  Fort  Crawford,  Prarie  du  Chein,  Wis., 
while  a  Lieutenant  in  the  regular  army,  unmarried. 

7.  Abigail  Hinman,  who  d.  unmarried  at  Fairfield,  Jan.  31,  1843. 

8.  Oliver,  who  was  a  lawyer  in  Boston,  Mass.,  for  several  years ;  then  stud- 
ed  for  the  ministry  three  years  at  Andover,  and  was  settled  as  a  minister  at 

Keosaiicjua,  Iowa,  where  he  lost  |his  health,  and  died  at  New  London,  Conn., 
Aug.  3'2d,  1855. 

9.  Harriet  died  in  infancy. 

The  children  of  Hannah  who  married  James  Day  were  :  1.  James  Ingersoll, 
late  of  Stcmington,  C'onn.,  now  of  New  Orleans,  La.  He  is  married  and  has 
several  children. 

2.  Abigail,  who  married  Jolui  P.  Brown,  of  Medvvay,  S.  C,  and  has  several 
children. 

3.  Mary  Sherwood,  who  married  Dr.  McEwen,  of  Stratford,  Conn.,  now  de. 
ceased,  and  at  present  resides  in  New  York  City. 

4.  Thomas  Dacis,  formerly  a  merchant  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  now  in  New  York 
City. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY,  1505 

HICOCK  FAMILY. 

[Additions  and  corrections  from  page  564.] 

Joseph  Hicock,  Jr.,  m.  Ruth  Faircliild.  Samuel  Hicock,  baptized  Sept. 
1687,  was  brother,  not  son  of  Joseph  Hicock.  This  Samuel  m.  Eleanor  Bost- 
wick.  On  page  565,  nine  lines  from  the  bottom,  erase  the  words : — '•  m.  Phi- 
loman  Trowbridge,  1773,"  and  insert  them  after  tlie  Eunice  mentioned  in  the 
1st  line  of  page  566.  The  name  Ithel,  on  page  564,  should  be  Ithicl,  vvlierever 
it  occurs. 

Frances  Amelia,  sister  of  George  A.  Hickox,  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  m.  Caleb 
Jewett,  of  Cortlandville,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  27,  1855  ;  died  at  Buffiilo,  N.  Y.,  Nov.' 2. 
1856,  giving  birth  to  a  daughter.  Frances  Hickox,  b.  Oct.  26,  1856,  d.  Jan. 
15,  1858.  George  A. .Hickox,  Editor  of  the  Litchfield  Enquirer,  m.  Mary  Cath- 
erine Brisbane,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  April  22,  1856,  and  has  two  children  : 
William  Bruhane,  h.  March  18th,  1663,  and  Franres  Eliot,  b.  April  1.  1864. 

3.  Eleanor  m.  Nehemiidi  De  Forest,  and  had  Cluirle!^,  who  died  in  Bridge- 
port about  six  years  ago.     (Charles  was  half  brother  of  William). 


HILL  FAMILY. 
[Additions  to  page  567.] 
JON-VTHAN  HrLL,  father  of  Charles  Hill,  b.  in  Bethlehem.  March  25th, 
1769,  m.  Sarah  Judson,  dau.  of  Jonathan  Judson,  of  Woodbury,  Feb.  9th, 
1792,  removed  to  Livingston  County,  New  York,  about  the  year  1818.  He  d. 
at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  6th,  1849,  in  his  80th  year.  His  wife  died  there  April  4, 
1847,  aged  75  years.     Had  children  : 

1.  Clarissa  Maria,  b.  Nov.  13,  17'.)2,  married Bushncll,  d.  May  8,  1837. 

2.  Louisa  Sophia,  b.  Nov.  13,  1792,  d.  in  infancy. 

3.  Frederick  Bennett,  h.  April  21st,  1794,  m.  Buslmell,  d.  in  Canada  West. 
Sept.  2,  1846.  i 

4.  CJiarles  Judson,  b.  April  13.  1796,  settled  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Nov.,  1816, 

5.  Ruth  Alma,  h.  May  28,  1798,  m. Bushneli,  settled  in  Livingston  Co., 

N.  Y.     Died  March  2d,  1844. 

6.  Erastus,  b.  April  30,  1802,  settled  in  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  after- 
wards removed  to  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  where  he  died  June  10th.  1870,  greatly 
respected,  leaving  a  widow  and  children. 

7.  Polly,  b.  June  29,  1804,  m. Johnson,  Feb.  20th,  1828.     Settled  in 

Western  New  York.     Died  a"t  Honeyage  Falls,  Nov.  11th,  1841. 

8.  Trvman  Curtiis,  b.  Jan.  loth,  1S07.  Graduated  at  Union  Colleger,  and 
t-ntered  the  ministry.  Married  Miss  Howland,  May  24th,  1840.  Died  at  his 
residence,  near  Kalamazoo,  Mich  ,  Aug.  25,  1864,  leaving  a  widow  and  chh. 

9.  Georye  Gilbert,  b.  April  23d,  1814.     Married  Surah  Backus,  Dec.  29,  1836. 

10.  Julia  Sophronia,h.  Jan.  1,  1820.     Died  in  infancy. 

Chari.ks  J.  Hill,  b.  at  Woodbury  April  13th,  1796.  Married  Salome  Mor- 
gan, of  Brinifield,  Mass.,  Jan.  15,  1823.  Settled  in  Rochester,  181(5.  Com. 
menced  tlie  mercantile  business  at  Rochester.  1818,  with  Andrew  N.  F.  Leav- 
itt,  of  Bethleni,  under  the  firm  of  Leavitt  &  Hill,  who  built  the  fiist  brick 
dwelling-house  in  Rochester,  in  1822,  whicli  now  numbers  75,000  inliabitants- 


1506 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 


In  1831,  C.  J.  H.  entered  the  mercli.ant  milling  business,  in  which  he  is  still 
engaged — for  the  last  twenty  years,  under  the  firm  of  "  C.  J.  Hill  &  Son." 

Have  children:  1.  Charles  Benedict,  b.  Aug.  8th,  1826,  now  of  the  milling 
firm  of  C.  J.  Hill  &  Son,  m.  Catherine  Elizabeth  Clarke.  Has  children  :  Effie 
Heaton,  Charles  Judson,  Emily  Hill,  Walter  Phelps,  WeWia  Hill. 

2.  Cornelia,  died  in  infancy. 

3.  Weltha  Burwell,  b.  March  20, 1881 ;  unmarried. 

4.  Harriet  Hempsted,  b.  Aug  9th,  1834.  Married  Edward  J.  Owen,  Attor- 
ney at  Law,  New  Tork  City,  where  she  d.,  with  her  first  child,  June,  1863. 

5.  Emily  Williston,  b.  Aug.  22d,  1842.  Married  Edward  H.  Pierce,  Attorney 
at  Law,  Boston,  May  5th,  1869,  where  she  now  resides.  One  child  :  Hattie 
Hill 


HOLLISTER  FAMILY. 


Sable,  between  a  greyhound  conrant,  bendways,  and  a  dolphin  hauriant,  in 
base  aro^ent,  3  roses  gules  ;  <'n  a  chief  of  the  second,  2  slips  of  strawberry, 
fructed  proper. 

Crest — an  arm  in  armor  embowed  Ix^tween  2  sprigs  of  strawberry,  as  in 
the  arms,  and  holding  a  branch  of  holly  proper 

Motto—"  Fuimus,  et  sub  Deo  Erimus." 

The  hi.story  of  the  origin  of  the  name  of  Hollister,  given  on  page  583.  thoujcrh 
furnished  the  writer  by  a  very  painstaking  and  accurate  genealogist,  turns  out 
to  be  erroneous,  as  well  as  some  subsequent  particulars  in  the  same  account- 
Hon.  Gideon  H.  Hollister,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  late  Minis^r  to  Hayti,  wliile 
collecting  the  materials  for  his  valuable  History  of  Connecticut,  engaged  the 
services  of  the  late  Payne  Kenyon  Kilbourne,  of  Litchfield,  a  careful  inves- 
tigator, to  make  full  examination  of  the  records,  the  result   of  wliich  was 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  DjIJ  U  R  Y  .  1507 

tliat  lie  was  able  to  obtain  a  perfect  pedigree,  from  John  Hollister  of  Weth- 
ersfield,  to  the  John  Hollister  who,  in  160S,  was  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Stinch- 
corab  and  Burleigh,  with  many  particulars  in  regard  to  the  generations  of 
the  family,  their  residences,  and  final  resting  places.  In  the  various  changes 
which  JVIr.  Hollister  has  made  in  his  places  of  business,  including  his  resi- 
dence abroad,  those  data  have,  for  the  most  part,  been  lost,  and  cannot  be  in- 
troduced here.  He  informs  the  writer,  that  the  name,  Hollister,  is  derived 
from  two  French  words,  which  mean  holly-land,  or  the  place  where  the  holly 
tree  abounds,  and  that  there  is,  in  Gloucestershire,  Eng  ,  a  hamlet  called  Hol- 
lister. 

Rev.  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  of  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y.,  has  sent  the  following  cor- 
rections in  this  genealogy  : — 

HOLLISTEK,  page  585.     Gideon, J?,  sou  of  Thomas,  was  not  he  who  came  to 

Stratford.     He  married  Rachel ,  and  settled  in  Glastenbury,  where  he  d- 

in  175;}.  Gideon,  of  Stratford,  was  son  of  Stephen.  (See  Goodwin's  Histori- 
ical  Notes). 

JouN  Hollister,  freeman  in  Weymouth,  1643,  resided  in  Mass  ,  1044. 
Nov.  of  same  year,  in  Westtield,  Conn.  Hadley,  1659,  m.  Joanna,  dau.  of 
Richard  Treat,  1st,  and  died,  April,  1665,  leaving  widow  Joanna  and  children  : 

John,  b.  1642,  Thomas,  Stephen,  Joseph,  Lazarus,  b.  about  1656,  d.  Sept.' 
1709,  (Probably  not  in  that  order,)  and  dau.,  Mary  wife  of  John  Wells,  of 
Stratford,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  who  m.,  1674,  Rev.  Hope  Atherton,  of  Hatfield, 
and  1678  or  9,  Timothy  Baker,  of  Northampton.  Joseph  and  Lazarus  died 
childless.  John,  Jr.  married,  Nov.  20,  1(J67,  Sarah,  eldest  dau.  of  William 
Goodrich  1st,  (not  W.  J.  Jr.,  who  had  no  children  till  1081,  and  no  Sarah  at 
all).  Children  :  John,  b.  Aug.  9th,  1669  ;  Thomas,  Jan.  14,  1672  ;  Joseph,  July 
8,  1674 ;  Sarah,  Oct.  25,  1676  ;  Elizabeth,  Marcli  30,  1678  ;  BaBid,  Nov.  21, 
1681  ;  Ephraim,  March  15,  16S4;  Charles,  July  29,  1086 ;  Elizabeth,  (no  date,) 
(probably  the  first  Elizabeth  died  young,  and  this  latter  one  married  Dr. 
Steele). 

Stephen  Hollister,  son  of  the  first  John,  m.  Abigail,  b.  1659,  dau.  of 
Matthias  Treat,  A. D.  1683.  His  children  were:  Jonathan,  (says  Savage,) 
probably  correct;  Jerusha,  (says  Goodwin,)  b.  Jan.  7,  1684;  Stephen,  b.  Nov. 
12,  1680,  died  1706;  Abigail,  b.  Aug.  16,  1088;  Ann,  b.  March  16,  1090;  Ger- 
shorn,  h.  Ai)ril  2,  1092;  Samuei,h.  1694;  Eunice,  b.  1696 ;  Gideon,  b.  1698; 
Daniel,  h.  1700;  Nathaniel,  h.  1702.  By  second  wife,  Elizabeth,  widow  (or 
daughter)  of  Jonathan  Reynolds,  he  had  Stephen,  b.  Sept.  12  1709,  and  died 
Oct.  2,  1709.  (This  widow  Elizabeth  could  not  have  been  the  widow  of 
Jonathan  Reynolds,  who  diiid  1673,  for  his  wife  could  not  have  been  born 
later  than  163S,  and  would  be  too  old  in  1709.  (May  not  Savage  have  been 
misinformed — widow  for  daughter — because  J.  R's  daughter  Elizabeth,  born 
1667,  would  meet  the  conditions  better). 

Gideon,  b.  1698,  son  of  Stephen  Hollister,  married  Rebecca  Sherman.  You 
will  have  noticed  (on  your  page  586)  the  typographical  error,  1823  for  1723. 
The  marriage  is  on  Stratford  Record.  Gideon  Hollister  married  Rebecca 
Sherman,  Maich,  1722-3.  They  had  Sarah,  bap.  Jan.  172^.  She  had  bap.  Gid.- 
eon,  Sept.,  1725. 


1 508  IIISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT      WOO  D-B  U  K  Y  . 

Gideon  Holister  was  drowned  in  Pequonnock  River  (Head  of  Bridgeport 
Harbor)  May  10,  1735,  a  little  more  than  four  months  before  his  son's  Ijirth. 

(HoUister's  settlement  in  Stratford  may  have  been  influenced  by  the  fact 
that  his  sister,  Ann,  had  married  Robert,  son  of  Joseph  Booth,  of  Stratford, 
and  Mary  HoUister  (,his  cousin)  m.  Joseph  Slielton,  of  Stratford). 

G.  H.  and  his  wife  Rebecca  owned  the  Covenant  in  Stratford  church  Jan., 
13,  I73f.     She  joined  in  full  communion  March  81,  1735. 

On  a  careful  examination  of  the  records  of  Stratford,  the  author  has  dis- 
covered, to  his  full  satisfaction,  that  the  account  given  of  this  Rebecca  on 
page  586  is  erroneous,  and  that  she  was  not  a  descendant  of  Capt.  John  Sher- 
man. She  was  the  dau.  of  Daniel  Sherman,  by  his  wife,  Rebecca  Wheeler, 
of  Stratford,  and  was  born  there.  Daniel  Sherman,  was  son  of  Samuel  Sher- 
man, Jr.,  who  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Samuel  Sherman,  the  emigrant  to  Strat- 
ford. 


HUNTINGTON  FAMILY. 

1.  Simon,  as  tradition  has  it,  was  the  ancestor  of  all,  or  nearly  all  of  the 
Huntingtons  in  this  country.  He  was  b  in  England  andm.,  probably,  Marga. 
ret  Baret,  of  Norwich  or  its  immediate  vicinity,  Eng.  He  d.  while  on  the 
voyage  to  this  country  of  small  pox,  in  1633,  and  his  body  was  consigned  to 
its  ocean  grave.  He  had  five  children,  among  whom  was — 5.  Spmon,  b. 
according  to  the  Norwich  records,  in  England,  in  1629,  and  was  about  four 
years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to  this  country.  He  settled  in  Norwich, 
Conn.,  became  a  leading  citizen  there,  a  deacon  in  the  church  and  represent- 
ed the  town  in  the  General  Court.  He  m.  Oct.,  1658,  Sarah,  dan.  of  Joseph 
Clark,  of  Windsor  and  Saybrook.  He  moved  to  Norwich  in  1660.  He  died» 
28th  June,  1706,  aged  77.  Shed.  1721,  aged  88.  He  had  10  children,  among 
whom  was — (3)  Daniel,  b.  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  March  13,  1675-6,  m.  Ist,  Abi- 
gail, dau.  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Rudd)  Bingham,  who  was  b.  4th  Nov.,  1679, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children.  Slie  d.  Dec.  25th,  1734.  He  m.  2d,  Rache. 
Wolcott,  of  Windham.  He  d.  in  Norwich,  I3th  Sept.,  1741.  His  3d  child 
by  his  1st  w.  was  Daniel,  b.  in  Norwich,  March  34th,  1711.  He  graduated 
at  Yale,  1733,  and  m  ,  Sept.  35,  1740,  Sybil  Bull,  of  Milford.  She  d.  Oct.  12, 
1744.  He  m.  2d,  Rebecca  Huntington,  July  24,  1746.  She  d.  March  7,  1774. 
Rev.  S.  B.  Huntington  has  two  different  dates  for  this  death.  On  page  87  of 
his  Huntington  Genealogy,  he  has  it  April  15,  1798.  On  page  87  he  has  it  as 
above,  lie  d.  July  26,  1756.  He  had  five  childi-en,  all  born  in  Norwich,  the 
3d  of  whom  was— (5)  Dr.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  8,  1744.  He  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  Joseph  Perry,  of  Woodbury,  and  commenced  its  practice  in  that  town 
about  the  year  1767.  He  became  a  man  of  some  distinction  in  his  profession, 
and  in  the  1st  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  deacon.  He  was  the  first  Postmas. 
ter  in  Woodbury,  which  office  he  held  from  1797  to  1814.'  He  d.  Feb.  19, 
1819.    He  m.  Sybilla  Tomlinson.     She  was  b.  Sept.  TO,  1750. 

'  To  this  point  the  account  of  this  family  has  been  taken  from  Rev.  E.  B. 
Huntington's  "  Memoir  "  of  the  Huntington  Family 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  O  I  E  N  T    W  O  O  D  B  U  li  Y  .  1509 

Children:  Syhilla,  b.  January  1,  17T0,  m.  Diivul  Stiles  Curtls.s,  father  of 
Daniel  Curtiss,  Esq.  She  d.  Dec,  30,  1838.  He  d.  Jan.  23,  1846.  Abigail,  b. 
Dec.  18,  1770.  So  the  record  says — two  births  in  one  year.  Both  lived  to  be 
baj).  in  1781,  with  the  remainino;  four  children  :  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  7,  1772;  Cyn- 
thia, b.  April  1, 1774  ;  Isaac,  b.  July  20,  1776  ;  llassel,  b.  Jan.  18,  1779,  d.  Sept. 

14,  1794;  Alza,   bap.  June  10,    1787,  ni. Proctor,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 

April  21,  1822.     Children  :   William  //.  and  Nathaniel L. 

James  Huntington,  Escj.,  Attorney  at  Law,  at  Woodbury,  is  descended 
from  the  first  Simon  throiiii-lx  another  line. 


KURD  FAMILY. 

A  little  care  is  necessary  to  avoid  confusion  here.  John  Hurd,  among  the 
.  first  settlers  of  Meriden,  came  so  early  to  Stratford,  that  he  represented  the 
town  in  1649.  He  had  either  a  brother  or  a  son  Adam,  i^robably  his  brother, 
because  both  Adam's,  sou  John  and  John's  son  John,  were  m.  in  Dec.  1662. 
These  two  Johns  are  sometimes  styled  "  cousins,"  on  the  record,  which  would 
make  Adam  a  brother  of  the  elder  John.  But  again,  Adam's  son  John  is 
styled  nephew  of  the  other  John,  which  implies  brotherhood  of  their  fathers, 
although  the  two  terms  of  kinship  are  carelessly  exchanged. 

On  Dec.  10,  16rl2,  John  Hurd.  Jr.,  (so  called)  son  of  Adam,  m.  Ann,  widow 
of  Joshua  Ji/fdson,  and  he  had  Sarah,  Dec.  1664  ;  Joseph,  Feb.  1666  ;  Benja- 
?/mi,  Feb.  1667;  Ebenezer,  Nov.  1668.  Etith,  Feb.  1670 ;  Jo/m,  Aug.  1673. 
This  John  the  son  op  Adam  is  he  who  went  to  Woodbury. 

The  other  John  son  of  John,  m.  Dec.  15,  1662,  Sarah,  dau.  of  John  Thomp- 
son, and  from  1664,  to  1679,  had  eight  children.  John,  SaraJi,  Hanuah,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Mary,  Esther,  Abigail,  but  of  these  I  snppose  you  have  no  need. 


HULL  FAMILY. 

I  examined  the  Derby  Records  for  Mr.  Savage  and  drew  off  the  Hull  gene- 
alogy, of  which  he  has  made  use  in  his  work.' 

John  Hull,  (who  seems  to  be  the  John  of  New  Haven,  1637,  and'  boh  fti 
Atniruw)  ai)pears  in  Stratford,  1661.  In  1670  he  voted  in  Pagusset  (Derby) 
as  an  inhabitant,  although  tlie  birth  of  his  sons,  in  1672,  is  recorded  in  Strat- 
ford. (Tliis  may  be  explained  by  reference  to  the  case;  of  Thomas  Wheeler 
before  the  Court  at  New  Haven,  1668,  by  which  it  seems  that  Stiatford  claim- 
ed jurisdiction  and  levied  ministers  rates  at  Pagusset,  so  that  Hull's  record 
might  be  left  at  Stratford). 

Upon  Stratford  Record  are  the  following  named  children  of  John  Hull: — 
John,  b.  March  1662,  d.  1753  at  Derby;  Samuel,  Feb.  1663-4,  m.  Deborah 
Beers  Fairchild  ;  Mary,  Oct.  16(i6;  Joseph,  Feb.  1668-9,  d.  1744,  great-great, 
grandlather  of  Commodore  Hull ;  Benjamin,  April  1672. 

On  Record  at  IX'rby  ;  Richard,  Oi-X-\<6lA  ;  Ebenezer ,1678,  drowned  in 

the  Naugatuck  in  1722;  J&remiah,  1679.  Andrew,  1685. 

'  Furnished  by  Rev.  B.  L.  Swan. 


1510  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY. 

Joseph  Hull  of  Derby,  son  of  John  m.  in  1691.  Mary  Nichols,  dau.  of  Ca 
leb  Nichols,  of  Woodbury,  (see  Nichols,)  and  had  Samuel,  1692;  Joseph,  2d 
1694;  Calsa,  1695;  Andrew,  1697;  Mary,  1699;  Sarah,  1701;  Abijah  1703- 
Nathan,  17o9. 

His  wife  d.  in  1733.     In  1735  he  m.  Hannah  Prindle,  and  died  in  1741. 

Joseph  Hull  2d.  son  of  Joseph  son  of  John,  m.  Sarah ,  and  had  Sarah, 

1726;  Joseph,  3d,  1727:  Elizahcth,  1731  ;  Anna.  1736. 

Joseph  Hull,  8d,  m.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Clarke,  May  I75i) ;  they  had  Joseph,  4th, 
Oct.  1750;  General  William,  1752;  Samuel,  1755;  Isaac,  Levi,  and  David. 

Joseph  Hull,  4th,  b.  1750,  d.  1826,  in  his  76th  year,  had  Isaac,  (Commodore). 


JUDSON  FAMILY. 
.[Additions  and  corrections.] 

JtTDSON,  Jeremiah,  (page  588,  No.  21,  V.,)  among  his  children  is  Mercy 
instead  Martha.     She  married  Solomon  Burton  in  1687. 

Joshua  Judson,  (4)  son  of  William,  m.  Ann,  (who,  Goodwin  is  confident 
was  a  dau.  of  John  Porter,  of  Windsor.)  They  had  children  :  Joshua,  b- 
Dec,  1658  ;  Samuel,  b.  Aag.,  1660,  and  Aim,  who  must  have  been  older  than 
the  sons— perhaps  born  1656— for  she  married  Arthur  Perry  about  1675. 

Joshua  Judson  died  1661,  aged  88  In  1662  his  widow  married  John  Hurd, 
Jr.,  and  had  by  him  six  children. 

Jeremiah  Judson's  1st  wdfe  was  Sarah,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  Foote.  They 
were  married  in  1652.  She  died  1673,  a:ged  41.  She  was  the  mother  of  all 
his  children.  His  second  wife,  Katiuirine,  m.  Nov.  8,  1675,  was  widow  of 
Thomas  Fairchild,  Sr.  She  was  also  liis  second  wife.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Craig.  J.  J.  went  to  London  to  marry  her  in  1662.  The  bond  executed 
by  him  to  secure  her  a  title  to  his  real  estate  in  Hartford,  is  on  record 
in  Hartford.  Descendants  of  Jeremiah  Judson  are  in  Stratford  (old  Mill  Hill) 
and  in  Bridgeport. 

11.  No.  7  in  your  list  of  Joseph's  cliildren,  (p.  588)  viz  :  Joshua,  b.  Dec.  3, 
1658,  is  by  mistake.  He  was  Joshua's  son,  not  Jose])h's.  The  latter  had  but 
one  Joshua,  a  twin  witli  Ruth,  and  he  died  young. 

Page  593.  Capt.  James  Judscm,  No.  (61)  married  Nov.  12,  1751,  Mary  Ed- 
wards, dau.  of  Thomas.  (North  Stratford— Trumbull.) 

P.  592.  Polly  Judson  m.  Solomon  Stoddard.  Kezia  m.  John  Bassett,  of 
Kettletown,  (Soutlibury).  ,  Mary  ni.  Birdseye  Curtiss,  of  Newtown. 


JOHNSON  FAMILY. 
[Additions  and  corrections.] 

Page  600.  It  was  Moses  Jounson  himself,  not  his  son  Moses,  who  came 
to  Stratford  and  signed  the  Woodbury  compact.  Moses,  Ebenezer,  (who  went 
to  Derby,)  and  John,  who  d.  in  1659,  are  understood  to  be  sons  qf  Peter,  of 
Fairfield. 


HISTORY      OF     A  N  ('  I  K  NT  T     W  O  O  D  IJ  U  li  Y  .  1511 

Moses  Jolinsou  m.  about  1676,  Mary,  dau.  of  Robert  Rose,  of  Stratford. 
Children:  Rebecca,  b.  A])ril,  1677,  died  young;  Zeruiah,  b.  April  30,  1682; 
Rebecca,  b.  1684;  Jolm.  h.  April  18,  1686  ;  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  5,  1688;  Mary,  b. 
April  20,  1690;  Elizabeth,  Oct.  18,  1691;  Mosen,  b.  May  13,  1694;  Solomon, 
Jan.  3,  1695-6. 

That  Moses  Johnson,  Senior,  married  again  is  plain,  from  the  mention  of 
Mary,  "his aged  widow,"  in  1747. 


JENNER  FAMILY. 

Paofe  603.  John  Jenner  was  in  Stratford  before  1650,  but  left  in  a  few 
years :  went  to  Long  Island  ;  had  by  his  wife,  Alice  thought  to  be  dau.  of 
Robert  Pigg,  of  New  Haven  :  Mary,  b.  Oct.,  1648  ;  Thoma><,  b.  April,  1051, 
and  others. 

Samuel,  of  Woodbury,  descended  from,  or  rather  may  have  been  son  of 
Thomas.  Another  Thomas,  of  Charlestown  Mass.,  had  a  son  Samuel,  but  lie 
was  b.  in  1669,  and  would  be  but  18  or  19  years  old  when  Woodbury  Samu- 
el's first  child  was  born. 


KNOWLES  FAMILY. 

Page  604.  Eleaznr  Knowles  was  son  of  Thomas,  of  New  Haven.  Thomas 
Knowles  was  of  New  Haven,  1645  ;  died  before  1648  ;  leaving  wibow  Eliza- 
beth and  sons  Eleazur  and  Thomas.  The  widow  married,  in  1650,  Nicho- 
las Knell,  whose  dau.  Elizabeth,  b.  1653,  m.  John  Mitchell.  What  became  of 
Thomas  K.,  brother  of  Eleazer,  does  not  appear. 

The  following  was  received  from  Hon.  Liberty  Knowles,  of  Potsdam,  N.  Y. 

"  You  7nay  find  my  name  on  ])age  605 — 8.  Liberty. — You  have  given  my 
eldest  brother  a  girl's  name,  Ellen.  My  father  gave  him  the  first  syllable  of 
his  name.  El.,  reserving  Eazer  for  his  youngest  son,  b.  at  Orenville,  N.  Y. 
Feb.  1787.  My  father  removed  to  Greenville,  (then  Lotana,)  March  1st,  1780', 
and  d.  there  181 4  where  El  and  Eazar  still  live.  Liberty  was  educated  at 
Williams  College,  Mass.,  opened  a  Law  office  at  Potsdam,  June  14th,  1809  . 
m.  Melinda  Raymond,  of  Richmond,  Mass.,  Feb.,  1812  ;  had  children:  Cathe- 
rine, b.  Nov.  12th;  Henry  L.,  b.  June  23d,  1815,  educated  at  Union  College, 
N.  Y.,  took  liis  father's  place  in  Law  business,  1838;  William  L.,  b.  Feb.  26, 
1818,  educated  at  University  of  Vt.,  commenced  Law  practice  at  Potsdam, 
1845  ;  Augmtns  L.,  b.  May  11.  1821,  d.  Oct.  19tli,  1824. 

"  Many  a  leisure  hour  lias  been  agreeably  spent  in  reading  of  old  Wood- 
bury and  its  descendants.  We  trace  the  Knowles  line  to  the  grandfather  of 
Eleazar,  of  Stratford,  who,  with  sixty-nine  others,  sailed  in  a  new  shij)  from 
New  Haven  for  Liverpool  in  Jan.,  1646,  and  were  never  heard  of.  He  left  a 
wife  and  two  sons— one  son  d.  young,  the  other  removed  to  Stratford,  m. 
Jane  Porter.  Children,  two  sons  :  Eleazer  and  Thomas.  E.  was  amongst  the 
first  settlers  of  Woodbury. 


1512  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY, 


KASSON  FAMILY. 

Page  604.     There  is  an  error  in  the  date  of  the  marriage  of  Geore  M.  Kas^ 
son  to  Lucretia  M.  Turn.^r.     It  shoahl  be  A]n-il  7,  1830. 

After  Elizabeth  11.,  ou  tlie  same  page,  insert  William  A.,  b.  Feb.  20,  1854. 


KIRTLAND  FAMILY. 

The  family  of  Kirtland  is  of  Scotch  descent ;  and  among  the  first  thirty-six 
settlers  of  Saybrook,  in  1635,  was  John  Kirtland,  who  came  from  Silver- 
street,  London.  He  had  a  son  John,  who  was  the  father  of  Daniel,  who  was 
the  father  of  the  noted  missionary,  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  who  was  born  in 
1701,  graduated  at  Yale  College  1720,  under  the  name  of  Kirtland.  John 
Kirtland  m.  his  1st  wife  in  Saybrook,  Marrh  o,  1703  ;  m.  2d,  Lydia  Baldwin. ' 

John  Kirtland,  first  settler,  who  came  from  Essex  County,  Eng.,  about 
1633,  m.  Lydia,  dau.  of  Lieut.  Wm.  Pratt.  His  son  John  m.  Lydia  Belden. 
His  grandson,  Ezra,  b.  Oct.,  1738,  went  from  Saybrook  to  Bridgeport.  1748,  m- 
Olive  Wakeley  1752,  and  had  two  sons,  Ez.-a  and  Zebulon,  and  d.  1800.  His 
wife  d.  1803.  Ezra,  b.  1753,  was  m.  1791,  to  Sarah  Wheeler;  had  seven 
children,he  died  1799  ;  she  died  1837.  Their  first  son  d.,  aged  19  :  Wheeler 
b.  Aug.,  1780,  moved  to  Woodbury, .m.  Phebe  Minor,  dau.  of  deacon  Matthew 
and  had  seven  children.  He  died  1822,  his  wife  d.  1845.  Wheeler,  d.  1823 
aged  17.  Cornelia  m.  John  Finch,  New  York  City,  1832— both  dead.  They 
had  three  children.  John  K.,  Mattliew  M.,  Cornelia  T.  Sarah  m.  Geo.  C.  Mi 
nor,  1829,  and  had  two  children  ;  family  all  dead.  Chas.  W.  Kirtland  m.  Eliza 
beth  Ann  Stiles,  1854.  Reside  at  Woodbury.  Lewis  m.  Mary  Ann  Tracy 
1851,  she  and  child  d.  He  resides  at  Minneapolis,  Minn  Benjamin  d.  1844 
aged  23.  Eliza  m.  Hiram  B.  Piatt,  1840.  He  d.  1863.  They  have  four  chil 
dren ;  Maggie,  Fannie,  Ida  and  William.    Reside  at  Waterbury. 


LAMBERT  FAMILY^ 
[Additions.] 

Henry  Lambert  m.  Amelia  C.  Moses,  Nov.  1,  1854.  Children  :  1.  Jesse  Peck, 
b.  Feb.  14,  1859,  d.  Oct.  20,  1859.     2.  Charles  L.,  b.  May  29,  1861. 

GeouOtE  D.  Lp.mbert,  m.  Ellen  A.  Judson,  Oct.  18,1858.  Child:  Frank 
Judson,  b.  Oct.  19th,  186i. 

Henry  A  Lambert  m.  Sarah  G.  Corliss,  Sept.  3,  1S07.  Child:  Wallace 
Corliss,  b.  May  28,  1 80!>. 

Elizabeth  L.  Lambert m.  Truman  Abrams,  Sept.  5th,  1854.  Children:  Ella 
Lambert,  b.  June  27,  1855 ;  Eddie  A.  h.  June  22,  1857. 

Willis  Lambert  (p.  611)  d.  June  7,  1871.     Eliza,  his  wife,  d.  Oct  4,  1865. 

'  Davis'  Hist,  of  Wallingford. 


HISTORY      OF      AX  C  IK  NT     WOODBURY.  1513 


LEAVEN  WOIITII  FAMILY. ' 

On  page  612  is  an  acoount  of  the  oricrin  of  the  Leavenworth  family  in  tliis 
country.  It  was  taken  principally  from  the  "  Leavenworth  Tree  "  preserved 
in  the  family,  supposed  to  l)e  correct,  and  by  them  specially  requested  to  be 
inserted.  Later  investigations,  by  Deacon  Philo  M  Trowbridge,  and  by  Rev. 
Benjamin  L.  Swan,  have  shown  that  there  are  many  inaccuracies.  The  au- 
thor would  have  re  written  the  article,  witli  all  the  lights  before  him,  except 
tliat  Ilia  frieud.  Gen.  E,  W.  Leavenworth,  of  Syracuse  N.  Y.,  has  been  for 
for  many  years  engaged  in  perfecting  a  complete  list  of  the  family  in  this 
country,  and  being  now  on  the  eve  of  publishing  it,  it  would  Ije  ungenerous 
to  anticipate  him  by  publishing  some  of  his  materials  in  advance  of  him, 
when  he  lias  been  at  so  much  pains  and  expense  in  preparing  his  list  for  the 
.use  of  his  family  name. 

The  following  correcti<ms  and  additions,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Swan,  are  added  to 
set  the  author  right  so  far  as  he  attempted  to  give  the  liistory  of  the  family 
in  his  former  work  : 

Leavenworth. 

Thomas  Le.wenwohtii,  of  Woodbury,  died  in  1683.  His  inventory  was 
made  Aug  20,  1683.  Property  £23o  3s.  Id.  He  left  a  widow,  Grace,  who 
June  11,  1684,  executes  a  document  yet  on  record  in  Hartford.  The  C'ourt^ 
in  distributing  his  estat(>,  mentions  three  children,  without  giving  their 
names— two  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  sons  are  not  then  21  years  of  age, 
nor  the  dau.  18  years  old.  The  sons  prove  to  be  TJiomna  and  JoJm.  I  think 
the  widow  married  David  Jenkins  as  his  second  wife.  Jenkins  went  from 
Woodbury  to  Stratford  in  1694.  He  had  by  former  marriage  Alice  b.  1678, 
who  died  in  Stratford  in  March,  1708-9,  and  Mary,  who  married  Thomas 
Leavenworth  2d.  In  1715,  Thomas  L.  '2d  gives  bonds  for  maintenance  of 
David  and  Grace  Jenkins. 

Thomas  L.  2d,  first  appears  in  Stratford  in  an  old  account  book  of  Ju.seph 
Booth,  l69o,  (tanner  and  shoemaker,)  agreeing  to  make  for  Booth  two  i)airsof 
shoes  per  week  for  his  board,  2s.  2d.  per  pair. 

In  January,  1697-8  T.  L.  2d  "owns  covenant"  in  Stratford,  and  in  Febru- 
ary 6,  1697-8,  is  received  to  fall  communion. 

In  1696  he  acquires  land  in  Stratford  by  exchange  with  John  Judson,  of 
Wo<^)dbur}-.  There  seems  also  to  have  been  a  nephew  or  brother  of  Thomas 
Leavenworth  Ist  in  Woodbury,  for  in  October  12, 1702,  the  inventory  of  '  John 
Leavenworth,  sometime  of  Woodbury,"  is  pn^sented  in  Fairfield  Probate 
Court,  and  administration  is  granted  to  Thomas  Leavenworth  of  Stratford, 
"  cousin  to  the  deceased."  Finally,  by  order  of  Court,  the  property,  £47,  His. 
8d.,  is  divided  between  the  abovesaid  "  TIwumk  L,  and  his  brother  John." 

In  1728,  Thomas  L.  2d  is  mentioned  as  Dr  Thomas  L.,  of  Ripton,  (Hun- 
tington). John  Leavenworth,  br(;ther  of  Thomas  2d,  is,  in  1705,  styled 
"  blacksmith,  in  Stratford."     He  had  a  son  Ebenezer,  bap.  in  1701!,  (June.) 

*  See  History  of  Waterbury,  Conn.,  page  515,  and  foot  note;  for  corrections 
in  part,  and  for  other  branches  of  the  family. 


1514  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

Thomas  Leavenworth  "  (sou  of  Thomas  Sen.,  of  Woodbury,  who  d.  1683) 
married  Mary,  dau.  of  David  Jenkins.  They  lived  in  Ripton  Parish  (New 
Huntington).  Tlie  children  (jiartly  on  record  and  partly  derived  from  his 
will  of  July  6,  1748.)  were:  Jamefi  h.  Sept.  1,  1699,  d.  1759  ;  David,  b.  Oot.  12. 
1701,  d.,  I735,(m.  Sarah—.  She  joined  Woodbury  church  1734.  He  in  1727.) 
leaving  sons,  Nathan  and  Ebenezer,  (named  in  grandfather's  will,) ;  Eberiezer, 
b.  April  7,  1706,  d.  17o4,  unmarried.  Estate  distributed  to  brothers  and  sis- 
ters. Johii,\i.  Nov.  3,  1708,  bap.  in  Stratfield.  There  is  a  discrepancy  of  two 
years  in  his  age,  as  given  at  deaili;  Mark,  (Rev.)  b.  1711' m.  Feb.  1740,  Ruth 
Peck,  and  Dec.  1750,  Sarah  Hull,  of  Derby ;  Zebulon,  m.  Esther,  who  d.  1793. 
He  d.  1778  ;  joined  Woodbury  church  1743  ;  Thomaa^ ;  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  6,  1722, 
m.  Abner  Perry  ;  Edmond,  b,  1725,  d.  1785  aged  60.  His  widow,  Abigail,  d. 
1804,  aged  81  ;  Mary,  m.  Joseph  Perry  ;  Hannah  m.  Nicholas  Moss. 

All  the  foregoing  are  named  in  Thomas  L."s  ^  will,  except  Ebenezer,  who 
was  already  dead  14  years. 

James,  son  of  Thomas  Leavenworth",  ra.  Hester  Trowbridge,  of  New 
Haven,  Aug.,  1720.  They  lived  in  Stratford,  and  he  d.  in  Aug.,  1759.  They 
had  Mehetable,  b.  July,  1721  ;  Tamar,  b  May,  1727;  Samuel,  h.  Feb.,  1729; 
Daniel,  b.  March,  1731  ;  Ann,  b.  April,  1733  ;  Mary,  b.  Aug.  1735  ;  James,  b. 
July,  1737  ;  Edher,  b.  Jan.,  1740  ;  Ehevezer,  b.  Sept.,  1743,  d.  young. 

You  will  see  that  the  lieads  of  all  your  classified  families  are  children  of 
Thomas  L.',  except  Ebenezer,  of  the  5tli  family,  and  he  was  son  of  David, 
who  was  son  of  Thomas',  and  d.  1725. 


MALLORY  FAMILY. 

Mallory,  page  615.  Peteh  Mallory  signed  New  Haven  Plantation  Cov- 
enant, 1644.  He  had  children  :  Rebecca,  b.  M:ay  18,  1649  ;  Peter,  b.  July  27, 
1673;  Mary,\).  Oct.,  1655,  d. ;  Mary,  Nov.  28,  1656,  Dodd  says  Sept.  28); 
Thomas,  b.  April  16,  1659;  (Dodd  says  Sept.  15,);  Daniel,  h.^ox.  25,  1661; 
John,  b.  May  10,  1664,  (Dodd  says  1663,) ;  Joseph,  b.  1666  ;  Benjamin,  b.  Jan. 
4,  1669.  (Dodd  says  1668,)  ;  Samuel,  b.  March  10.  1673;  William,  b.  Sept.  3, 
1695,  (Dodd  says  Sept.  2).  The  differences  between  Savage  and  Dodd  (His. 
tory  of  East  Haven,  where  the  Mallorys  livetl)  is  marked.  Dodd,  who  was 
a  careful  investigator,  and  was  on  the  spot,  is  to  be  preferred. 

Peter' Mallory,  son  of  Peter,  m.  Elizabeth  Trowbridge,  dau.  of  James  1st, 
of  New  Haven,  May  27,  1678, had:  Peter,  b.  April,  1679,  d. ;  Caleb,  b.  Nov.  3, 
1681;  Peter,  b.  Aug.  1684;  Elizabeth,  b.  April  27,  1687;  JuditJi,  b.  Sept.  2, 
1689  ;  Benjamin,  April  3,  1692  ;  Stephen,  b.  Oct.  12,  1694  ;  Ebenezer,  Nov.  29, 
1696;  Zechariah,  b.  May  2,  1609;  Abif/nil,  b.  Aug.  5,  1701  ;  Zipporah,  b.  Dec. 
15,  1705  ;  (Zipporali  m.  March  18,  1731  Jeremiah  Tomlinson,  of  North  Strat- 
ford) ;  Peter,  b.  March  1,  1708  (settl(>d  in  North  Stratford,  had  AndreiP,  1744). 
(12  in  all.) 

Thomas,  son  of  Peter  Mallory  Ist,  m.  March  26,  1684,  Mary  Umberfield, 
(dau.  or  sister  of  John  1st,  of  New  Haven,)  and  had  Thonia.H^  b.  Jan.  1,  1685  ; 
Daniel,  Jan.  2,  1687. 

Thomas  Mali-ory,'  son  of  Thomas,  son  of  Peter,  removed  to  Woodbury. 


HISTORY      O  V     A  N'  ('  I  E  N  T    W  ()  O  D  B  U  R  Y  .  1  5  1  5 

If  hc!  (lied  July  21,  1783,  he  was  not  lOl  years  old — but  (allowiiicr  H  days  for 
difference  between  Old  and  New  Style,)  98  years  6  mo.  9  days  of  age,  and  m. 
Jan.,  1706,  Elizabeth  Bartlett,  (probably  dau.  of  John  Bartlett,  who  came  to 
Stratford  l'67S).  They  had  jWiry,  b.  1707  ;  Thomnn,  b.  17()9  (  ?  )  ;  Bartlett  b. 
1710;  Aaron,  b.  \1\'l ;  John,  Jcsi^e,  b.  1715,  (you  sny  1717,  and  may  have  ac- 
cess to  more  correct  record). 

Pag-e  617.  Joitn  Mallory,  b.  1739,  •  who  m.  Esther  Barnes,)  was  son  of  Ben- 
jami'i,  of  Stratford,  who  was  son  of  Peter  Jr.,  of  New  Haven.  (Thomas  and 
Benjamin  were  second  cousins). 

Page  618.  T.m.eb  M.vllory,  b.  1726,  was  also  a  son  of  Benjamin,  of  Strat- 
ford. El'le  MitUory,  p.  618,  is  a  contraction  of  Elijah,  son  of  Benjamin,  b 
1738. 

I  can  give  you  all  Benjamin's  record  if  you  need.  He  lived  in  Ripton  Par- 
ish, and  m.  Eunice  Butler,  of  Wethersfleld,  Dec.  23,  1715,  and  had  12  chil- 
dren. There  seems  to  have  been,  in  most  of  the  Mallory  stock,  a  marvellous 
productive  vitality. 


MARSHALL  FAMILY. 

[Corrections  and  additions  by  Henry  P.  Marshall,  Esq.,  of  New  York.] 

Edw.vrd  Marshall  came  from  Barbadoes.  (There  is  no  evidence,  says 
Henry  P.  Marshall,  that  he  was  in  any  way  related  to  Jarvis  Marshall.) 

Refersnce  to  your  numbers  W-YV ,no  cfiiMreii— the  children  named  in  your 
book  were  the  cliildren  of  Hermann,  12-V. 

17-L  add  to  children  Cornelia  EUsinorfJi.  Henry,  before  given,  should  be 
Henry  Butgem. 

18-11.  Frederick  A.  m.  Ann  Quarles,  of  Kenosha,  Wis.,  d.  July  18,  1854. 
Buried  there.     He  d.  at  Woodbury,  26th  Feb.  1866,  51st  year. 

20-IV.     Walter  P.  m.  Frederica  Ellsworth. 


MARTIN  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

"  I  do  not  wonder,"  says  Mr.  Swan,  referring  to  tiie  former  account,  "  at 
your  incredulity  about  this  family.'' 

As  to  WiliLiAM,  who  settled  in  Woodbury,  I  doubt  his  having  had  a  mid- 
dl(;  name  (Seaborn).  Middle  names,  so  far  as  I  remember,  were  unknown  in 
New  England  before  the  2d  (juarter  of  last  century.  Had  he  been  born  on 
the  voyage  from  England,  tlie  parents  would  have  called  him  Seaborn,  alone, 
if  at  all,  as  Seaborn  Uoltov,  and  others.  2.  I  doubt  his  ever  having  been  an 
inliabitant  of  Stratford.  He  is  not  named  in  tlie  records  of  any  kind  or  in 
any  list  of  men,  up  to  1730 — indeed  at  all,  excepting  in  the  Brand  Book. 
William  Martyn,  of  Tl'^<?iAcrs/?cW,  is  mentioned  in  1670.  That  fact  identifies  his 
origin,  not  with  New  Haven,  but  Wethersfield — where  he  was,  and  of  which 
he  was,  in  1670.  I  feel  no  doubt  of  his  having  been  the  son  of  Samuel,  of 
43 


151G  HISTORY      OF      ANCIKNT      ■\\^OODBUBY. 

New  Haven  first,  aud  afterward  of  Wethersfield,  of  wliose  children,  doubt- 
less, Wethersfield  records  would  give  an  account. 

3  I  ildubt  the  marriajre  of  William  Martin  with  Abigail,  dau.  of  Jonathan 
Curtis  of  Stratford,  in  1685. 

Jonathan  Curtis,  son  of  William,  had  a  dau.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.  1G71,  (by  his 
wife  Abigail,  (dau.  of  John  Thompson),  who,  after  J.  C's  death  m.  Nocholas 
Huse).  This  daughter  Abigail  could  not  have  m.  Martin  in  1685,  because,  first, 
in  1692,  she,  as  Abigail  Curtis,  receipts  for  her  share  of  her  father's  estate, 
and  of  her  deceased  brother  William's  estate.  2.  She  did  after  Oct.  1692, 
probably  November,  m  Ebcnzer  Blackiman  as  his  2d  wife  In  1734,  Jona- 
than^, son  of  Jonathan',  and  his  "  sister  Abigail  Blakeman,"  adjust  property 
left  by  "  our  father  Jonathan  Curtiss." 

That  surely  decides  the  matter  and  sweeps  away  all  the  romance  of  that 
early  marriage  (p.  622.) 


MEIGS  FAMILY. 
[Additions.] 

Dr.  John  Mei^tR,  of  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  son  of  John  Meigs  of  East  Guil- 
ford, b.  April  29,  1725,  m.  Rebecca  Clark,  Jan.  21,  1744,  d.  1770.  Children: 
Dr.  Abner  Meigs,  b.  1749,  d.  1834;  Rebecca;  Dr.  Phineas ;  Jesse;  Irene; 
Rev.  Benjamin  C,  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  180ii ;  missionary  to  Ceylon. 
Died  there  1830. 

Dr.  Abner  Meigs,  son  of  Dr.  John  Meigs,  b.  in  Bethlehem,  Conj^,  moved 
to  Claremont,  New  Hampshire,  m.  Sarah  Church,  a  descenc^ant  of  the  famous 
Capt.  Churcli,  of  Conn.  Children :  Dr.  John  Meigs,  b.  in  Claremont  about 
1774,  d.  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  1823  ;  Eeman,  b.  in  Claremont,  June  9,  1781,  d.  in 
Lyman,  N.  H.,May  21,  1857;  Lorenzo,  of  Malone,  N.  Y.,  d.  about  1856;  An- 
son ;  Church,  b.  Oct.  9,  1788,  d.  without  issue,  March  9,  1849;  Sarah;  Re 

beeca. 

Heman  Meigs,  son  of  Dr.  Abner  Meigs,  b,  1781,  m.  Lydia  Hunt,  of  Tun- 
bridge  Vt.  b.  1785  d.  May  7,  1842.  He  died  May  21,  1S57.  Children :  Church, 
b.  Dec.  16,  1804,  d.  in  Malcolm,  Iowa,  July,  1865  ;  Chastina,  b.  May  17, 1807  ; 
m.  Welcome  McGaffey,  of  Lyndon,  Vt. ;  Joh7i,  (M.  D.)  b.  Feb.  16,  1810;  Le- 
lonin,  b.  July  28,  1816  ;  m.  Benjamin  Franklin,  Paddleford ;  Josep7iine,h.  June 
14,  1830,  m.  David  Kibbey. 

John  Meigs,  M.  D.,  (son  of  Heman  Meigs,)  of  Stanstead,  Province  of  Que. 
bee  b.  Feb.  16,  1810,  m.  Elizabeth  Caroline  Thorndyke  Granniss,  Jan.  4,  1843, 
dau.  of  William  Granniss,  of  Stanstead.  Children  :  Alice  Lydia,  h.  April 
26.  1846 ;  Elizabeth  Sumner,  b.  May  20,  1853. 


MOSELY  FAMILY. 
[Additions.] 
P.  619.     This  family  name  was,  until  about  150  years  ago,  Maudesley,  or 
Modesly — finally  changed  to  Moseley. 


H  I  S  T  O  11  Y      OF      ANCIENT      W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  .  1617 

Tlie  first  settlors  in  New  England  of  the  name  were  PIenry,  who  came  over 
in  the  Hopewell,  1636.  Oct.  24,  and  John,  freeman  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  1639, 
probably  came  earlier,  for  he  had  a  son  born  1638.  He  had  wife,  Cicely,  and 
sons  John  and  Thomas,  perhaps  also  Joseph,  and  dau.^7t2a/;e<A.  He  died  1661. 
His  son  John  settled  in  Windsor,  and  d.  1690. 

Thomas,  of  Dorchester,  son  of  John  1st,  m.,  Oct.  25,  1658,  Mary,  dau.  of 
Thomas  Lawrence,  of  Hingham,  had  John,  1659 (?)  d.  1661 ;  Mary,  Dec.  31, 
1660,  d.  Dec.  1661  :  Increase;  TAowms,  March,  1667,  d.  April  1749  ;  Elizabeth, 
Feb.  19,  1668-9 ;  Unite,  May  5,  1671  ;  Meruzer,  Sept.  4,  1673  ;  John,  April  9, 
1676  ;  Nathaniel,  Oct.  28,  1678;  Joseph,  April  17,  1681. 

Thomas  Mosely  1st  d.  Oct.  22,  1706,  mentioning  in  his  will  Increase,^  bou. 
of  his  son  Increase^  deceased.  The  latter,  viz  :  Increase  2d,  would  seem  to 
have  been  father  of  him  who  was  b.  at  Norwich,  May  18,  1712. 


MITCHELL  FAMILY. 

[Additional  history.] 

Since  the  publication  of  the  former  volume,  several  gentlemen  have  inte- 
rested themselves  in  collecting  genealogical  information  in  relation  to  this 
family  name,  which  includes  some  of  the  same  and  considerable  additional 
information  to  that  then  published.  Among  these  investigators  are  Rev.  B. 
L.  Swan,  of  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y.,  and  Dr.  Chauncey  L.  Mitchell,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  There  was  also  a  re-union  of  the  descendants  of  Deacon  Eleazar 
Mitchell,  at  South  Britain,  Oct.  5,  1858,  on  which  occasion  much  additional 
information  was  brought  out.  The  information  thus  obtained  will  be  intro. 
duced  in  its  order,  beginning  with  that  furnished  by  Rev.  Mr.  Swan,  so  that 
the  reader  on  comparing  the  former  with  the  present  account,  will  be  able  to 
find  all  that  is  at  present  known  of  the  early  history  of  the  name,  while 
much  valuable  information  in  other  branches  will  be  found  in  Huntington's 
History  of  Stamford,  Conn. 

Matthew  Mitchell,  who  arrived  at  Boston  from  Bristol,  Eng.,  Aug.,  16' 
1635,  was  accompanied  by  his  sons,  David  and  Jonathan.  Savage,  says,"  per. 
haps  more  "  children,  and  it  is  quite  certain  that  he  had  daughters,  born 
either  before  or  aftec  his  coming  to  New  England.  Savage  himself  men. 
tions  Susanna  a.i\A  Hannah,  as  named  in  Matthew's  will,  1646.  (5  V).  llan- 
auh  m.  Robert  Coe,  an  early  settler  in  Stratford.  He  died  1659,  leaving  tour 
cliildren,  of  whom  Hannah,  the  eldest,  m.  litus  Hinman.  The  widow  mar. 
Nicholas  Elsey,  af  New  Haven.  It  is  also  quite  certain  that  Samuel  Sher- 
man, Sr.,  m.  Sarah,  dau.  of  M.  Mitchell.  (Savage's  reasons  against  the  oc- 
currence of  this  marriage  in  England,  seem  valid.)  An  interesting  collateral 
proof  of  this  is  found  in  some  marginal  notes  in  an  old  Bible,  (now  owned  by 
Mrs.  David  Judson,  of  Old  Mill  Hill,  Stratford,)  and  once  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Samuel  Sherman.  It  contains  several  entries  of  names  of  both  families.  It 
is  pn!sumable  also  that  either  another  daughter  should  bo  added,  or  that  Su- 
sanna m.  a  Butterfield,  for  Lyon  Gardner,  1636,  says  of  a  skirmish  between 
Mitchell  and  some  attendants  who  were  getting  hay  at  Saybrook,  and  the 


1518  IIISTORT      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

Pequot  Indians,  that  tliey  took  "  one  of  the  old  man's  sons  and  roasted  him 
alive"  The  name  of  the  young  man  killed  was  Samuel  Butterfield.  Other 
authorities  /Mather  among  them)  say,  that  in  1636  "  he*  had  a  xon  in,  law  slain 
by  the  Pequot  Indians,"  making  Butterfield  the  son  in  law  of  Mitchell. 

David  Micheli.,  son  of  Matthew,  seems  to  have  been  older  than  his  brother 
Jonathan.  The  latter,  Mather  represents  as  "  about  11  years  of  age "  in 
1635,  and  again,  he  was  born  in  "  1624."  But,  with  usual  inconsistency,  he 
represents  him  at  his  death,  July  9,  1668,  as  in  the  "forty -third  "  year  of  his 
age.  It  is  an  incident  deserving  mention,  that  when  Jonathan  was  a  student 
in  Cambridge  College,  Mass.,  his  brother  David,  in  great  distress  about  his 
soul,  a])i)lied  to  him  for  advice,  and  Jonathan's  reply,  seems  not  only  to  have 
given  his  brother  relief,  but  it  was  afterwards  published  in  London,  and,  says 
Mather,  was  "  reckoned  one  of  the  most  consummate  pieces  in  the  methods  of 
addressing  a  troubled  mind." 

D.vviD  Mitchell  m.  Sarali,  dau.  of  Thomas  Wheeler.  So  his  son  Na- 
than, in  1724,  (then  of  Litchfield,)  said  in  Stratford  Land  Records  ;  but  wheth" 
er  her  father  were  Thomas,  of  New  Haven,  or  Thomas  of  Milford,  or  Thomas' 
of  Fairfield,  does  not  appear.  He  was,  I  presume,  of  Milford.  Their  chil- 
dren, the  order  of  whose  ages  and  dates  of  birth  are  lost,  were : 

1.  Matthew,  who  was  b.  probably  about  1653,  for  he  m.  Mary,  dau.  of 
John  Thompson,  of  Stratford.  She  was  b.  in  1655,  and  d.  in  1711  There  is 
an  interestsng  legend  concerning  her  father  and  mother,  but  too  long  for  in- 
sertion here.  Matthew's  children,  I  have  as  you  have  them  in  your  history 
(Vol.  2d,  p.  634). 

2.  Nathan,  who  went  to  Litchfield.  Of  him  I  have  no  account,  but  pre- 
sume that  George  C.  Woodruft',  Esq.,  can  give  his  family  record. 

3.  Abraham,  in  A.  D.  1700  describes  himself  as  of  "  Windham,  (Hartford 
County,")  and,  referring  to  a  transaction  in  1695,  declares  his  father  then  de- 
ceased. In  1696,  A.  M  gives  land  to  "  my  son  Nathan."  In  1694  and  1695 
A.  M.  is  described  as  "  of  Stratford— planter."  Of  his  family  there  are  no 
details  on  record  in  Stratford.  . 

4.  Daniel,  who  in  1689  describes  himself  as  son  of  David,  m.  Susanna, 
dau.  of  Hon.  Samuel  Sherman,  Jr.  She  was  b.  in  1670.  He  may  therefore 
have  been  born  in  1666,  or  1668.     Her  mother  was  a  Titterton.     No  children 

are  recorded  to  them  before  Mary '  born  Feb.  27,  1700-1;  Elizabeth,  h. 

Sept  9,1703,  bap.  Nov.  5,  by  Mr.  Charles  Chauncey,  of  Stratfield  ;  Elnathan 
bap.  Nov.  5,  1704,  by  Mr.  Charles  Chauncey,  of  Stratfield. 

5.  Martha,  dau.  of  David  Mitchell,  m.  Nathan  Baldwin,  of  Milford. 

6.  Orace,  dau.  of  David,  m.  William  Pixley,  Nov.  1701.  She  was  probably 
therefore  b.  about  1680. 

7.  (?)  Elizabeth,  who  joined  Stratford  Church  1692,1  suppose  to  have  been 
also  David's  dau.,  but  have  no  proof.  Daniel  and  his  wife  Susanna,  and  hisi 
sister  Grace  joined  Stratford  Church  under  the  half  way  covenant,  Jan.  11, 
1697-8,  and  in  April  following,  joined  in  full  communion. 

Matthew  Mitchell  had  a  cattle  brand  in  Stratford  Brand  Book,  up  to  1678- 
Abraham  and  Daniel  to  1687. 

•  Mitchell. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENJ     WOODBURY.  1519 

April  15,  1688.  Mistress  Mitchell,  with  Henry  Wdkclyn  Robert  Clarke, 
Mutress  Curtis  and  Widow  Hnrd,  having  brouglit  "  letters  from  Woodbury," 
unite  with  Stratford  Church. 

Was  Mistress  Mitchell  the  widow  of  David,  who  perhaps  had  removed  with 
Matthew  to  Woodbury,  and  in  1088  returned? 

A  "John  Mitchell  (adult)  "  was  baptized  in  Unity  (Trumbull)  Nov.  7,  1736. 
It  is  quite  possible  that  he  was  a  son  of  Daniel.  In  1789,  one  John  Mitchell, 
of  Ripton  (Huntington)  joins  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Stratford,  (where,  then 
the  Kipton  churchmen  had  to  worship,)  and  he  has  baptized  the  following: 
Mary.  bap.  in  Episcopal  Church,  October,  I7o0,  Ephr/djii,  October  1745.  John, 
February,  1743.     J.  W's  wife  was  "  Snrnh ."  \ 

This  seems  to  lie  the  same  John  who  was  bap.  in  Unity,  in  1736. 

John  Mitchell,  Sr.,  of  Woodbury,  m.  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Knell,  of  Stratford,  an  early  settler,  whose  name  is  perpetuated  in  "  Knell's 
Island,"  opposite  Stratford,  and  at  whose  death  in  April,  1675,  the  uiuisual  en- 
try is  made,  "  Mr.  Nicholas  Knell,  that  aged  benefactor  to  his  country."  In 
1650  he  m.  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Thomas  Knowles,  and  dau.  of  Gov.  Francis 
Newman,  of  New  Haven,  By  Knowles,  who  died  before  1648,  she  had  Elea- 
zerand  Tlwmas. 

By  Mr.  Knell  she  had  John,  Oct.  1651,  d.  soon  ;  E'lXitbeth,  May,  1653  ;  Isoac, 
Feb.,  1655  ;  John,  Dec,  1657.     (This  may  be  in  place  under  Knowles). 

Page  636  Vol.  2,  Hist,  of  Woodbury  : 

Peter  Mitchell  m.  Elizabeth  L'amson,  of  Stratford,  Sept.,  1747.  She  was 
daughter  of  William  Lamsoii,  of  Stratford.  He  came  from  Maiden,  Mass. 
was  b.  1694,  d.  1755.  His  wife,  m  in  1717,  was  Elizabeth  Burch.  She  d.  in 
1775.  She  was  dau.  of  Jeremiah  Burch,  or  Birch,  who  m.  Elizabeth,  dau.  of 
John  Wheeler,  n  Milford  man,  but  of  Woodbury  in  1704.  P.  M.  and  E.  L. 
were  married  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Yvom.  David  Mitchell's  w/<  Jw//?/,  descended,  in  i\n- fourth  generation  the 
late  Professor  Elisha  Mitehtll,  of  tlie  University  of  North  Carolina. 


MATTHEW  MITCHELL. 

COLLATED   KY   DR.  C.  L.  MITCHELL. 

Matthew  Mitchell,  referred  to  in  Vol.  I,  p.  163,  was  of  Southouram,  Parish 
of  Halifax,  Yorkshire,  England.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  Christian  char- 
acter, respectable  social  position,  and  possessed  of  considerable  it  not  huge 
wealth. 

April  16th,  1616,  he  married  Susan  Butterfield,  of  Ovenden,  in  the  same 
parish.     She  is  named  by  Richard  Mather  in  his  journal,  as  one  of  the  pas- 

*  Mr.  N.  Mitchell,  of  Fairfield,  Conn.,  wrote  the  author  in  1866,  as  follows : 
"  I  have  found  David  Mitchell's  will  to  his  sons,  and  they  arc  Matthew,  John, 
Abraham  and  Daniel,  and  four  daughters.  David  Mitchell  d.  in  1685,  and 
Nathan  Mitchell  m.  in  1738.  So  it  seems  almost  impossible  he  could  be  Da- 
vid's son,  but  must  have  been  a  grandson." 


1520  HISTORY     OF      ^NCIENT     WOODBURY. 

senfiers  on  board  the  ship  James,  and  was  therefore  the  companion  of  her 
husband,  when  he  came  to  this  country. 
His  children  were  as  follows  : 

Abigail,  baptized  in  Southouram,  April  26th,  1G18.  She  probably  died  in 
infancy.' 

Ddvid,  baptized  in  Southouram,  Nov.  14th,  1619.  His  descendants  are 
given  in  Vol.  I,  p.  164. 

Sarah,  baptized  in  Southowram,  Oct.  14tli,  ]62l.  Came  to  this  country 
with  her  mother,  married  the  Hon.  Samuel  Sherman,  "  from  whom  are  de" 
scended  nearly  all  of  the  name  of  Sherman  who  have  resided  in  Ancient 
Woodbury,  including  Senator  Sherman  and  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman." 

Martha,  the  fourth  child  of  Matthew,  was  baptized  in  Southouram,  Oct- 
26th,  1623,  and  died  the  month  following,  Nov.  22d. 

Jonathan,  the  fifth  child,  was  baptized  in  Southouram,  Dec.  I9th,  1624. 
Cotton  Mather  says  he  was  afflicted,  during  the  tenth  year  of  his  life,  '•  by  a 
sore  fever,  which  settled  in  his  arm  with  such  troublesome  effects,  that  his 
arm  grew  and  kept  a  little  bent,  and  he  could  not  stretch  it  out  right  till  his 
dying  day.  His  parents,  with  much  difficulty  and  resolution,  carried  him  to 
Bristol,  to  take  shipping  there,  while  he  was  not  yet  recovered  of  his  illness." 
(See  Mather's  Magnolia  and  Huntington's  Stamford,  for  further  history.) 

Susan,  the  sixth  child,  and  bearing  her  mother's  name,  was  baptized  in 
Southouram,  Oct.  I4th,  1627.  She  survived  her  father  and  was  named  in 
his  will. 

Mattheic,  the  seventh  child,  was  baptized  in  Ovenden,  July  5th  1629,  and 
died  three  months  after  Oct.  4th,  1629. 

Hannah,  the  eighth  child,  was  baptized  in  Northouram,  June  26th,  1631- 
She  was  living  at  Stamford  at  the  time  of  her  lather's  death,  and  is  one  of 
those  named  in  his  will. 

Matthew  Mitchell,  before  leaving  his  home  in  Yorkshire,  appears  to  have 
been  much  with  the  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  curate  of  Coley  Chapel,  of  the 
parish  of  Halifax,  under  whose  instructions  he  is  supposed  to  have  been,  and 
with  whose  views,  political  and  religious,  he  coincided. 

On  the  24th  of  Feb.,  1622,  he  witnessed  the  will  of  Susan  Field,  widow- 
whose  daughter  Jane  was  married  to  John  Mitchell.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  this  John  Mitchell  was  his  brother,  ■  and  the  writer,  Mr.  Somerby,  of 
London,  states  in  this  connection  that  "  the  Mitchells  were  a  family  of  good 
standing,  and  their  arms  '  sable,  a  chevron  between  three  escallops  argent,' 
are  painted  on  the  roof  of  the  chancel  of  Halifax  church." 

Accompanied  by  his  wife  and  five  chiidrt^n,  he  embarked  at  Bristol  on  Sat- 
urday, May  23d,  1635,  with  Rev.  Richard  Mather,  (grandfather  of  Cotton 
Mather,)  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  and  about  one  liundred  other  passengers,  on 
board  the  ship  James,  220  tons,  commanded  by  Capt.  Taylor.  His  family 
consisted  at  this  time  of  his  wife  Susan,  and  his  children,  David,  Sarah  Jon- 
athan, Susan  and  Hannah,  aged  respectively  fifteen,  thirteen,  eleven  and  four 
years. 

He  took  also  with  him  a  considerable  number  of  cattle,  the  care  and  pro- 
visioning of  which  became  a  serious  trouble,  in  consequence  of  a  month's  de- 


HISTOKY      OP      ANCIENT      WOODliUKY.  1521 

lay  in  the  departure  of  the  ship  after  all  were  on  board,  and  the  subsequent 
long  passage  of  fifty-five  days. 

Although  they  embarked  on  the  23d  of  May,  they  did  not  finally  leave  Mil- 
ford  Haven  till  the  22d  of  June.  On  the  eveninor  of  Sunday,  Aug.  16th, 
they  anchored  off  Boston,  and  landed  the  next  morning,  Aug.  17th,  after  a 
voyage  unusually  tedious  from  calms  and  heat,  and  dangers  from  storms  , 
It  is  no  small  indication  of  his  good  judgment,  that  not  only  were  none  of  his 
family  or  hia  cattle  lost,  but  that  he  brought  them  all  to  their  destination  in 
better  condition  than  when  they  left  Bristol. 

His  first  residence  in  this  country  was  at  Charlestown,  near  Boston,  where 
he  remained  through  the  winter  of  lfi35-6  ;  a  winter  marked  with  much  suf. 
fering  from  the  scarcity  that  prevailed  throughout  the  country,  and  a  sickness 
of  more  or  less  severity,  from    which  no  member  of  his  family  was  exempt. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1636  he  removed  to  Concord,  Mass.,  and  during  his 
brief  stay  here,  he  lost  much  property  by  fire. 

As  soon  as  the  season  was  sufficiently  advanced  to  make  traveling  safe,  he 
set  out  with  his  young  family  and  his  cattle  and  with  a  few  pioneers,  for 
meadows  reported  to  be  on  a  river  about  100  miles  to  the  west.  The  way 
was  through  a  wilderness  covered  with  forest,  unmarked  by  any  trace  of  hu- 
man industry,  with  nothing  to  give  food,  shelter  or  protection  in  case  c^'  need. 
In  company  with  Col.  Pynchon  and  others,  he  arrived  at  what  is  now  known 
as  Springfield,  about  or  before  the  month  of  May.  Here  the  celebrated  com- 
pact was  signed,  the  original  of  which  still  exists,  and  which  bears  the  auto- 
graph of  every  responsible  member  of  the  company. 

Owing  perhai)S  to  a  defective  title,  for  we  find  few  of  the  original  emi- 
grants remaining,  and  that  their  successors  made  a  new  purchase  from  the 
original  Indian  owners ;  or  to  the  information  they  received,  that  the  land 
selected  was  overflowed  at  certain  seasons  by  a  rise  in  the  river,  he  left  im- 
mediately for  Saybrook.  He  ariived  at  the  mouth  of  the  (-onnecticul,,  proba- 
bly, in  the  summer,  certainly  before  the  month  of  Octol)er.  Tliis  removal 
was  the  most  unfortunate  possible,  occurring  about  the  time  of  the  first  irrup- 
tion of  the  Pequot  Indians.  Here  his  cattle  and  goods  were  destoyed,  to  the 
value  of  several  hundred  pounds  sterling,  several  men  in  his  employment 
killed,  his  wife's  brother,  ^famuel  Butterfield,  cruelly  tortured  to  death,  and 
the  whole  colony  kept  in  constant  ])eril  of  their  lives.  Col.  Gardiner,  who 
was  commissioned  to  build  a  fort  at  this  point,  refers  re])eatedly  to  "  Old  Mr. 
Mitchell,"  who  suffered  this  and  the  succeeding  year  from  the  depredations 
of  the  Indians,  and  whose  intercession,  with  that  of  others,  induced  liim  to 
forbear  hanging  a  man,  whose  cowardice  had  made  him  liable  to  such  pun. 
ishment.  Col.  Gardner,  makes  no  mention  of  the  aid  contributed  by  Matthew 
Mitchell,  yet  this  was  of  such  importance  that  his  "  extraordinary  charges 
for  the  public  service  at  the  fort,"  were  recognized  and  publicly  acknowl- 
edged by  the  Court  at  Stratford,  a  few  years  later. 

"  Old  Mr.  Mitchell  "  being  reftsrred  to  in  (Gardner's  account  of  an  excursion 
from  the  fort  on  the  22d  of  February,  shows  that  he  remained  here  during 
the  winter  of  1036  and  7,  but  early  in  the  spring  we  find  he  has  returned  up 
the  river,  and  settled  at  Wethersfield. 

After  the  irruption  of  the  Peiiuots  in  1036,  the  condition  of  the  settlers 


1522  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

along  tlie  Connecticut  became  one  of  extreme  danger,  and  committees  were 
appointed,  who  were  to  meet  at  Hartford  on  the  1st  of  May,  "  to  deliberate  on 
subjects  on  which  the  very  existence  of  the  colonies  depended."  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell was  elected  one  of  those  who  were  to  represent  Wethersfield,  in  this  \d- 
tally  important  meeting.  He  here  made  his  first  pemianfent  settlement  in 
America,  and  became  one  ot  the  most  extensive  land  owners  in  that  commu- 
nity.  The  historian,  Trumbull,  names  him  as  one  "  of  the  principal  charac- 
ters wlio  undertook  the  great  work  of  settling  Connecticut,  and  were  the  civil 
and  religious  fathers  of  the  colony — who  formed  its  free  and  happy  Consti" 
tution,  were  its  legislators,  and  were  some  of  the  chief  pillars  of  the  church 
and  commonwealth  ; "  and  elsewhere  speaks  of  him  as  "  one  of  the  chief 
men  who  settled  Wethersfield."  While  here  "  his  estate  was  doomed  to  suffer 
still  more  serious  (than  on  Saybrook)  from  frequent  Indian  raids." '  lie  also 
took  a  decided  pari  in  the  difficulties  which  sprung  up  in  the  church,  and 
which  finally  led  to  its  transference  from  the  "  Connecticut  colonies  "  to  the 
"  New  Haven  plantation."  The  minister,  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  with  a  ma- 
jority of  the  church  members,  generously  surrendered  to  the  minority,  and 
withdrew.  Being  joined  by  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  place,  including  Mr- 
Mitchell,  they  went  again  into  the  wilderness,  and  founded  Stamford.  Mr. 
Mitchell's  land  in  Wethersfield  was  "subsequently  divided  into  four  farms, 
and  wdfe  taken  by  the  Graves,  Gershom  Bulkley,  John  Hollister,  and  Robert 
Roser."  Huntington  says  "  he  was  a  man  of  independent  character,  and  be- 
came obnoxious  to  a  Mr.  Chapin.  In  the  contest  he  excited  the  displeasure 
of  the  Court.  His  townsmen  chose  him  their  Recorder,  but  the  Court  would 
not  ratify  the  election.  He  nevertheless  discharged  his  duties,  and  was  fined, 
as  was  the  rest  of  the  town  that  elected  him." 

Originally,  the  settlement  of  Stamford,  or  Agawam  as  it  was  then  called, 
consisted  of  twenty-eight  men.  with  their  families.  Here,  with  the  excep" 
tion  of  their  minister,  Mr.  Mitchell's  name  heads  every  list,  from  Avhich  it  is 
fair  to  infer  for  him  a  correspondinjOf  position  in  the  estimation  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  also  the  first  of  the  five  selected  by  his  townsmen  "  to  ar- 
range and  administer  their  afiairs."  In  a  second  election,  made  the  following 
year,  his  name  is  still  placed  in  the  same  honorable  position.  In  the  import- 
ant and  very  delicate  questions  of  laying  oiit  house-lots,  "  and  ordering  the 
manner  of  assigning  them,"  the  infant  colony  confided  the  matter  to  Mat- 
thew Mitchell  and  Francis  Bell.  In  the  almost  vital  aflfair  of  obtaining  a 
grist-mill,  the  arrangement  for  building  the  dome  was  made  with  Matthew 
Mitchell  and  Mr.  Ogden  He  paid  nearly  three  imes  as  much  towards  the 
purchase  and  survey  of  the  land  as  the  next  largest  purchaser.  He  was  the 
first  of  the  two  nominated  by  his  townsmen,  of  whom  one  waste  be  appoint- 
ed by  the  General  Court,  "  as  a  magistrate  with  Senatorial  rank  in  the  Legis- 
lative body."  The  other  nominee  was  Thurston  Raynor,  who  had  formerly 
been  a  member  of  the  Court,  and  it  is  not  sur])rising  that  the  Judges  prefer- 
red their  former  associate  to  a  stranger  who  had  never  lived  in  New  Haven. 
At  a  subsequent  time,  Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  Representative,  and  also  held  the 
position  of  Associate  Judge  "in  the  "  Plantation  Court."  Mather  says  that 
■'  his  house,  barn  and  goods  were  here  again  consumed  by  fire." 


'  Huntington's  Stamford. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1623 

Some  have  supposed  that  Matthew  Mitchell  went  with  Richard  Denton  and 
others  to  Hempstead,  in  1644.  But  his  name  is  not  found  in  the  list  of  those 
who  went  to  Hempstead.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  disease  which 
terminated  his  life  the  following  year,  was  already  so  far  advanced  as  to  pre- 
vent his  traveling  or  taking  any  part  in  public  aiiairs.  He  died  in  Stamford, 
in  1645,  of  stone,  aged  about  fifty-five  years. 

His  history  shows  him  to  liave  been  a  man  of  great  enterprize,  unbounded 
resoluticm,  clear  and  cool  judgment,  and  of  earnest  and  positive  character. 
Too  conscientious  to  live  jiatiently  under  laws  requiring  a  form  of  worship 
which  he  thought  Avrong,  and  etiually  impatient  under  colonial  decision  that 
seemed  needlessly  arbitrary,  his  staunch  uprightness  always  commanded  re" 
spect,  and  his  unswerving  justice  invited  confidence  in  times  when  trials  de- 
monstrated character. 


HISTORY  OF  JONATHAN  MITCHELL, 

('om])iled  from  Mather's  Magnalia,  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit, 
and  other  sources. 

BY.  DR.  C.  L.  MITCHELL. 

Jonathan  Mitchell,  son  of  Matthew  and  Susan  (Butterfield  Mitchell, 
was  a  native  of  Halifax,  England.  The  records  of  Halifax  show  the  date  of 
his  baptism  to  have  been,  Dec.  19th,  1634,  and  he  was  probably  born  about 
the  15th  of  the  preceding  November. 

His  parents  were  botli  jdous,  of  good  social  position,  and  possessed  of  con- 
siderable wealth.  Like  many  others  of  that  period,  they  were  driven  by  per- 
secution to  seek  in  exile  the  liberty  of  conscience  denied  them  at  home.  In 
company  with  the  Rev.  Richard  Mather  and  others,  they  embarked  at  Bristol, 
May  33d,  1635,  and  landed  in  Boston,  Aug,.17th,  of  the  same  year.  Tlie  win- 
ter following  was  spent  at  Charlestown,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Con- 
cord, early  in  the  spring  of  1636.  In  May  of  this  year,  a  journey  of  a  hund- 
red miles  through  an  unexplored  forest,  brought  them  to  what  was  subse- 
quently called  Springfield.  The  fall  and  winter  were  passed  at  Saybrook,  at 
the  Fort,  which  they  left  in  the  spring  for  Wethersfield,  where  they  arrived 
during  or  before  the  month  of  A])ril,  1637.  In  1640  they  removed  to  Stam- 
ford, of  which  place,  they  and  a  few  others  were  the  original  settlers.  Here 
Matthew  Mitchell,  the  father,  died  in  1645,  leaving  two  sons,  David  and  Jon- 
athan, and  three  daughters,  Sarah,  Susan,  and  Hannah. 

Under  the  tuition  and  example  of  his  parents,  the  religious  impressions  of 
Jonatlian  were  very  deep,  while  he  was  still  quite  young.  Before  leaving  his 
home  in  England,  at  the  age  of  ten  years  and  a  few  nujnths,  he  was  afllicted 
with  a  severe  illness,  from  which  lie  was  but  partially  recovered  wluai  they 
set  out,  and  his  helplessness  greatly  increased  the  difficulties  of  the  journey 
from  Halifax  to  Bristol.  Long  afterwards,  in  referring  to  this  illness,  and 
probably  also  to  the  fearful  experiences  of  the  family  in  New  England  during 
liis  youth,  he  writes,  "  Thus  tlie  Lord  souglit  to  make  me  serious,  by  steeping 
my  first  entrance  into  years  of  understanding,  and  into  the  changes  of  life. 


1524  HISTORY      OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 

and  my  first  motions  to  New  England  in  eminent  and  special  sorrows."  Tlje 
hurricane  which  came  near  wrecking  their  sihp  ;  the  sickness  of  the  whole 
family  the  winter  after  their  landing  ;  the  loss  of  property' by  fire  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring ;  the  destruction  of  their  cattle  by  the  Pequots  in  the  subse. 
quent  autumn  ;  the  cruel  death  of  his  uncle,  Samuel  Butterfield,  under  the 
torture  of  the  savages  ;  further  losses  by  Indian  raids  'he  year  following  at 
Wethersfield,  and  again  by  fire  after  the  removal  to  Stamford  ;  culminating 
in  the  long,  painful  and  fatal  ilhiess.of  his  father  :  these  "  eminent  and  special 
sorrows,"  tended  eventually  to  develop  the  beautiful  and  noble  character  that 
was  so  loved  and  admired  by  the  Christian  men  of  his  time. 

Pioneer  life  in  a  wilderness  presents  few  opportunities  or  incentives  to  ed- 
ucation, but  there  was  something  in  the  life  and  manner  of  the  boy,  that  im- 
pressed men  with  his  remarkable  capacity,  and  led  them  to  urge  upon  his 
father  the  importance  of  giving  him  the  advantages  of  collegiate  instruction. 
Of  this  number  wa^  the  Eev.  Richard  Mather,  his  friend  and  companion  from 
Bristol,  who,  at  a  future  time,  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  as  one  of  the  re- 
sults of  his  "  earnest  advice,"  this  person's  labors  worthy  of  his  own.  constant 
journeys  to  his  "  Monthly  Lectures,"  and  of  seeing  "  the  most  considerable 
fathers  of  the  country  treat  him  as  not  coming  behind  the  chiefest  of  them 
all."  He  entered  upon  his  studies  in  September,  1642,  when  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  three  years  after  passed  a  rigid  examination,  and 
was  admitted  to  Harvard  College.  His  studies  were  now  pursued  w  ith  the 
same  vigor  and  indefatigable  industry  which  had  previously  characterized 
him,  and  under  the  example  and  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  of 
Cambridge,  his  Christian  life  grew  rapidly  and  symmetrically.  In  reference 
to  the  friendship  of  this  eminent  pastor  he  writes,  "  Unless  it  had  been  four 
years  living  in  Heaven'  I  know  not  how  I  could  have  more  cause  to  bless  God 
with  wonder,  than  for  these  four  years,"  spent  at  the  University.  His  rapid 
progress  in  learning,  in  all  the  departments  then  taught,  led  to  his  being 
early  distinguished  as  a  scholar,  and  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College.  Nature 
had  amxjly  endowed  him  with  a  clear  and  comprehensive  intellect,  a  sound 
'judgment,  peculiarly  free  from  the  intiuence  of  personal  considerations,  a 
rich  imagination,  and  a  capacity  for  long  continued  and  intense  study.  Nor 
was  his  character  less  remarkable  for  humility,  gentleness  and  sincerity,  uni- 
ted with  boldness,  earnestness,  and  sturdy  resolution.  He  was  eventually 
styled,  and  not  unjustly,  "The  Blessed  Mr.  Mitchell,"  "  The  Honor  of  Cam- 
bridge," "The  Glory  of  the  College." 

His  remarkable  faculties  of  mind  and  heart,  with  his  extraordinary  learn- 
ing aiid  purity,  had  given  him  a  reputation  throughout  New  England,  and  he 
had  no  sooner  graduated  than  several  of  the  most  important  churches  .sought 
to  secure  his  services.  The  church  at  Hartford  desired  to  make  him  the  suc- 
cessor of  the  famous  Hooker,  and  he  there  preached  his  first  sermon,  June 
24th.  lf)49.  His  text  was  from  Heb.,  xi,  27.  "He  endured  as  seeing  Him 
who  is  invisible."  The  effort  was  by  no  means  satisfactory  to  himself,  but  the 
people  judged  differently,  and  immediately  gave  him  a  call,  with  a  promise 
of  money  for  a  library,  and  the  privilege  of  remaining  a  year  longer  at  the 
University,  if  he  desired.  He  was  unable  to  accept  the  offer,  because  Mr. 
Shepard  and  the  prominent  citizens  of  Cambridge  had  previously  induced 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIEJJT     AV  O  O  D  BR  U    Y  •  1525 

him  to  promise  that  he  would  return  unfettered  by  any  engap^ement.  His 
first  sermon  in  Cambridofe  was  preached  August  12th,  1649,  after  hearing 
which,  Mr.  Shepard  told  him  that  Cambridge  was  the  place  where  he  ouofht 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Being  afterwards  told  by  some  of  his 
people  that  Mr.  Mitchell's  preaching  was  highly  appreciated,  he  said,  "My 
work  is  done."  This  good  man  soon  went  to  his  rest,  and  "  by  the  unani- 
mous desire  of  Cambridge,"  Mr.  Mitchell  was  put  in  his  place.  The  ordina- 
tion took  place  August  2 1st  of  the  same  year.  Just  at  this  time  he  became 
dangerously  ill  with  the  small  pox,  a  humiliating  disappointment,  because  it 
prevented  his  fulfilling  the  important  duties  which  he  had  assumed.  He  was 
the  same  year  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  College,  and  appointed  Tutor. 

Soon  after  his  settlement  in  the  ministry,  he  was  called  to  meet  one  of  the 
severest  trials  that  can  test  the  patience,  wisdom,  faithfulness  and  charity  of 
a  young  pastor.  President  Dunster,  the  President  of  the  College,  and  for- 
merl3'  his  tutor,  and  a  member  of  the  church,  declined  to  present  his  children 
for  baptism,  and  wrote  sermons  against  the  baptizing  of  any  children  what- 
ever. A  violent  opposition  was  excited,  parties  were  formed,  and  a  Intter 
strife  engendered.  The  party  opposed  to  the  pastor  was  led  by  a  man  distin- 
guished for  his  learning,  high  social  position,  unquestioned  Christian  charac- 
ter and  great  personal  influence.  Mr.  Mitchell  entered  into  the  controversy 
with  extreme  reluctance,  and  many  misgivings  as  to  the  result.  He  treated 
the  subject,  not  as  a  debater,  but  as  a  sincere  seeker  after  truth.  The  con- 
clusion was  entirely  in  favor  of  the  points  he  advocated,  and  with  none  but 
friendly  feelings  between  him  and  his  oi)ponents.  He  wrote  an  elegy  on  the 
death  of  President  Dunster,  "honorable  alike  to  the  writer  and  the  subject." 
This  question  however  continued  to  be  discussed  in  the  churches,  and  in  1662 
a  Synod  was  called  to  meet  in  Boston,  chiefly  for  its  consideration.  The 
brunt  of  the  discussion  fell  on  Mr.  Mitchell,  and  the  resulting  report  adopted 
by  the  Synod,  was  drawn  up  mainly  by  him.  "  Had  the  meek,  charitable, 
and  amicable  spirit  that  signalized  this  good  man,  been  expressed  by  all  good 
men  as  much  as  it  was  by  him,  a  great  part  of  the  ecclesiastical  differences  in 
the  world  had  been  e^^aporated."  One  of  his  antagonists  on  this  occasion, 
who  was  greatly  his  superior  in  years,  the  venerable  President  Chauncey,  in 
the  height  of  the  controvery  said,  "  I  know  no  man  in  this  world  tliat  I 
would  envy  so  much  as  worthy  Mr.  Mitchell,  for  the  great  boldness,  learning, 
wisdom  and  meekness,  and  other  Christian  qualities  of  an  excellent  spirit 
with  which  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  endowed  him."  In  preparing  for  the 
pulpit,  his  subject  was  exhaustively  treated  and  carefully  written  out,  but  he 
preached  without  notes  or  reference,  after  the  text.  His  voice  was  musical, 
flexible  and  clear ;  his  manner  simple,  sincere  and  earnest ;  and  his  delivery 
animated  and  expressive,  rising  at  times  to  the  highest  order  of  eloquence. 
"  His  auditories  counted  it  a  feast  to  hear  him,  and  regretted  that  they  were 
so  soon  to  be  dismissed,  for  the  people  were  never  weary  of  liearing." 

With  all  his  duties,  as  tutor  at  the  College,  his  elaborate  church  and  other 
ministrations,  the  time  daily  devoted  to  private  prayer,  meditation  and  self- 
examination,  he  fully  perfornuid  his  duties  as  a  pastor  in  visiting  his  jieople, 
'  for  whose  souls  he  watched  as  one  that  must  give  an  account.'  He  delivered 
monthly  lectures,  which  drew  large  numbers  of  people  from  the  neighboring 


1526  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

towns,  as  well  as  from  his  immediate  vicinity.  Churches,  far  and  near,  in 
their  difBculties,  applied  to  him  for  help  in  their  councils,  and  though  gene- 
rally younger  than  most  present,  he  was  more  relied  u])oa  than  any  other  for 
right  decisions.  "  The  aged,  able  and  venerable  ministers,  paid  a  strange 
respect  unto  him."  In  the  year  16G2,  "  To  prevent  contentions  and  heresies, 
laws  were  passed  abridging  the  liberty  of  the  press,"  and  General  Daniel 
Gookin  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mitchell,  were  appointed  the  first  "licensers  of  the 
press." 

His  connection  with  the  church  at  Cambridge  continued  eighteen  years, 
during  which  period  he  went  over  a  great  part  of  the  system  of  divinity, 
made  an  exposition  of  the  book  of  Genesis  and  part  of  Exodus,  and  wrote 
many  valuable  treatises  on  the  first  four  chapters  of  John. 

Being  himself  a  scholar,  he  dearly  loved  scholarly  men,  and  sought  the  in- 
terests of  tlie  University  with  which  he  was  connected,  with  so  much  assi- 
duity that  he  was  styled  "  the  father  of  the  college."  The  value  of  his  ser- 
vices was  recognized  in  the  charter  of  Harvard  College,  granted  by  the  Eng- 
lish Government  in  lOoO,  in  his  being  appointed  one  of  the  seven  trustees. 

During  his  college  life,  and  subsequently,  in  the  ministry,  in  mingling  with 
his  people,  and  in  the  meetings  of  clergymen,  he  diligently  and  earnestly 
prosecuted  his  Master's  work,  and  he  was  called  to  his  rest  in  the  midst  of  his 
labors.  After  preaching  from  the  text,  "  I  know  that  thou  wilt  bring  to  death 
and  unto  the  house  appointed  for  all  living,"  he  was  seized  with  a  fever 
which  terminated  his  life,  July  9th,  1668. 

Cotton  Mather  says,  that  he  "  never  knew  a  death  that  caused  so  great 
mourning  and  lamentation  generally.  He  was  greatly  loved  and  honored 
throughout  all  the  churches,  as  well  as  in  Cambridge,  and  admired  by  the 
most  competeni  judges  of  real  worth." 

Morton,  who  was  contemporary  witli  Mr.  Mitchell,  says:  "He  was  a  per- 
son that  held  very  near  communion  with  God;  eminent  in  wisdom,  piety, 
humility,  love,  self-denial,  and  of  a  compassionate  heart ;  surpassing  in  pub- 
lic spiritedness ;  a  mighty  man  in  prayer ;  and  eminent  at  standing  in  the 
gap  ;  lie  was  zealous  for  order  and  faithful  in  asserting  the  truth  against  all 
oppugners  of  it." 

Dr.  Increase  Matlier,  who  was  personally  and  intimately  acquainted  with 
him,  says :  "  He  was  blessed  with  admirable  natural  as  well  as  acquired  parts. 
Hisjuilgment  was  solid,  deep  and  penetrating;  his  memory  was  strong  and 
vastly  capacious.  He  wrote  sermons  very  largely  ;  and  then  used,  with  en- 
largements, to  commit  them  all  to  his  memory,  without  once  looking  into  the 
bible  after  he  had  named  his  text,  and  yet  his  sermons  were  scriptural. 

His  publications  were  a  letter  of  counsel  to  his  brother,  written  while  he 
was  at  College;  an  Election  sermon,  which  he  was  called  to  preach  before 
the  highest  officers  of  the  State  in  1667  ;  a  Letter  concerning  the  subjects  of 
Baptism,  1675  ;  a  Discourse  of  the  Glory  to  which  God  hath  called  believers 
by  Jesus  Christ,  printed  at  London  after  his  death,  with  the  letter  to  his 
brother  affixed,  and  reprinted  at  Boston  in  a  duodecimo  volume  in  1732. 

He  left  a  valuable  record  of  the  members  of  his  church,  in  a  folio  M.  S., 
which  was  found  in  1815,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes,  in  Mr.  Princes  collection, 
deposited  in  the  Old  South  Church,  in  Boston.     A  small  volume  of  his  manu- 


II  I  S  T  O  U  Y     O  F      A  N  C  I  K  N  T      W  0  O  D  15  U  U   Y  .  1  5  2  7 

script  sermons,  preached  in  1G50,  in  the  hand-writing  of  Ciii>t.  Jonathan  Dan- 
forth,  was  presented  to  the  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  in  1813. 

Mr.  Mitchell  married  Margaret  Sliepard,  tlie  second  wife  of  his  preeecessor, 
and  had  four  sons  and  several  dautrhtcrs.  Two  of  the  sons  were  graduates 
at  Harvard  College.  Samuel,  in  1081,  and  Jonathan,  1687.  The  former  was 
a  Fellow  of  the  College  and  died  young;  the  latter  died  in  1695.  Tlio  sons 
lift  no  posterity.  His  daughter,  Margaret,  was  married,  June  iJth,  ]()82,  to 
Maj.  Stephen  Sewall,  of  Salem,  and  Avas  the  mother  of  seventeen  children. 
In  this  line,  descendants  of  Mr.  Mitchell  still  remain. 

Children  of  MinottTand  Eliza  L.  Michell :  1.  Joseph  Silliman  8,  b.  Hth 
Feb.,  1809.  3.  William  MinotS,  b.  20th  May,  1811,  was  graduated  at 
Union  College,  died  15th  March,  1849.  Practiced  law  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  genius,  and  although  he  died 
young,  had  already  obtained  an  eminent  position  in  his  profession  ;  m.  1st, 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Silliman,  dau.  of  W.  Silliman,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  9th  Dec, 
1S:M.  She  d.  May  29th,  1841.  Children  :  I.  Minott,9  b.  Sept.  20,  1837.  Mar- 
ried Alniira  G.  Smith,  April  9th,  1861.  Children:  1st,  SarnJi  Elizabeth, \Q  b. 
10th  Aug.,  1862.     2d.  Ida  Louim,lO  b.  Dec.  21, 1566. 

II.  Eliza  Louise,9  born  Aug.  15,  1839.  Married  William  Cleveland  Hyde 
b.  Dec.  15,1862.  Children:  1st.  Harr'i  Clewland  Hydc,h.  March  21,  1864 
2d.  WiUinm  Minott  MitcMl,  b.  Oct.  9th,  1865.  3d.  Edirard  Ruthcrfurd,  b" 
Aug.  28th,  1867.     4th.  Edith,  b.  Feb.  3d,  1870. 

William  Minott  Mitchell,8  m.  2d,  Mary  Delia  Silliman,  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  11th  Sept.,  1842.     Children  : 

III.  Delia  Silliman.S  b.  od  Feb.,  1844,  m.  Meredith  L.  Jones,  of  Scranton 
Penn.  Children:  1st.  hahelle,  b.  Aug.  10,  1866,  d.  Jan.  11,  1868.  2d.  Annie 
b.  Jan.  31st,  1870. 

IV.  William  Silliman,  b.  Oct.  10,  181.5. 

V.  Isabella,  b.  29th  Oct.,  1847,  m.  Edward  A.  Palmer,  May  28,  186S. 

VI.  Wilhelmina,  b.  26th  May,  1840.     (Posthumous). 

Chauncey  L.  Mitchell.S  b.  20tli  Nov.  1813,  practising  medicine  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  at  one  time  Professor  of  Physiology  and  Obstetrics  in  Castleton 
Medical  College,  was  graduated  at  Union  College  ;  twice  m.  1st,  to  Caroline 
Laura  T^angdon,  dau.  of  Hon.  B.  F.  Langdon,  of  Vermont,  Oct.  20th,  1843,  d. 
July  12th,  1855.  Children:  1.  Charles  Langdon,  b.  28th  March,  1845,  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College  and  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  2.  Eliza 
Leeds,  b.  14th  Dec.  1847. 

2d,  m.  Frances  E.  Wright,  dau.  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Wright,  of  Rome,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  14, 1847. 

JosTAii  SiieumanS  Mitchell,  practising  law  at  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  b. 
Feb.  2d,  1816,  twice  married,  1st,  to  Elizabeth  Anderson,  dau.  of  Hon.  Jo- 
seph H.  and  Mercia  Anderson,  Feb.  9th,  1842.     She  d.  Oct.  17th,  1856.     Chh  : 

I  William  Anderson,!'  b.  13th  Dec,  1842,  was  graduated  at  Columbia  Col- 
lege, and  at  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  College,  m.  Natalie  Madalena 
Sayen,  June  7th,  1866.     Child  :  Harry  Sayen  MitcheU,-iO  b.  March  28th,  1868, 

II.  Anna  Caroline.9  b.  26th  Sept.,  1848. 

2d,  ra.  Margaret  Louise  Dusenbury,  dau.  of  David  Dusenbury,  Esq.,  Jan. 
9,1862.    Child:  Charles  IIals€y,h.2Sd  Nov.,  1864. 


1528  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

James  Minott  Mitchells  b.  12  May,  1829,  died  ITtli March,  1882. 

Caroline  Minott  Mitchell,8  b.  12th  May,  1829,  m.  David  Anderson* 
son  of  Hon.  Joseph  H.  Anderson,  of  N.  Y.,  Dec.  3d,  1846.  Children  :  1.  Joseph 
Ilalseyl^  b.  May  9th,  1848.     2.  David  Minott,^  b.  Qct  9th  1855. 

Joseph  Halsey  Anderson,9  m.  Harriet  Eells,  Sept.,  1868.  Children:  Ist, 
Annie.  Coe,\0  b.  Feb.  2d,  1870.     2d,  Oarolin.e,W  Jan.  10th,  1871. 

Ann  Eliza  Mitchell,8  b.  28th  Oct.,  1818,  m.  Frederick  A.  Coe,  Esq.,  son  of 
Rev.  Noah  Coe,  of  Ct.,  Aug.  16,  1841.  He  practised  law  in  New  York  ;  died 
Jan.  9th,  1870.  One  child:  Caroline  Mitchell^  b.  Aug-.  16,  1843,  d  April  30, 
1846. 

CuAiiLES  Halsey  Mitchell,8  b.  I3th  Feb.  1824,  was  graduated  at  the 
New  York  University,  practising  law  in  the  City  of  New  York,  m.  Isabella 
R.  Hull,  dau.  of  Judge  John  Hull,  of  New  Jersey,  July  21st,  1859.  Children : 
1.  Margaretta  Hull  9  b.  May  6,  1860.  Anne  Minott, ^  Dept.  26,  1862.  3.  Bliza 
Leeds,^  b.  Jau.  28,  1867,  d.  Aug.  29,  1867. 

Justus  Mitchell  d.  24th  Feb.  1806. 

Descendants  of  Chaimccy  Root  Mitchell. 
Children : 

I.  Elizabeth  Thomson,  b.  18th  Oct.,  1808,  ni.  Dr.  William  S.  Stanley.  No 
children. 

II.  Martha  M.  b.  May  2,  1810,  m.  Isaac  Depew,  Dec.  26th,  1832.  Five  chil- 
dren :  Chauncey  Mitchell,  b.  April  23d,  1834,  graduated  at  Yale,  1856.  Was 
two  terms  in  the  State  Legislature  of  New  York.  Secretary  of  State.  Ap- 
pointed minister  Resident  to  Japan,  but  declined.  Appointed  County  Clerk 
of  Westchester  County,  and  resigned.  Appointed  Commissioner  of  Taxes 
and  as.sessment8  for  the  City  of  New  York.  Appointed  commissioner  of  emi- 
gration for  the  State  of  New  York;  practicing  law  as  an  Attorney  for  the 
New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  R.  R.  Co.  2d.  Wm  Beverly,  b.  May  8, 
1837,  m.  Helen  Gauson,  dau.  of  John  S.  (Jansou,  of  Buftalo,  Feb.,  1st,  1865- 
Two  children : 

1st,  Ganson,  b.  Feb.,  I86ii.    2d,  Chauncey,  b.  May,  1867. 

3d.  Lawrence  I.,  b.  Sept.  6,  1 839.  4th.  Katharine,  b.  Sept.  8,  1843,  m.  Dr. 
Albert  Strang,  of  New  York,  Sept.  2.,  1868.  5  Annie  M.,  b.  Dec.  6,  1844,  m. 
Wm.  H.  Paulding,  June  20,  1865.  Two  children  :  1st.  Annie  M.,  b.  Aug.  2d, 
1866.    2d.  Charles  C.  b.  Dec.  11,  1868. 

III.  William  Ogden,  b.  June  6,  1812,  d.  June  I,  1831. 

IV.  Lucia  Johnston,  b.  Aug.  19,  1814,  m.  Dr.  William  Govan,  July  6, 
1844,  three  children:  1st.  Ann  Matilda,  b.  April  20,  1847.  2d.  Wm.  Stark, 
b.  Feb.  3,  1850,  d.  Aug.  23,  1855.     3.  Minott  Mitchell,  b.  July  I2th,  1852: 

Descendants  of  SHERMAN  Mitcheli,,  son  of  Rev.  Justus.  One  child  : 
Martha,  b  May  23d,  1807,  m.  Joseph  Silliman,  of  New  Canaan.  Two  Clih. : 
1st.  Joseph  Fiteh,  b.  Feb.  7,  1840,  m.  Caroline  Hoyt,  Oct  17,  1866,  three  chh. . 
Ist.  Josei^h  Mitchell,  h.  Sept.  29th,  1867.  2d.  James  Hoyt,  b.  Oct.  20,  1868' 
3d.  Martha,  b.  Sept.  13th,  1870. 

2d,  Justus  Mitchell,  b.  Jan.  25,  1812. 

In  the  Woodbury  branch  of  the  family,  the  following  items  have  been  fur- 
nished.    Deaths  : — Elizcf,  W.,  wife  of  W.  D.  Atwater,  in  1852;  Reuben  Mitch. 


H  I  S  r  O  U  V     ()  F     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     W  ()  ()  1)  15  U  H  Y  .  1  529 

<7ijjn  1853;  Sn-mn,  in  1855;  Nancy,  \i\  1858:  Snm.n>m,  in  1859;  Minott  M., 
in  1860;  Frank,  in  1S61  ;  ii'/CA,  1866. 

Marriajres  : — AsalKjl  W  Mitchell  m.  Franct-s  Cogswell,  in  1858.  Married, 
'2(1,  Harriet  S.  Allen,  in  1862.     Children:  Asahel  W.  Jr.,  b.  Oct.,  1865. 

List  of  Descend  nds  of  Dka.  EiiEAZAu  Mitchell, 

Born  Nov.  27,  1732.  7  Children  ;  Simeon,  h.  Sept.  5,  1759  d.  June  9,  1814  ; 
Punice,  b.  May  25,  1762  ;  Warren,  b.  Jan.  15,  1776,  d.  Jan.  30,  1842;  Anna, 
b.  April  30,  1768,  d.  Nov.  18,  1807;  Benjamin,  b.  June  30,  1770,  d.  Aug.  13, 
1771  ;  Olive,  b.  April    11,  1774,;  Benjamin,  b.  April  22,  1777,  d.  Sept.  3,  1842. 

Simeon  m.  first,  Hannah  Johnson,  of  South  Britain,  April,  16,  1788  ;  she 
was  b.  Feb.  10,  1767,  d.  Jan.  28,  1790  ;  m.  second,  Anna  Strong,  of  Southbury, 
Dec.  25,  1791.  Anna  was  born  Oct.  17,  1763,  d.  April  10,  1828.  3  Children: 
Polly,  b.  Dec.  7,  1783  ;  Olive,  b.  Dec.  3,  1785,  d.  Sept.  21,  1857  ;  Betsey,  b.  Aug. 
SO,  1788,  d.  June  25,  1810. 

Eunice  m.  W^it  Hinman  of  Southbury,  Jan.  29,  1784.  He  was  b.  xVug.  8, 
1761,  d.  April  8,  1834.  2  children  :  Josiah,  b.  May  23,  1786,  d.  June  4,  1858  ; 
Olive  E;  b.  Sept.  28,  1797,  m.  Glover  Laird,,  Jan.  14,  1854. 

Warren  m.  Milly  Kimberly,  of  Southbury,  Nov.  19,  1788.  She  was  b. 
Feb.  19,  1771,  d.  March  17,  1853.  4  children:  Cyrus,  b.  July  11,  1790  ;  Sally, 
b.  March  12,  1796;  Anna.,  b.  May  11,  1799,  ni.  Anson  Bradley,  Oct.  C,  1819,  d. 
July  2y,  1821  ;  Nancy,  b.  March  26,  1803. 

Amos  m.  first,  widow  Ruth  Curtis,  dau.  of  Dea.  Josiah  Minor,  of  Wood- 
bury, Feb.  19th,  1795.  She  died  Oct.  1.  1801  ;  m.  second,  Ruth  Judson,  1803, 
who  still  survives.  He  was  killed  by  falling  from  a  bridge  that  cro.sses  the 
Pomperaug,  at  the  junction  with  the  Housatonic.  3  children  :  Eleazar  Styles 
b.  June  10,  1789,  died  Feb.  5,  1800;  Uariiet,  b.  Aug.  10,  1800,  d.  Sept.  2l', 
1801  ;  Betsey  Harriet  b.  Aug.  5, 1807,  d.  Nov.  11,  1826. 

Olive  m.  Seth  N.  Wheeler,  of  Southbury,  Feb.  19,  1795.  He  was  b.  Jan. 
28,  1772,  d.  Dec.  31,  1841.  4  children  ;  Betsey,  b.  Oct.  22,  1798.  m.  Peter  E. 
Oakley,  Dec.  20,  1818,  d  April  13,  1831  ;  Eunice  M.,  b.  May  15,  1803,  d.   Jan. 

14.  163-2  ;  Sarah  Maria,  b.  May  8,  1807,  d.  Feb.  22,  1815  ;  Ann,  b.  Aug. , 

1812,  d.  Jan.  1,  1827. 

Benjamin  m.  Hannah  Pierce,  of  South  Britain,  March  1,  1801.  She  was  b. 
Oct.  24,  1780,  d.  Dec.  31,  1847.  8  children  :  Erastus,  h.  Sept.  11,  1802  ;  Elea- 
zor,  b.  Oct.  6,  1804 ;  Anson  P.,  b.  Aug.  5,  1807 ;  Phehe  Ann.  b.  June  28,  1809, 
d.  Feb.  12,  1828;  Oliver,  b.  Sept.  5,  1813  ;  Laura,  b.  April  15,  1817,  d.  June 
11,  1834;  Julia  A.,  b.  June  10,  1822,  d.  March  6,  1850;  Bennet,  b.  May  14, 
1829,  d.  June  3,  1839. 

Third  Oenerafion. 

Polly  Mitchell  m.  Burton  Canfield,  of  New  Milford,  A])ril  1,  1802.  He 
was  b.  Feb.  22,  1778,  d.  Jan.  10,  18 18.  3  children  ;  Ilarriet,  h.  Dec.  27,  l8o2 ; 
Mitchell  M.,  b,  March  29,  1809;  Lemuel  Munson,  b.  April  19,  1820,  d.  Sept.  5, 
1854. 

Olive  Mitchell  m.  Joel  Crane,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  June  20,  1804,  lived  in 
Southbury  till  May,  1818,  when  they  removed  to  Vermillion,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  was  b.  Jan.  20,  1779,  d.  Aug.  3,  1844.     5  children  :  Simeon  M.,  b.  March 


1530  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUIIV. 

24,  1805;  Mary  Anna,  b.  Oct.  '21,  1807  ;  William,  b.  April  20,  1810,  d.  Aug. 
29,  1810;  Wm.  Hobart,  b.  May  14,  1813;  Chas.  Edward,  b.  June  30,  1815,  d. 
Oct  2.  1827. 

Betsey  Mitchell  m.  Lemuel  Ciinfield,  of  New  Milford,  1807.  He  was  b. 
Marcli  26,  1787,  d.  March  15,  |1807.  1  child:  Jerome  Canfield,  b.  March  26, 
1808. 

JosiAH  HiNMAN  m.  first,  Sally  Basset,  May,  1808.  She  was  b.  May  1,  1786, 
d.  April  17,  1850  Married  second,  widow  Eliza  Church,  April  24,  1856  10 
Children:  Charles,  b.  Feb.  14,  1809;  Van  Vactor,  b.  Sept.  0,  1812,  d.  Oct.  7, 
1839  ;  Flora,  b.  Dec.  16,  1814  ;  John  Henry,  b.  April  26,  1816  ;  Delia,  b.  April 
2,  1818;  Hobart,  b.  July  28,  1820;  Ross,  b.  Aug.  14,  1822  ;  m.  Mary  Thomas, 
New  Maven  ;  George,  b.  Sept.  14,  1824  ;  Preston,  b.  April  3,  1827  ;  Mary  Ann, 
b.  May  17,  1832. 

Cyrus  Mitchell  m.  Charlotte  Pierce,  Dec.  23,  1812.  Residence  South 
Britain.  5  children  :  Anna  J.,\>.  Dec.  26,1814;  Betsey,  b.  Sept.  22,1817; 
Mary  C,  b.  Feb.  17,  1820  ;  Ifelson  W.,  b.  May  29,  1825;  Cyrus  L.,  b.  Sept.  8, 
1828. 

Sally  MiTCHEUi  m.  Ebenezer  Johnson,  of  Southbury,  Oct.  22,  1813.  He 
wash.  March  3,1791.  Resides  Southbury.  2  children:  Henry  Justus,  b. 
Nov.  8,  1814;  Blisa  Ann,  b.  Nov.  19,  1819. 

Eunice  M.  Wheeler  m.  Matthew  E.  Mitchell,  of  Washington,  Jan  15th, 
1823.  2  children  :  Sarah  Maria,  b.  April  11,  1834;  Betsey  Ann,  b.  April  16, 
1827. 

Erastus  Mitchell  m.  Judith  A.  Downs,  Jan.  6th, 1829  Residence  South 
Britain.  2  children;  Ann  Eliza,  b.  March  13,  1830,  d.  Oct.  13,  1848;  Laura 
A.,  b.  April  12,  1835. 

Eleazor  Mitchell  m.  Cornelia  Merwin,  of  Bridgewater,  Jan.  18,  1829. 
Residence  South  Britain.  7  children:  An  infant  son  d.  Nov.  33,  1839  ;  luaw- 
rence,  b.  Feb.  27,  1833  ;  Benjamin  Bruce,  b.  July  11,  1835,  d.  May  11,  1843  ; 
David  M.,  b.  Jan.  8,  1837,  d.  March  24,  1838  ;  Mary,  b.  July  6,  1839,  d.  Feb.  2, 
1842 ;  Mary,  b.  Sept.  3,  1844  ;  Benjamin  B.,  b.  Dec.  5,  18 16,  drowned  Sept.  4, 
1854 ;  David  Merwin,  b.  Oct  16, 1841. 

Amos  P.  Mitchell  m.  first,  Thalia  Painter,  of  Roxbury,  who  d.  Aug.  14, 
1849,  aged  41.  He  m.  second,  Maria  Tyler,  of  Middlebury,  May  30,  1850. 
Residtiuce  South  Britain.  6  children:  Josephine,  b.  April  23,  1839  ;  William, 
b.  May  30,  l84l,d.  Aug.  15,  1841  ;  Henry  B.,  b.  Jan.  25,  '842;  Georye,  b. 
March  12,  1846  ;   William,  b.  March  13,  1849 ;  Jrdia  Tyler,  d.  May  11,  1852. 

Oliver  Mitchell  m.  Mary  Griffin,  of  Hampden,  Feb.  22,  18:;7.  Resi- 
dence South  Britain.     1  child :  Benjamin  Griffin,  b.  Jan  4,  1838. 

Julia  A.  Mitiiell  m.  Merwin  Waller,  of  New  Milford,  Oct.  1"),  1845.  1 
child  :  Edwin  Mitchell  Waller. 

Fo  u  rth  Generation . 

Harriet  Canfield  m.  An.«on  Bradley,  Feb.  1,  1824.  He  was  b.  May  10, 
1796.  Residence  South  Britain.  5  children:  Lemuel  C.,h.l)vc.l,  1826,  d. 
Oct.  10,  1829  ;  Burton  C,  b.  Jan.  9,  1830,  m.  Anna,  b.  Feb.  10,  1832:  Sarah, 
b.  Dec.  6.  1835  ;  Eliza,  b.  Sept.  21,  1839. 

Mitiiell  Munroe  Canfield  m.  Eliza  J.  Averill,  Nov.  24,  1830.     She  was 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     M'  O  0  D  B  U  U  V  .  1581 

b.  June  28,  1811.     Resides   South    Britain.     2   children:  Act  rill  Burton,  b. 
Nov.  8, 1831  ;  Henry  Monroe,  b.  Aug.  16, 1841. 

Lemuel  M.  Canfild  m.  Emeline  Northrup,  of  Seymour,  Ct.,  March  10, 
1843.  She  was  b.  in  March  —  184.5.  Residence  South  Britain.  2  children  : 
H'lrriet  Elizabeth,  b.  Mar.  1.5,  1850;  Sarah  Eleanor,  b.  April  29,  1852. 

Simeon  Mitchell  Crane  m.  first  Eliza  A.  Ingram,  Sept.  5,  1826.  She 
was  born  July  IT,  1812,  d.  July  7,  1836.  He  m.  second,  Olive  Rockwell,  Sept. 
8,  1838.  She  was  b.  Sept.  29,  1820.  Residence  Florence,  Erie  Co..  Ohio. 
10  childen:  Charles  Edward,  b.  Nov.  27, 1827,  residence  Green  Bay;  Samuel 
Ingham,  b.  Dec.  20,  1832,  d.  18.59 ;  George  MitcMl,  b.  July  1,  1835;  Anna 
Louisa,  b.  Feb.  6,  1840,  m.  Henry  W.  Hj-de,  April  30,  1857  ;  Mary  Minerva 
b.  Julys,  1842,  d.  Dec.  29,1850;  Joel  Rockwell,  b.  Dec.  1,  1845;  Olice  A.', 
Laura  A.,  b.  Aug.  8,  18.51,;  Mary  Eliza,  h.  Oct  22,1854;  Burton  J)elos,h. 
April  7,  1858. 

Mary  Anna  Crane  m.  Dr.  G.  G.  Baker,  Nov.  25, 1824.  He  was  born  Dec. 
19,  1798.  Residence  Norwalk,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  1  child  :  Sarah  Louisa,  b- 
Dec.  26,  1827,  d.  Aug.  10,  1849. 

Wm.  Hobart  Crane  m.  Harriet  Chandler  Oct.  27,  1841.  She  was  b.  July 
17,  1819.  Residence  Vermillion,  Erie  Co.  Ohio.  2  children  :  Henry  Ilerhert, 
b.  June  5,  1843  ;  Ellen  Eliza,  b.  Sept.  1,  1846. 

jERorE  Canfield  m.  Hannah  Smith  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  Nov.  28th,  1828- 
Residence  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  6  children  :  i(?m«e^  Smith  m.  Emily  Johnson, 
June  1857  ;  Mitchell  Jerome,  deceased;  C'ornelia  C. ;  Edward  Jerome,  deceas, 
ed  ;  Chandler  P. ;  Emma  Gertrude,  deceased. 

Cuarles  Hinman  m.  Rachel  Russel.  Residence  Oxford,  Ct.  2  children  . 
Martha  R.  m.  Spencer  Bray  ;  Sarah. 

Flora  Hinman  m.  Burr  Dickerman,  Nov.  25,  1835.  Residence  Armenia, 
New  York.  G  children  :  Harriet,  b.  Dec.  2,  1836;  Sarah,  b.  May  .5,  1839. 
Seth,  b.  Jan.  10,  1842,  d.  March  25,  1845;  Milo,  b.  March  26,  1844;  Seth,  b! 
Jan.  2,  1847,  d.  Dec.  2,  1849  ;  Alice,  b.  Oct.  5,  1852.      '' 

John  W.  Hinman  m.  Mary  Kelsey,  of  Milford.     1  child:  Harry  Garwood. 

Delia  Hinman  m.  Wm.  Wallace.  Residence  Anamosa,  Jones  Co.,  Iowa. 
2  children  :  Louisa  ;  Isabella. 

George  Hinman  m.  liucretia  Hewitt.  Rtisidence  New  Haven,  Ct.  2  chh  : 
George  :  Mary. 

Preston  Hinman  m.  Harriet  Beeclier.  Residence  New  Haven,  Ct.  1 
child:  Frank. 

May  Ann  Hinman  m.  John  Downs.  Residence  New  Haven,  Ct.  1  child  . 
Minot. 

Mary  C.  Mitchell  m.  Curtis  B.  Bowns,  Oct.  22,  1839.  Residence  South 
Britain.     2  children  :  Eliz((heth  A  ;  Catherine  M.,  d.  Jan.  1800. 

Nelson  Warren  Mitchell  m.  Edna  E.  Piatt,  Feb.  28,  1849.  Residence 
South  Britain.  2  children:  Edirard  Lcmy^h.  Sept.  29,1851;  Anna  Char- 
lotte, b.  Feb.  3,  185G. 

Henry  J,  Johnson  m  Lucinda  Clark,  Sept.  1839.  Residence  Southbury 
2  children:  Charles,  b.  and  d.  Jan  5,  1811  ;  Emily  Mitrhell,  b.  Ai)ril  2S,  1842, 
d.  Sept.  5,  1842. 

Eliza  A.  Johnson  m.  Rev.  (Jeo.  P.  Pruddfu.  Oct.  4,  1839.     Residencp  Wa- 

44 


1532  niSTORV      OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

tertowii,  Ct.  5  children  :  Edward  Payson,  b.  June  8,  1841,  d.  April  14, 1843  ; 
Henry  Johnson,  b.  March  16,  1843;  Theodore,  b.  March  14,  1847;  Theoj)hil 
Mitchell,  b.  July  7,  1849  ;  LUian  Eliza,  b.  Dec.  3,  1852. 

Sarah  Maria  Mitchell  m.  Dr.  N.  C.  Baldwin,  Oct.  31,  1841.  Residence 
Soiith  Britain.     2  children  :  Jlffl?-?/,  b.  Dec.  1847;   T'Ti^&er,  deceased. 

Betsey  Ann  Mitchell  m.  first,  David  C.  Hinman,  of  New  Haven ;  sec' 
ond,  Charles  Cothren,  Aug.  1854.  Residence  Brooklyn,  New  York.  4  chh  : 
Edward  C.  Hinman,  b.  Dec.  4,  1848;  three  dau.,  all  deceased. 

Lawrence  Mitchell  m.  Esther  Holbrook,  Jan.  24,  1855.  Residence  New- 
town, Ct.     1  child :  Frank  Holbrook,  b.  Feb.  4,  1856. 

Fifth  Generation. 

AvERiLL  B.  Can  FIELD  m.  Alice  S.  Angevine,  Sept.  9,  1857.  She  was  b- 
Sept.  6, 1 835.  Residence  South  Britain.  1  child :  Cornelia  Elisabeth,  h.  Dec. 
18,  1858. 

Samuel  I.  Crane  in.  Sophia  ''"harlotte  Buck,  April  26,  1854.  Residence 
New  York.  2  children ,  Charles  Herbert,  b.  April  1,  1856;  Oeorge  Edward, 
b.  Sept.  9,  1858. 

Hannah  Hickock,  dau.  of  Dea.  Mitchell's  second  wife,  m.  Rev.  Zephania 
Smith.  Residence  Glastenbury,  Ct.  5  children  :  Zephaiiia ;  Lvcretia ;  Lair 
rilla,  deceased;  Julia  E.;  Abigail H. 

From  South  Britain  the  following  additions  have  been  received  : — 

Sally  Mitchell,  w.  Eben  Johnson,  d.  Jan  24,  1869. 

Betsey  Mitchell,  (Cyrus  M's  dau.,)  d.  Nov.  18,  1870. 

Nelson  W.  Mitchell's  children:  1st,  Edward  Leroy,  b.  Sept.  29,  1851  ; 
2d,  Annie  Charlotte,  b.  Feb.  3d,  1856  ;  3d,  Charles  W.,  b.  Marcli  12,  1861. 

Cyrus  Leroy  M's  family  :  m.  Sarah  Hunt  June  23d,  1869.  Cliildren  :  1st, 
Walter  Ij..h.  April  28th,  1862:  2d,  Frederick  Warren,  h.  Dec.  18th,  1863; 
3d,  Robert  Cyrus,  b.  Mar.  6,  1869. 

Erastus  Mitchell  d.  Feb.  9th,  1869. 

Ann  Eliza  Mitchell  d.  Oct.  19.  1848. 

Laura  A.  Mitchell  m.  A.  B.  Downs  Nov.  20,  1861 .     She  d.  Aug.  18,  1862. 

Mary  Ann  Mitchell  d.  June  18,  1866. 

Oliver  Mitchell  m.  Emeline  Canfield  Oct.  23d,  1867 

Josephine  A.  Mitchell  m.  Herman  Perry  June  16th,  1864.     1  child :  Mary 

Jane  Pvrry,  b.  June  20,  1869. 

Henry  P.  Mitchell  m.  Phebe  Stoddard  Nov.  14th,  1865.    2  children: 

Thalia  Esther,  b.  Sept.  19th,  1866  ;  Martha,  b.  Aug.  I2th,  1868. 

Wm.  E.  Mitchell  m.  Elizabeth  A.  Nickerson,  Nov.  9th,  1870. 

Julia  T.  Mitchell  m.  S.  P.  Avcrill  March  2d,  1870.  1  child  :  Ada  J/.,  b. 
Dec.  20,  1870. 

Law'rence  Mitchell  m.  Esther  Holbrook  Jan.  24th,  1855.  8  children  : 
Fremk  H.,  b.  Feb.  4th,  1856  ;  I^ellxe  E.,  b.  June,  1860  ;  Jessie  P.,  b.  May,  1864. 

Mary  Mitchell  m.  Dr.  A.  E.  Winchell,  Oct.  10th,  1865.  1  child:  Mary 
Helen,  h.  Sept.  16th,  1866. 

D.  M.  MiTCfiELL  m.  Hatte  J.  Lemmon  Dec.  2yth,  1869.  1  child:  Beiija- 
min  J/.,  b.  Oct.  27th,  1870. 


HISTORY      OF      A  X  C  I  E  X  T      WOOD  IS  U  R  Y.  1 53( 


MINOR  FxVMILY. 

There  was  an  ancient  account  of  this  family,  whicli  the  writer  was  not  able 
to  obtain  in  tin^e  for  the  former  edition.  He  has  it  now.  It  is  very  (jiiaint 
and  curious,  and  is  introduced  below  entire : 

"  It  is  more  praiseworthie  in  noble  and  excellent  things  to  know  something, 
though  little,  than  in  mean  and  ignoble  things  to  have  a  perfect  knowledge. 
Amongst  all  those  rare  ornaments  of  the  mind  of  man,  heraldic  hath  had  a 
most  eminent  place,  and  hath  been  held  in  high  esteem,  not  only  at  one  time 
and  in  one  climate,  but  during  all  times,  and  through  those  parts  of  the 
world  where  any  ray  of  Humanitie  and  Civilitie  hath  shined,  for  without  it^ 
all  would  be  drowned  in  the  chaos  of  disorder.  Neither  is  she  so  partial, 
that  money  shall  make  the  man.  For  he  ought  not  to  be  accounted  a  perfect 
Herauld,  except  that  he  •can  discern  the  difference  betwixt  a  coat  armoriall, 
olotained  by  valour,  or  purchased  by  money.  Seuticm  Gentilinm  PaUiidamen- 
ium  Cistatanus — honorable  not  mercenary,  as  appears  by  the  coat  of  the 
Miners.  The  reason  (as^-Jarcilaseo  Sayeth,  page  433)  is  this.  Edwaijd,  the 
third,  going  to  make  warre  against  the  French,  took  a  progress  through 
Somerset,  and  coming  to  Mendippi  Colles  minerary,  Mendip])i  Hills  in  Som- 
ersett,  where  lived  Henry,  a  miner,  whose  surname  was  Bullman,)  his  name 
being  taken  rather  a  denominatione  soci  et  ab  officio,  who  with  all  careful- 
ness and  loyaltie,  having  convened  his  Domestics  and  menial  Servants,  armed 
with  Battle  Axes,  proffered  himself  and  them  to  his  master's  service,  making 
up  a  complete  hundred.  Wherefore  he  had  his  coat  armorial  (G ules)  signifying 
Minius,  red — another  demonstration  of  the  original  of  the  surname,  a  Fesse 
id  est  civ gvlum  militare,  because  obtained  by  valour,  betwixt  three  plates  ar. 
gent,  crest,  a  battle  axe  armed  at  both  ends,  another  demonstration  of  the 
arms,  for  there  could  be  no  plates  without  Mines.  It  is  folly  to  suppose  such 
a  surname  as  Minor  to  have  any  coat  of  arms,  it  being  contrary,  yea,  contra- 
dictory in  terms,  that  Minor  can  obtain  paternal  coats  or  achievments,  unless 
it  be  presupposed  that  Major  was  his  father.  Bartas,  a  French  Herauld,  says 
Miner  is  a  word  contracted  in  Dutch,  MIN-HEIR,  that  is  my  master  or  Lord, 
and  gives  his  reason  for  the  plates  to  be  dollars  or  pieces  of  Eight,  abund. 
ance  of  which  will  make  Hollander,  (albeit  boinupon  a  dunghill)  to  be  titled 
Min-heir,  but  ye  crest  reason  aforesaid,  and  Chronologie  proves  the  first,  and 
albeit  Heraulds  differ  in  the  Describing  (says  Fordon,  page  342)  of  this  sur. 
name,  Miner,  and  time,  with  the  various  dialects  of  several  counties  have 
almost  made  it  to  be  another  name,  yet  if  ignorance  would  strive  to  eradicate 
Ancestrie,  it  can  not  do  it  in  this  coat,  the  name  and  colours  making  so  much 
proof  with  the  place  (says  Baker).  1st,  the  place  where  the  original  came 
from  ;  Mendippi  Colles  Minerary.  2d,  by  the  field,  Minius.  3d,  by  the  charge 
Minerall.  4th,  by  the  circumstances  and  actions  upon  record,  relative^  to  the 
crest,  being  a  battle-axe  armed  at  both  ends  Minerall.  Herauldry  is  a  thing 
not  of  yesterday,  or  which  may  be  otherways  found  out,  being  already  con. 
descended  upon  by  all  nations,  and  as  it  were  established.  Jure  Centium, 
among  the  Greeks,  Romans.  Germans,  Frencli,  Spaniards,  English,  Scots, 
Danes  and  Hungarians,  kc.     Fridon,  the  great  Antiquarian,  sayeth  that  the 


Ioo4  H  1  S  T  O  R  V     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

King".:*  Secretary  returned  the  foresaid  Henry  Miner  a  compliment  for  liis 
Loyaltie  in  these  words.  Oceamis  quamvis  magniflury  muUique  torrente» 
siut  ei  stipendary.  Nov.  de  dignatur  recipere  minares  Biviloso  id  est.  The 
Ocean  (tlioiigh  great  rivers  pay  him  tribute)  disdains  not  also  to  receive  the 
Lesser,  if  Loyal  Brooks,  which  by  one  only  urne  pour  themselves  into  its 
bosom. 

This  Henry  died  in  the  year  1359,  leaving  behind  him  Henry,  Edward' 
Thomas  and  George  Miner,  of  whom  little  is  to  be  said,  save  as  only  that 
Henry  married  one  Henrietta  Hicks,  daughter  of  Edward  Hicks,  of  Glouces" 
ter,  of  whom  as  appears  by  the  paling  of  their  arms,  are  the  Hicks  of  Severs, 
ton  Castle,  in  Glocester,  descended,  and  had  issue,  WiUiani  and  Henry. 

William  married  one  Hobbs  of  Wiltshire,  and  had  issue,  '^^mas  and 
George.  Henry,  the  2d  son,  served  Richard  the  second,  iu  the  year  1384. 
^Thomas,  in  1399,  married  one  Miss  Gressleys,  daughter  of  Cotton,  in  the 
Countie  of  Stafford,  and  had  issue,  Lodovick,  George  and  Mary.  Lodovick 
married  Anna  Dyer,  daughter  of  thomas  Dyer,  of  Sloughton,  in  the  Counti® 
of  Huntington,  and  had  issue,  TliomaSj  born  1436  (and  after  that  twins,  being 
twenty-two  years  after  ye  birth  of  the  said  Thomas,  and  the  twins,  George 
and  Arthur,  who  both  served  the  House  of  Austria, 'the  younger  married  (as 
Philipe  Comins  relates)  one  Henrietta  de  la  Villa  Odorosa.  'tJioni^s  mar- 
ried Bridget,  second  daughter  to  Sir  George  Hervie  de  St.  Martins,  in  County 
Middlesex,  and  died  1480,  leaving  his  son  Willitimand  daughter  Anna  Miner 
in  tutorage  to  their  mother  Bridget,  whom  she  resigned  to  her  father,  and 
turned  to  a  Monasterial  life  in  Dutford,  where  she  remained  diu-ing  the  re. 
mainder  of  her  life.  William  married  Isabella  Hartope  de  Frolibay,  and  lived 
to  revenge  the  death  of  the  two  young  Princes  murdered  in  the  Tower  of 
London,  upon  their  inhuman  uncle,  Eichard  the  3d.  It  was  said  of  this 
William  Miner,  that  he  was  Flos  Militim,  the  flower  of  chivalrie.  He  left 
behind  him  ten  sons.  William,  George,  Thomas,  Robert,  Nathaniel  and 
John  ;  the  rest  are  not  recorded.  The  two  last  went,  over  to  Ireland,  in  1541, 
when  King  Henry  the  8th  was  proclaimed  1st  King  of  Scotland.  Nathaniel 
married  one  Fitzmorris  neigh  Caterburgh,  in  the  province  of  Leinster,  iu  Ire- 
land, John  married  Joselina  O'Bryan,  daughter  of  Teig  O'Bryan,  of .  in. 

County  of  Clare,  whose  posteritie  remain  there  in  the  name  of  Miner,  bear, 
ing  the  same  coat.  George  married  and  lived  in  Shropshire,  Thomas  in  He. 
reford.  William,  the  oldest  son,  had  issue,  Clenient  and  Elizabetli  Miner, 
and  was  buried  at  Chow  Magna,  the  23  day  of  February,  Anno  Domini  1585, 
and  lies  interred  in  the  Priests'  chancel,  about  four  feet  from  the  wall,  with 
this  inscription : 

HERE  ,,  ETH  ,,,,,,  M 

M  Y  X  E  R  , ,  ,  OF  , ,  ,  P  S  H 

C)  li  Y  T  I  R  M    F  E  R  R  U  ,  M  D  L  X  X  X  V. 

This  and  no  more  is  legible  upon  the  stone,  with  the  coat  expressed  in  the 
margin  (at  the  f  signe)  but  by  the  Records  and  Registry  of  said  church 
it  is  evident  that  his  name  was  William  Myner,  they  both  a  greeing  in  the 
same  date  and  i)lace,  and  must  needs  have  been  the  head  of  the  same  family, 
as  by  the  paternal  coat  of  arms  clearly  appear. 


H  1  S  T  0  n  V     OF      A  N  (•  r  E  X  T     WOOD  l".  l'  I!  V  .  1  535 

Clement,  his  son,  succeeded  his  father  in  Heritage,  and  married,  and  had 
issue,  Clement,  Thomas,  Elizabeth  and  Mary  Miners,  and  de])arted  this  life 
the  iJlst  of  March,  1G40,  and  lies  interred  in  Chow  Magna,  in  tlie  County  of 
Somersett.  Clement,  the  eldest  brother,  married  Sarah  Pope,  daughter  of 
John  Pope,  of  Norton,  Small  Reward,  in  the  County  of  Somersett,  and  had 
issue,  William  and  Israel.  This  Clement  was  buried  at  .Burslington,  County 
of  Somersett.  and  Thomas,  his  brother,  is  now  (in  168B)  alive  at  Stonington, 
Connecticut  Colony,  in  New  England,  Anno  Domini  1083,  and  has  issue, 
Jolm,  Thomas,  Clement,  Manassah,^  Ephraim  and  Judah  Miners,  and  two 
daugliters,  Marie  and  Elizabeth.  William  Miner,  eldest  son  of  Clement  Mi- 
ner,  2d,  married  Samh,  daughtei-  of  John  Batting,  of  Clifton,  in  Gloucester- 
shire, and  lives,  Anno  Domini  1083,  in  Christmas  street,  in  the  city  of  Bristol, 
and  lias  issue.  William  and  Sarah.  Israel,  the  second  sou,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Jones,  of  Burslington,  in  County  of  Somersett,  and  had 
issue,  Clement,  Thomas,  Sarah,  Jean  and  Elizabeth,  Anno  Domini  168o. 

And  now,  having  done  with  the  description  (genealogical].  1  hope  that  TOV 
TIC,  etc.,  etc. 

i  egdaba  naian  Tima,  aug.  ugabo. 

And  if  I  have  used  any  old  or  ancient  words,  yea,  words  differently  now 
Syllibicated,  I  may  excuse  myself  with  Quintialiaum  Verbosa  restuetate  repe- 
tites  non  solumemaquis  assentores  aliquani  nonsinede  lulatonat,  and  for  the 
ingenuous  reader  I  am  not  that  every  Peasant  should  venture  his  sickJirained 
opinion  upon  this  essay,  knowing  well  that  asy  neminem  habet  inimicume 
praetor  ignorantum.  but  if  he  will  take  counsel  (an  illegible  Greek  ([notation 
here  follows,  translated  by  the  author  to  mean,  "  If  thou  hast  no  tai^te  for 
learning,  meddle  no  more  with  what  thou  understandest  not,")  and  keeping 
himself  silent,  he  may  pass  fr)r  a  wit.  while  on  the  contrary,  his  too  much 
garrulity  shows  his  nakedness  as  much  as  Prester  John,  who  describes  him- 
self fromes  Logties  of  Solomon,  or  Fishulf  from  a  seth  :  but  I  shall  be  very 
much  beholden  to  the  learned  reader,  who,  if  he  can  give  more  satisfaciion 
in  the  essay,  would,  for  the  honor  of  anti()uitie  (who  now  lies  in  profundo 
Democratis  Putio)  mind  the  Errata  chronologically,  and  see  if  he  can  derive 
the  surname  from  a  longer  time,  it  being  supposed  that  Henry  Miner's  name, 
before  the  King's  progress  into  Somersett  was  Bullman,  but  how  cer  ain, 
however,  I  know  not,  but  leave  it  to  some  other,  whose  experience  and  learn- 
ing exceed  anine.  Desiring  nothing  more  than  that  Heraldie  should  be  re- 
stored to  its  pristine  splendour  and  truth,  and  not  be  abused  by  every  com. 
mon  painter  and  plasterer,  who,  before  he  will  lose  a  fee,  will  fansie  a  coat  of 
arms  to  the  loss  of  their  estates  and  goods,  and  sometimes  their  very  names. 

Quid  non  mortalium  jjectora  coginis  aure  Sacra  Fames? 

Emblemata  ad  voluutatem  Domini  Kiges  sunt  jwrtanda  et  non  alius  audi 
Heraldrie,  stands  in  need  of  the  dose  gaperapsusys,  and  now  1  will  con- 
clude with  Ralph  Brooks,  Esquire,  and  York  Heraldie. 

^  Manassah  was  younger  than  Ephraim  and  Judali  ;  the  latter  came  from 
England  with  their  lather  and  older  l)rothers,  but  Manasseh  was  born  in 
this  countrv.  and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Stonington  Miners. 


1536  HISTOKY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.. 

To  make  these  names  alive   again  appear, 
Whicli  in  oblivion  well  nigh  buried  were, 
That  so  your  children  may  avoid  the  jarres. 
Which  might  arise  about  their  ancestors  ; 
And  the  living  might  those  titles  see 
With  which  these  names  and  houses  honored  be, 
Yet  I  have  hope  of  more  acceptance  from 
Those  future  times  that  after  we  shall  come. 
For  when  beneath  the  stroke  of  death  I  fall, 
And  those  that  live  these  lines  examine  shall, 
Detraction  dying,  you  that  do  remain 
Will  credit  me  and  thank  me  for  my  pains. 
Very — si  quid  nodisti  rectius 
Candidas  imperti — sinon  utere  mecum. 
This  coat  of  the  Miners  of  Chow,  I  attest  to  be  entered  at  Bath,  in  Somer- 

selt,  by  Clarenceux,  the  4th  of  King  James  the  first,  which  visitation  is  in 

custody  of  me,  1606. 

Alex.  Cunningham. 

XoTE. — The  original  essay  (of  which  the  forgoing  is  a  copy)  was  sent  over 
from  England  to  the  first  Thomas  Miner,  some  years  after  he  emigrated  to 
this  country,  and  was  preserved  by  the  descendants  of  Manassah  Miner,  who 
still  occupy  the  Homestead  in  Wicketegnack,  till  within  a  few  years,  when  it 
was  deposited  with  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society  for  preservation. 

Children  of  Thomas  Miner  : 

1.  John,  moved  to  Stratford,  then  to  Woodbury. 

2.  Thomas y  of  whom  we  find  no  record. 

3.  Clement,  married  and  settled  in  New  London,  where  some  of  his  de- 
scendants now  live,  and  from  whom  the  Lyme  Miners  sprung. 

4.  Ephraim  settled  in  Stonington. 

5.  Judah,  record  says,  went  East 

6.  Manassah  settled  in  Stonington,  ancestor  of  the  North  Stonington  Mi- 
ners. 7.  Joseph.  8.  Samuel.  9.  Ann.  10.  Marie.  11.  Eunice.  12.  Eliz- 
abeth.    18.  Hannah. 

Page  643.  Elizabeth,  w.  of  John  Minor,  and  dau.  of  Richard  Booth,  was 
b.  Sept.,  1641,  and  d.  Oct.,  1732.  Page  644.  John  Minor  (o  (16)')  m.  Sarah, 
dau.  of  Robert  Rose,  of  Stratford.  . 

On  page  644  is  recorded,  "  20  V.  Grace*  (dau.  of  Capt.  John'  Minor,  b.  Sept. 

20,  1670,  m. Grant."     She  was  the   grand-daughter  of  Thomas  Minor, 

the  emigrant,  by  his  wife,  Grace  Palmer,  dau.  of  Walter  Palmer.  Grace 
Minor  was  m.  to  Samuel  Grant,  Jr.,  of  Windsor,  Conn.,  Ap.  11,  1688.  Thus 
the  above  blank  is  filled.  She  thus  became  the  ancestress  of  Gen.  Ulysses  S. 
Grant,  the  President  of  the  U.  S. 

The  generations  upward  run  thus: — Gen.  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant,  son  of 

I      Jesse  Root,  and  Hannah  (Simpson)  Grant,  b.  April  27,  1822,  son  of  Capt.  Noah 

and  Rachel  (Kelley)  Grant,  b.  Jan.,  1794 ;  son  of  Noah  and  Susanna  (Delano) 

Grant,  b.  June  20,  1748;  son  of  Noah   and   Martha  (Huntington)  Grant,  b. 


IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  153'7 

July  12,  niS;  son  of  Samuuel  Jr.  and  Grace  (Minor)  Grant,  dau.  of  John 
Minor,  of  Woodbury,  b.  Dec.  16,  1693  ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Porter) 
Grant,  b.  April  30,  16.)9  :  son  of  Deacon  Matthew  and  Priseilla  Grant,  of 
Windsor,  Conn.,  b.  Nov.  13,  1631. 

"Besides  the  Grant  blood,  there  is  intermingled  in  the  veins  of  the  Gene- 
ral, by  successive  marriages,  the  blood  of  some  of  the  best  Connecticut  fami- 
lies— the  Huntiugtons,  the  Lathrops,  the  Porters,  the  Minors,  the  Putnams, — 
all  strong  names,  and  significant  of  good  training  and  sterling  growth."' 

Mr.  Trowbridge  thinks  that  Ann,  No.  147  p.  649,  should  read  Emm  m. 
Philo  Judson. 

Rhoda  (187)  m.  Seth  Bacon.     Samuel  (143)  m.  Molly  Handy. 

Burke  Minor,  (299)  b.  Aug.  16,  1809,  m.  Eliza  Turner,  Sept.  3,  1834.  She 
was  b.  May  34,  1815,     Child  :  Catherine  Eliza,  b  Sept.  9,  1842. 

Charles  M.  Minor,  b.  Dec.  12,  1817,  m.  Harriet  X.  Ketchell,  Aug.  33,  18-11. 
Children  :  Arthur,  L.  b.  Jan.  33,  ]8r)3,  d.  Dec.  7,  18<;o :  Charles  II.,  b.  April  7, 
1855,  d.  Julv30,  1870. 


NKJHOLS  FAMILY. 

[Addition.] 

P.  657.     Four  JVichols   appear  originally  in  Stratford. 

1.  Frartcis,  who  died  1650  leaving  small  estate.  He  had  three  sons:  Jolm, 
Isaac  and  Caleh.  The  two  latter  settled  in  Stratford.  The  former,  John, 
came  to  Fairfield,  from  Watertown,  about  1653,  and  by  wife  Grace  had 
Isaar,  Sarah  and  John  The  father,  Jolin,  d  in  June,  1655,  and  the  widow 
had  Samuel  soon  after  his  deatli.  She  mentions  him  with  Saralr  and 
John,  in  a  deed  given  her  son  Isaac.  Savage  infers  that  three  daughters  men- 
tioned in  inventory  of  the  husband's  estate,  were  l)y  former  wife,  as  they  are 
not  named  in  the  widow's  deed  to  Isaac.  The  son  John  d.  unmarried,  1676. 
The  son  Isaac  was  brought  up  by  his  Unclt!  Isaac,  in  Stratford,  and  settled 
there.  Widow  Grace,  the  mother,  who  had  m.  Richard  Perry,  and  in  1(559 
was  his  widow,  gives  land  in  that  year  to  her  son  Isaac,  "  now  apprentice 
with  his  Uncle  Isaac,  in  Stratfoi'd."  This  younger  Isaac  is  commonly  styled 
Isaac',  Nichol's  "  cousin,"'  to  distinguish  liim  from  Isaac^  Jr.,  son  of  "  Uncle  '' 
Isaac. 

Isaac  Nichols'',  Jr., son  of  Isaac  lst,m.  Mary — , and  liad Francis,  June  167G. 
liiclmrd,  Nov.  1678,  m.  Comfort  Sherman  1702.-  Joseph]  Nov.  1680,  m.  Mary 
Curtis  1704. 

Isaac  Nichols',  (cousin)  son  of  John  and  Nephew  of  Isaac  1st,  m.,  Aug.  15, 
1673,  Esther  Clarke,  (dau.  of  John,  of  New  Haven,)  and  had  Oracr,  June 
1678.  Alice,  Oct.  1674  John,  Oct.  1676,  and  Samuel,  Dec.  1678,  and  went  to 
Derby. 

Page  658.  The  Samuel  who  was  in  Woodbury  1687,  was  Caleb  Nichols' 
fifth  child,  born  16.58.     (See  above,  Caleb  N.) 

Same  page.     Robert  Nichols,  of  Roxbury  Society,  1759,  was  son  of  Abra- 


^  History  of  Connecticut  during  the  recent  War,  p.  756. 


1538  II  I  S  T  O  K  Y      OF      A  N  0  I  E  X  T      W  O  O  D  B  U  It  Y  . 

ham  N.,  Jr.  and   Abigail  (Walker).     Abraham,  .Jr.,  was   son  of  Abraham  N. 
and  Rachel  (Kellogg),  and  Abraham  was  son  of  Caleb. 

Robert  was  born  in  North  Stratford  or  Unity,  (Trumbul],)  Feb.  3,  1*734. 

IsxAC  Nichols  1st,  had  wife  "  Margaret,"  or  "  Margery,"  (whom  I  suv)pose 
to  have  been  a  sister  of  William  Washborne,  of  Stratford  and  afterwards  of 
Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  for  John,  the  son  of  William  Washborne,  calls  Isaac  Nich- 
ols "  Uncle."  (To  be  sure,  Washborne  may  liave  married  a  sister  of  Nichols.) 
They  had  children :  Mari/i,  1647,  married  Rev.  Israel  Chauncy,  1607.  ISaraliii 
1649,  m.  Stephen  Burrit,  1673.  Jodah^,  16.51,  m.  Hannah  Hawley  (who  after 
his  death  in  1691,  m.  John  Wolcott  for  his  second  wife.)  IsuacA,  16o4.  Jon' 
athau^,  1655,  m.  Hannah  Hawkins  in  1681.  Efhvaim'o,  1657,  m.  Esther,  wid" 
of  Ebenezer  Hawley.  (She  was  previously  widow  of  William  Ward,  of  Fair- 
field, and  after  Nichol's  death,  about  1690,  m.  Eliphalet  Hill,  four  husbands). 
Patience'i,  1659.  Tcmpemncc^,  1662.  Margery^,  Nov.  1663.  BenjaimnlO, 
1665.     Mizabdhn,  1668,  m.  Rev.  Joseph  Webb,  of  Fairfield. 

Caleb  Nichols,  brother  of  Isaac  1st,  m.  Anna,  dan.  of  Andrew  Ward,  of 
Fairfield,  imd  had,  Sarald,  Dec.  1650,  (Savage  errs  in  saying  1651).  She  m. 
Moses  Wheeler,  Jr.  Annc%  March,  1653.  (Savage  errs  in  saying  165.*?).  Es- 
ther, Feb.  1653.  (Savage  errs  in  saying  1655).  JosepM,  Dec.  25,  1656.  Sam, 
uel5,  March  1658.  Andreic*y,  Nov.  1659.  Abram~,  Jan.  176|.  Abigails,  Feb 
166|,  m.  Wm.  Maktin.*  //a//H«/(9,  Aug.  J  667,  unmarried  in  1706.  Calehio, 
Feb.  1668-9.  Phehc^^,  bap.  1670,  m.  Isaac  Knell.  Johrd^,  bap.  1676,  and  his 
will  adds,  Mary'^^. 


PARKER  FAMILY. 

Parker  has  always  been  a  common  name  in  New  England.  We  find  Abra- 
ham, Amariah,  Edmund,  George,  Jacob,  James,  Joseph,  Matthew,  Nicholas' 
Robert,  Thomas,  two  or  more  Williams,  and  as  many  Johns,appearing  in  as 
many  of  the  different  settlements  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  at  au 
early  day.  Abraham  was  the  first  of  the  family  in  tliis  country.  It  is  sup 
posed  he  came  from  Wiltshire,  England.  He  first  settled  in  Woburn,  Mass. 
where  he  m.  Rose  Wliitlock,  Nov.  18,  1644.t 

1.  William  was  early  in  Hartford  and  Saybrook,  and  had  3  children.  The 
4th  child,  2  John,  wa"*  b.  Oct.  8,  1648,  m.,  Nov.  8,  1670,  Hannah,  dau.  of  Wm. 
Bassett.  He  was  among  the  early  planters  in  Wallingford,  and  settled  at 
Parker's  Farms,  about   two  miles  West  of  the  village,  which  first  gave  the 

name  to  that  locality.     He  d. ,1711.     His  w.  d.  June  7,  1726.     They  had 

10  children.  The  5th,  3.  Joseph,  m.  Sarah  Curtis,  June  7,  1705.  They  had 
10  children.  The  4th  child,  4.  Thomas,  b.  June  7,  1709,  m.  Abigail  Dutton, 
Aug.  30  1748,  and  settled  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  1756.  He  d.  in  1788.  Chh. : 
5.  Thomas,  b.  April  3,  1749.     6.  Amasa,  b.  Feb.  28,  1751,  graduate  of  Yale, 


*  Here  is  Martin's  wife — the  true  Abigail — 21  years  old  when  she  was  m., 
in  1685. 
t  Davis'  Hist,  of  Wallingford. 


II  I  S  T  O  K  V     OF     A  N  O  I  K  X  T    W  O  O  D  1!  U  U  V  .  1  539 

m.  Thankful  Andrews,  Auy.  28,  1771.  7.  Prtrr  h.  March  11,  17.")3,  removed 
to  the  State  of  New  York.  8.  Ahifj<iU,  b.  Aug-.  28,  1755.  9.  Ahner  removed 
^o  the  State  of  N.  Y.  M.  Jo.-ieph  was  a  pliysician  in  Morris,  Conn.  11.  Dkh- 
iel  m.  Miriam  Curtis,  Nov.  18,  17(i2. 

The  following  has  l>e(Mi  furnished  by  Dr.  -lohn  Meigs,  of  Vennont : 

Thomas  Paj!Kp:r,  who  removed  from  Wallingford  to  Woodbury  in  1756, 
was  born  June  T,  1728,  and  m.  Abigail  Clark.  He  d.  15th  Feb.  1788,  in  his 
eOtli  year.     She  d.  July  14,  1808.    The  children  of  Thomas  and  Abigail  were : 

1.  ThomaM,  b.  April  ;5,  1749,  d.  April  15,  1823.  2.  Aiaam,  b.  Feb.  28,  1751, 
m.,  Aug.  28th,  I77i,  Thankful  Andrews.  Woodbury  Records  say  Diadema 
Parmelee,  30th  Nov.  1771,  Eunice  dau.  of  Amasa  and  Diadema  Parker,  b.  19th 
Sept.,  1772.  3.  Peter,  b.  March  11th,  1753,  m  ,  Nov.  24th,  1774,  Esther  Claak- 
4.  AhUjail,  b.  Aug.  28th,  1755,  m.  David  Root,   Sept.  39,  1773.     5.  Justus,  b" 

March  O,  1758,  m. .     She  d.  29th  Oct.  1799.     6.  Joseph,  b.  21  st  April,  1760, 

m. .    He  was  father  of  Frederick  S.  and  Joseph  Parker,  of  New  Haven.     7. 

S<imn,  b.  Oct.  10,  17(;3,  m.  Daniel  Richar<ls,  of  Milton,  l3th  April,  1783.  8. 
Ahiier,  bap.  14th  April,  1765.  9.  Eehec<'<(.  bap.  31st  June,  1767,  ni.  Joseph 
Smith,  of  Newbnrg,  20th  Marcli,  1785.     10.  D((mJ,  bap.  March  6,  1770. 

Peter  removed  to  Washington  County,  New  York,  but  not  till  after  1781. 
The  children  of  Peter  and  Estlier  Parker  were:  1.  John  Clark  Parker,  h. 
Nov.  9tli,  1T75,  m.,  March  21,  1804  Susan  Mason.  2.  Bebecm  Parker,  b.  July 
28th,  1777,  m.  Dr.  Ira  Hall,  3.  Esther  Parker,  b.  June  35th,  1780,  m.  Na- 
thaniel Hall.  4.  Lu0ier  Parker,  b.  Dec  36th,  1781,  m.  Martha  Curtis.  5. 
William  Henry,  b.  July  3lst,  1787,  m.  Harriet  Blin.  llis  3d  wife  was  Mary 
Ann  Wheeler. 

1.  John  Ct-ark  Parker  was  a  Lawyer  in  Granville,  Washington  County, 
N.  Y.  The  children  of  John  Clark  and  Susan  Parker  were :  6.  John  Manon 
Parker,  b.  June  l4th,  1805,  m.,  Sept.  1835  Catherine  Pumpelly.  March  1. 
1854,  m.  Stella  Pumpelly.  7.  Eehcard  William  Parker,  b.  Aug.  lltli,  1807, 
m.  Oct.  1834,  Mary  B.  Carpenter.  Married,  for  3d  w.  March  39th  1850,  Jane 
B.  (Toodrich.  8.  William  lleimj  Pa.rker,  b.  Aug.  33d,  1809,  m.  1st,  March 
22d,  1837,  Rutli  Robinson  ;  m.  3d,  Nov.  24th,  1846,  Catherine  Denton.  9.  Su- 
san Parker,  b.  Jan.  36th,  1813.  10.  Geo.  West  Parker,  b.  Sept.  5,  1815,  m., 
Sept.  6th,  1843,  Emily  M.  Smith. 

The  children  of  John  M.  and  Catherine  Parker  were  :  Charles  Edicard  Par- 
ker, b.  Aug.  35th  1836 ;  Francis  Henry,  b.  July  1st,  1838  ;  John  Pumpelly,  b. 
Sept.  17th,  1843.    died.    Norman  Pumpelly,  b.  Dec.  15th  1845.     Died. 

The  cliildren  of  Edward  W.  and  Mary  Parker  were :  Harriet,  b.  Aug.  17, 
1835,  d.  Sept.  39th,  1836  ;  Edward  John,  b.  March  37th,  1837  ;  George  Henry, 
b.  Sept.  28th,  1839.  Died.  Henry  W.,  b.  April  33d,  1841 ;  Harriet  Mana,  b. 
April  4th,  1,843. 

Children  of  Edward  W.  and  Jane,  his  3d  w.  were:  Mary  G.,  b.  Nov.  3. 
1853,  died;  Cornelia  Mason,  b.  Sept.  30,  1855;  William  Ilorare,  h.  Feb.  9t)i, 
1858,  died. 

The  children  of  William  Henry  (son  of  John  C.,)  and  Ruth  Parker,  were  : 
John  Edmund,  b.  Jan.  35th,  1838 ;  William,  lioMnson,  b.  Feb.  21st,  1846,  died 
Sept.  12th,  1846. 


1540  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     AVOODBURY. 

The  cliildren  of  William  H.  and  Cuherine  were  :  Ruth  Robinson,  b.  J/arcli 
5tli,  1851  ;  Catherine  Denton,  b.  May  21st,  1852,  d.  Dec.  29tli,  1857;  Snmn, 
b.  Feb.  v8tli,  1854  ;  Jessie  Elizabeth,  b.  July  2lst,  1856,  d.  March  6th,  1860  : 
William  Henry,  h.  Aug  23d,  1858,  d.  Marcli  I4th,  1860;  Edward  MaHon.h. 
June  27th,  1860. 

The  children  of  George  W.  and  Emily  Parker  were :  George  Mason,  b. 
June  22d,  1844  ;  William  Smith,  b.  Sept.  29th  1847,  d.  April  17th,  1850;  Ed- 
ward Dix,  b.  Oct.  5,  1853  ;  Jessie  Emily,  b.  Sept.  18th,  1861  d.  May  8,  1868, 
Gilbert  Bulloff,  b.  Oct.  1st,  1866,  d.  Sept.  15th,  1867 ;  Clinrles  Francis,  b.  Dec. 
7th,  1868. 

The  children  of  Luther  (son  of  Peter)  and  Martha  Parker  were :  Samue^ 
Gurtis,h.  Dec.  19th,  1806,  m.  Rosetta  Sylvester;  Estlier  HaU,h.  April  7th 
1809,  m.  Hiram  BroAvu  ;  Rebecca  Lovisa,  b.  Oct.  18th,  1812,  m.  Elias  H.  Hedg- 
es ;  Theda  Clarke,  b.  May  15th,  1819,  m.  Wm.  S.  Hedges. 

The  cliildren  of  William  Henry  (son  of  Peter)  and  Harriet,  were :  William 
b.  March  4th,  1822,  m.  Fanny  Green;  Caroline,  b.  Aug.  8th,  1820,  m.  Edward 
■Crosby  ;  Harriet  Eliza,  b.  Sept.  1834,  m.  Wm.  H.  Meyers. 

Children  of  Wm.  H.  and  Mary  Ann,  were :  Fanny  Henry,  b.  March  3d, 
1842. 

The  children  of  William  and  Fanny  (Green)  Parker,  were :  Henry  Green^ 
b.  Oct  10th,  1858;  3Iary,h.  Dec.  21st,  1862;  William  Henry,  b.  June  23d, 
1865;  Nellie,  b.  April  5th,  1867. 

6.  John  Mason  Parker,  LL.D.,  graduated  at  Midd.  College,  1828,  resi- 
ded in  Owego,  X.  J.,  was  Lawyer,  Editor  and  memljer  of  Congress,  and 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

7.  Edward  William  Parker,  Cashier  of  Bank,  White  Hall  New  York. 

8.  William  Henry  Parker,  Midd.  College,  1830,  Professor  of  Mathemat- 
ics and  Nat-  Philosopy,  since  1848,  Treasurer  of  the  College  since  1855. 

10.  George  W.  Parker,  Midd.  College  1885,  Lawyer  in  New  York  City. 

IL  William  Parker  removed  from  Hartford,  had  children  born  at  Say- 
brook,  viz  :  Sarah,  b.  1637  ;  John,  Feb.  21,  16  41;  Ruth,  June  15,  1643  ;  Wil- 
liam, Jan.  1845  ;  Joseph,  Feb.  1647  ;  Margaret ;  Jonathan,  1652  ;  Danid,  1656  '■> 
Deborah,  1658.  Elder  William  died  at  Saybrook,  1686.  Margaret,  his  wife, 
1680. 

Taomas  Parker,  son  of  the  first  Thomas,  of  Jiidea  Society,  Woodbury, 
m.  Jerusha  Clark,  March  26,  1770.  She  d.  July  1,  1809  ?  He  d.  April,  1822, 
Children:  1.  Est?ier,h.  Macrh  17,1771,  m.  Isaac   S.  Foot,  J   Dec,  1793.    2, 

Susannah,  b. m.  Gideon  Foot,  14th  March,  1797.     3.  Abigail,  d.  Jan.  29. 

1812,  m.  Jonathan  Hine,  22d  Nov.  1797,  m.  2d,  Gideon  Foot.  4.  Jerusha  d. 
unm.,  4th  July  1829,  aged  49.  5.  Truman,  b.  Feb.  28,  1773,  m.  Rhoda  War- 
ner, Feb.  21,  1798.  She  was  b.  April  29,  1775.  6.  Jmtus,  b.  May  6,  1758,  n\ 
1st,  Elizabeth  Hunt  ;  m.  2d  Patty  Burrell,  Nov.  4,  1801.  7.  Thomas,  d.  Dec. 
5,  1826,  m.  Betsey  Weller,  June,  1813.  8.  Philo,  d.  Sept.  26,  1826,  m.  Sally 
Minor. 

5.  Truman,  m.  Rhoda  Warner.  She  d.  April  5,  1859,  aged  84.  He  d.  July 
IS.  1859,  aged  86.  Children:  9.  Daniel  S.  b.  May  20,  1799.  10.  Laura,  b. 
June  18,  1802,  m.  James  Thompson,  Jan.  24,  1826.  11.  Norman,  b.  March  4, 
1805— killed  by  Norwalk  Railroad  accident.  May  6,  1853.  12.  Rufus,  b.  Feb- 
21,  1809. 


HISTORY      OF  /ANCIENT      \V  O  ('  I)  15  I'  R  Y  .  1541 

13.  Jumn,  b.  April  10,  l8ll,  m.  Harriet  Tliompson,  March  4,  1844,  d.  Ai)ril 
8,  1871.     On  the  occasion  of  his  death  the  author  wrote  the  following : 

Saturday  afternoon  our  quiet  community  experienced  a  shock.  Tlie  start- 
ling announcement  was  made  that  our  friend  and  neighbor,  Mr.  Jason  Par- 
ker, had  suddenly  died.  A  few  hours  before,  in  full  health  and  strength,  he 
had  gone  with  his  assistant  to  his  farm,  some  two  miles  from  the  village,  to 
put  up  the  fences  and  burn  some  brush,  when  the  fire  became  unmanagable, 
and,  in  consequence  of  the  extreme  heat  of  the  day,  the  heat  of  the  fire,  and 
his  efforts  to  extinguish  it,  he  fell  exhausted,  and  almost  immediately  died, 
departing  this  life  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  In  the  death  of  Mr.  Parker,  the 
First  Congregational  church,  of  which  he  had  long  been  a  consistent  and  use- 
ful member,  a  large  circle  of  friends,  to  whom  he  was  endeared  by  more  than 
the  ordinary  ties  of  consanguinity  and  friendship,  and  the  community  at 
large  have  met  with  an  irreparable  loss.  To  the  poor  he  was  a  constant  bles- 
sing. His  hand  and  his  heart  were  ever  open  to  relieve  the  needy.  And  the 
blessings  of  the  poor  have  long  been  upon  him.  Without  children  of  his  own , 
he  has  adopted  those  of  others,  and  been  the  dispenser  of  all  the  ennobling 
charities,  and  paternal  kindness  and  sympathies  of  the  charmed  circle  of  a 
happy  home.  Charged  by  tlie  community  with  various  offices  of  public  trust, 
he  has  been  faithful  in  them  all,  and  discharged  them  to  the  full  acceptance 
of  those  whom  he  served.  Beginning  life  without  means,  and  by  careful  in- 
dustry and  integrity,  gaining  a  competency  and  an  honorable  position  in  the 
community,  he  was  well  gifted  to  sympathise  with,  and  assist  othei's  in  the 
struggle  of  existence.  Of  peculiarly  even  temperament,  and  purity  of  life, 
his  example  was  ever  potent  for  good.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  fully  ex- 
emplified the  virtues  and  genero.sities  of  that  noblest  work  of  God,  an  honest 
man.  The  good  die  early.  A  good  man  has  passed  away  and  left  a  void 
that  may  never  be  filled.  This,  and  the  many  other  deaths  that  have  lately 
occurred  here,  speak  to  us  with  emjihatic  voices.  In  these  oft  recurring 
deaths,  the  First  Society  is  greatly  afflicted.  We  are  cast  into  mourning, 
and  may  well  inquii'e  why  (xod  has  so  afflicted  us.  C. 

6.  Justus.  Children  :  10.  Elizii)H'tli  A.  m.  Xehemiah  Pope,  6th  Dec.  1824. 
Their  chh.  Elmiheth,  m.  1st,  Abner  Mansfield  ;  m.  2d,  Wm.  Bassett.  Frede- 
rick m.  Harriet  Buckingham.  Julius  m.  Josephine  Stephens.  Olarina  m. 
1st,  Charles  Daskum ;  m.  2d,  Stephen  Gunn.  George  S.  ni.  Harriet  Minor- 
Benjamin  m.  Ellen  Pierce.     John  m.  Jane  Nichols. 

17.  Sheklen,  h. .      18.  Frederick,  h.  —   —  m.  Sarah,  child  Edwin. 

19.  CJimies  m.  Sixr&h  Johnson,  child  Walter.     20.   William  m.  Sarah . 

2\.  Susan.  H.  m.  David  B.  Davidson,  16th  Aug.  1846,'child  David.  22.  Jen- 
nette  m.  James  M.  Bronson,  of  Koxbury,  30tli  Nov.  1844,  as  his  2d  wife, 
Betsey  m.  Edward  O.  Tyler,  June  lOth,  1839.    children  :  William  and  Charles 

7.  Thomas  m.  as  above.     Children :  24.  Abicjail.     25.  Marcus  and  others. 

8.  Pjiilo  m.  Sally  Minor.  Children  :  36.  Orley  M.,  bap.  1821,  and  27.  Ed- 
tcin  M. 

9.  Daniel  S.,  b.  May  20,  1799,  m.  Olive  J.  Ransom,  Dec.  11,   1827.     Chh. 

28.  Mary  Jane  b. ,  m.  William  P.  Thompson.     29.   Eliza  Ann,  b. , 

m.  Merit  Thompson.     1  dau.     30.  Susan  M.  h. ,m.  John  Betts. 

11.  NoRMAX  m.  Eunice  Thompson,  Oct.  12,  1826.     He  d.  May  0, 1853.    She 


1542  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

d.  Dec.  21.  1810.  Chh. :  ;31  George  DeWitf.  b.  Nov.  18,  1837,  d.  Jan.  8,  1829. 
-33.  Norman  Llewellyn,  b.  Nov.  6,  1829,  m.  Jan.  Ist,  1855,  Mary  E.  Smith. 
Children  :  Norman  Smith,  b.  May  3,  1858.  Malcolm  Oreame,  b.  June  16,  1869. 
Infant,  b.  Jan.,  1872.  33.  Helen  Elizabeth,  b.  March  31,  1837,  m.  Hon.  James 
Huntington,  Juno  11th,  1868.  Mr.  Huntington  m.  for  his  first  wife  Rebecca 
Huntley  Hurd,  at  Honesdale,  Penn.,  Jan.  6,  1863.  She  d.  Feb.  28,  1865.  They 
hadadau.,  Rebecca  Annistine,  b.  Feb.  18th,  1865.  34.  Isabella  A7nelia,'b. 
Jan.  28,  1840,  d.  .June  1, 1841. 

12.  RuFus,  b.  Feb.  21,  1809,  m.  Selina  Merwin,  April  28,  1830.  Children  : 
John,  Mary  and  William..  13.  Noble,  b.  Sept.  38,  1818,  m.  Julia  Ann  Van 
Buskirk,  Mov.  1841.     Chihi  :  Arabelle. 

14.  Jarvis,  b.  March  29, 1819,  m. Elizabeth  J.  Fox,  April  8, 1858.  Children: 
RJioda  Grace,  h.  March  8,1861,  d.  Sept.  21,1861.  May,h.  May  1,  1864,  d. 
May  10,  1864.     Truman  E.,  b.  Aug.  28,  1 866. 

L6.  Shelden  m.  C.  Barnes.  Children  :  Mary  B.,  Justus,  Adella  and  others. 
Live  in  Rockland,  Mich. 

20.  William.  Children  :   William,  Charles,  Jmt>is,  George,  Jason. 

35.  Abel,  m. .     Children  :  Ourrence,  b.  May  26,  1765.     Lydia,  bap.  6th 

Marcli,  1768.  Abel,  bap.  Feb.  14,  1773.  Elisabeth,  bap.  June  19,  1774.  Eu- 
nice, bap.  June  28,1778.     Lydia.  mother  of  the  above,  bap.  April  13,  1763. 

The  following  items  tlie  author  does  not  readily  connect  with  their  appro- 
priate places  in  tlie  family.  The  relatives  may.  Mehctabel,  dau.  of  Heze 
kiah  Parker,  b.  1st  Aug.,  1735.  Marcus  L.,  Lorenzo  M.,  and  Antoinette  W.^ 
bap.  1835.  Thomas  Newell,  George  Willis,  Mary  Elizabeth,  Abigail  Esther, 
bap.  1835.  Thomas  Newell  Parker,  d.  Dec.  36,  1826,  and  Charles  Parker 
of  Washington,  and  Deborah  Isbell,  Avere  m.  I5th  March,  1832. 


PRESTON  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

Page  663.  Jehiel.  His  Mother  (wife  of  William,  of  NeAv  Haven)  was 
Mary,  dau.  of  Robert  Seabrook,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Stratford. 
His  dau.  Sarah  m.  Thomas  Fairchild  as  his  1st  wife,  and  his  dau.  Alice  m. 
Thomas  Sherwood,  and  his  dau.  Ann.  m.  Thomas  Wheeler. 

Jehiel  Preston  m.  his  cousin  Sarah,  dau.  of  Thomas  Fairchild.  She  was 
born  Feb.  164i.  They  had  (as  per  Record)  Samuel.  July,  1663.  Joseph,  July 
1666,  and  a  dau.  Mary,  with  whom  Samuel,  in  1703,  divides  land  once  their 
father  Jehiel's.  Samuel,  son  of  Jehiel,  d.  in  1707,  in  which  year  Daniel  Jack- 
son, of  Stratfield,  who  m.  Jehiel's  dau.  Mary,  calls  "  Samuel  Preston,  deceas- 
ed,''"my  brother."  Mrs.  Mary  Jackson  d.  Aug.,  1734.  Samuel,  son  of  Je. 
hiel,  calls  Mary  Preston,  in  1703,  "  sister,"  and  in  1707,  refers  to  Daniel  Jack. 
son  and  Mary,"  my  sole  heir,  whicli  would  imply  that  he  himself  was  unmar- 
ried or  childless.  Temperance  Preston  joined  Stratford  church  in  1686.  Was 
she  Samuel's  wife? 

Hackaliah  Preston  m.  his  cousin  Emma,  dau.  of  Thomas  Fairchild,  of  Strat- 
ford, April  20,  1676. 


H  I  S  T  O  K  Y      OF      ANCIENT      W  O  O  1)    11 U  i;  Y  .  1  543 

Preston,  Eliasapii,  m.  about  the  close,  of  1672,  or  beginning-  of  1673,  Mary, 
widow  of  Thomas  Kimberly,  Avho  d.  January  1671.  Slie  was  T.  K's  2d  wife, 
and  much  younger  than  he.  They  had  Mary,  {plain  Mary,  Mary  Itowe  is  an 
error,)  April  12,  1674.  He  removed  to  Wallingford,  and  there  m.  for  his  2d 
wife,  Elizabeth  Beach,  b.  in  Stratford,  in  April,  1654,  dau.  of  John  Beach  let, 
who  removed  to  Wallingford  1670,  and  d.  1677.  Savage  says  Eliasaph  Pres-, 
ton  d.  in  Wallingford,  in  1705. 

Eliasaph  Preston,  Jr.,  of  Wallingford  (one  of  the  foregoing)  says,  in  St  rat- 
ford  Land  Records,  (Vol.  2,  p.  384,)  in  1709,  that  he  m.  Rebeka,  dau.  of  Tim  o- 
thy  Willcoxson,  of  Stratford.     She  was  b.  July,  1680. 


PERRY  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

PEKitY.  Among  the  earliest  of  this  name  in  Stratford  was  Arthur  Perry, 
(whom  Savage  failed  to  secure).  He  m.  Anna,  dau.  of  Joshua  Judson,  about 
1675.  They  had  William,  June  1677  ;  Anna,  Jan.  1678-9,  Samuel,  Feb.  168^ 
Sarah,  Jan.  1682-3  ;  Elizabeth,  Sept.  1684  ;  Yclvert^n,  Aug.,  1686  ;  Seth,  Jan. 
1687-8 ;  Buth,  May  1690 ;  Daniel,  April  1692  ;  Joshua,  Dec.  1694 ;  Caleb,  Aug 
1296;  Deborah,  March  1697-8;  Josiah,  Aug.  1699.  (By  some  strange  careless 
ness,  the  ages  of  these  last  six  are  each  erroneously  given  in  Stratford  Town 
Record  an  entire  century — 1790  instead  of  1690,  &c.)  I  think  the  entry  is  not 
made  contemporaneously  with  the  birth  of  the  parties,  but  at  some  later  time. 
Jonhxa  Perry,  (above)  born  Dec.  1604,  d.  at  Ripton  in  1777,  aged  83  years — 
thus  corroborating  his  true  birth  date. 

The  name  Yelcerton,  which  is  peculiar,  corrects  what  I  must  think  an  er- 
ror, Yelberson,  on  your  page  666,  and  I  am  quite  sure,  an  examination  of 
Derby  Records,  would  show  Gideon  Perry  to  have  been,  not  an  original  im- 
migrant from  Wales — but  a  grandson  of  Stratford  ^r^/<«r,  Avho  in  turn  I  fully 
believe  to  have  been  son  of  Arthur,  of  Boston,  b.  posthumously,  or  in  the  last 
year  of  his  father's  life,  after  his  will  was  made. 


ROOT  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

Page  675.  Trumbull  Church  Record  says,  Adonijah  Root,  of  Woodbury  , 
and  Ruth  Lake,  of  North  Stratford,  were  married  March  20,  1754,  which,  be- 
sides being  probably  correct,  relieves  them  of  the  odium  of  a  7  months  child. 
Ruth  was  dau.  of  Edward  Lake,  and  was  born  March  10th,  1735.  Edward, 
her  father,  was  son  of  Thomas,  of  Straford. 


1544  HISTORY      OF     ANClEJfT     WOODBURY, 

SHERMAN  FAMILY. 

.[Additions.] 

The  personal  investigations  made  by  Rev.  Henry  Beers  Slierraau  have  ad- 
ded valuable  materials  to  this  genealogy.  Edmond  Sherman  came  over  from 
England  before  163G,  with  his  sons  Edmond,  Samuel  and  John.  He  was  a 
cloth- worker,  and  a  man  of  means.  He  came  from  Dedham,  Essex  Co.,  Eng- 
land, where  Rev.  H.  B.  S.  found  one  of  the  church  windows  of  stained-glass, 
bearing  his  initials,  as  having  been  his  gift,  and  the  record  showed  that  one 
of  the  buttresses  of  the  church  was  erected  at  his  expense ;  but  still  more  in- 
teresting was  it  to  see  the  pupils  of  a  free  scliool  (endowed  by  him  and  still 
in  operation)  attending  the  church  in  procession.  So  far  back  as  1560,  the 
pedigree  of  Sherman  was  as  follows :  From  the  Parish  Records,  Dedham, 
Eng.,  Edmond  Sherman  married  Ann  Pellet,  April  30,  1560.  They  had  Ed: 
viundi,  who,  Sept.  11,  1584,  married  Ann  Clark.     They  had  1.  Richard,  (who 

married  Elizabeth ,  and  had  AnnM,  Nov.  1613,  and  Prisciila,  1618.)     2. 

Edmond  (older  than  Richard)  who  ma.  Judith  Angier,  May  26,  1611,  and  had 
John,  bap.  Jan.  4,  1614.  Edmond,  bap.  June  18,  1618,  and  Samuel,  bap.  July 
12,  1618.  Of  these,  Edmond  or  Edmund,  (as  all  of  like  name  spelled  it  then.) 
returned  with  his  father  to  England  in  1636  or  7,  and  their  descendants  still 
live  in  Dedham,  England,  and  the  same  business  is  still  carried  on  among 
them. 

John  Sherman,  (Rev.  John,)  Mr.  Savage's  personal  researches  and  better 
information,  correct  Mather's  account  of  Mr.  Sherman.  He  was  of  Trinity 
College,  not  Immanuel.  He  was  not  obliged  to  leave  College  without  a  de- 
gree, as  a  College  Puritan.  Mr.  Savage  saw  his  subscription  on  taking  his 
degree,  1630  and  1633.  J.  S.  came  to  New  England,  April,  1634,  in  the  "Eliz- 
abeth," from  Ipswich,  Eng.,  and  arrived  in  Boston  in  June.  He  did  not  go  to 
New  Haven  in  a  few  weeks,  but  resided  in  Watertown  nearly  a  year,  and 
was  dismissed  May  29,  1635,  to  form  with  others  a  new  church  on  the  Con- 
necticut River.  In  1640  he  sold  his  house  and  lot  in  Wethersfield,  and  re- 
moved to  Milford,  and  was  representative  in  1643.     In  1647  he  removed  to. 

Watertown,  Mass.     His  first  wife  was  Mary ,  who  died  Sept.  1644,  by 

whom  he  had  Mary,  b.  probably  in  1639.  Bezaleel,  (bap.  at  Milford)  Nov- 
15,  1640,  (gradu.  at  Harvard  1661).  Daniel,  March  22,  1642.  Samuel,  \\m\ 
14,  1644,  d.  Sept.  1644.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Launce,  regarding  whom 
Mother  committed  extraordinary  blunders.  Thus— she  was  not  a  grand- 
daughter of  Earl  Rivers,  and  did  not  have  20  children.  Fourteen  children 
by  both  marriages  are  all  whose  names  have  been  discovered  on  record,  and  one 
more  is  supposed  to  have  been  lost  by  wear  of  the  record,  15.  The  remainder 
Mather  is  supposed  to  have  gotten  by  confounding  together  the  list  of  Rev. 
John's  children  with  those  of  his  cousin,  Capt.  John,  who  was  Town  Clerk  of 
Watertown.  Of  the  first  wife's  children,  Mary  m.  Daniel  Allen  about  1658. 
Bezaleel,  whom  one  authority  says  d.  before  1685.  He  d.  before  1697,  and  a 
letter  of  Higginson  to  his  son  at  Madras,  1697,  implies  that  B.  S.  had  lived 
there,  and  that  his  family  were  yet  there.  Of  the  second  wife's  children, 
AUgail  married,  Aug..  1661,  Rev.  Samuel  Willard.     ifary,  (of  second  wife 


HISTORY     O  F    A  X  C  I  E  X  T    W  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  .  1  545 

*avs   Savage)  married.   May  27,  1679,   Ellis  Barron,  Jr.     Mercy  m.   Samuel 
Barnard,  April  -i,  \~W.K    (Compare  .^vage  article  "  Sherman.') 

S.OfCEL  Sherm.vs,  son  of  Edmond  Ist,  was  bom  in  Dedham,  England^ 
July  1618,  bap.  July  12,  1618,  settled  first  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  then  in 
Stamford,  and  last  and  perjnanently  in  Stratford,  where  be  died.  He  m.  Sa- 
rah ilitchell,  dau.  of  Matthew,  but  not  before  he  came  from  England,  for 
then  he  was  but  16  years  of  age.  Mr.  Sherman  was  in  Stamford  164'j-l,  as 
one  of  the  original  proprietors.  He  appears  first  on  Stratford  Records  in 
165<''.  The  record  of  his  cliildren's  births,  however,  is  complete  in  Stratford 
Record  from  1641,  the  date  of  his  oldest  childs  birth.  And  Huntington,  who 
says  he  thinks  no  record  of  a  birth  has  escaped  him  on  Stratford  Records 
from  1640  to  1700,  finds  no  entry  of  a  child  to  Mr.  Sherman.  Yet  his  first 
four  children  at  least  must  have  been  bom  there.  The  explanation  probably 
is,  that  not  tmtil  he  felt  himself  permanently  settled  in  Stratford,  did  he 
carry  the  names  and  births  of  his  family  to  public  Record.  They  were  as 
carefully  taken  from  Stratford  Record,  Vol.  1.  1.  Sfimue^,  b.  Jan  l&th,  1641, 
m.  Mary  Titterton,  1665,  and  Abigail  (nee  Thompson,  and  widow  saccessively 
01  Jonathan  Curtis  and  of  Nicholas  Hnse.  2.  TheopJiUus,  b.  Oct.  28,  1643,  I 
find  no  trace  of  his  m.  nor  of  his  death.  He  conveyed  land  in  Stratford  in 
1675.  3.  MattJietr:,  b.  Oct.  21,  1645.  4.  Edmond,  \  Dec.  4,  1647,  m.  Susanna, 
dan.  of  Richard  Hardy,  of  Stamford,  about  1670-1.  5.  John,  b.  Feb.  S,  1651, 
went  to  Woodbury.  6.  SaxaTi,  b.  Feb.  6,  1653,  m.  Josiah  Rossiter,  of  Gui';-"" 
ford,  about  1675.  7.  Xothankl,  b,  March  21,  1656-7,  m.  June  3,  1680,  Mary 
dau.  of  Benjamin  Phippeny,  of  Boston,  had  a  dau.  Comfort,  who  m.  Ricliard 
Nichols.  Nathaniel  was  a  Locksmith.  8.  Benjamin,  b.  March  29,  1662.  m. 
Jime  1683,  Rebekah,  dau.  of  Benj.  Phippeny,  who  m.  Richard  Nichols.    9. 

David,  b.  April  15,  1665,  m.  Mercy ,  was  dea.  in  Litchfield  Church,  d- 

1753. 

Samuel  Sheriia>""2,  son  of  Samuel,  m..  June  19,  1665,  Mary,  dau.  of  Dan- 
iel Titterton,  of  Stratford.  In  August,  1695,  he  m.  Abigail,  widow  of  Nicho- 
las Huse,  and  previously  widow  of  Jonathan  Cunis.  She  was  dau.  of  John 
Thompson.  Samuel  Shermon2,  was  a  nason  by  trade.  Mr.  Sherman's  children 
were  by  his  first  wife.  They  were:  1.  J/ary,  b.  May  9.  1666,  i>robably  died 
young.    2.  David,  b.  March  23,  1668-9.    He  m.  Rebecca  Wheeler,  Dec.  1694. 

Page  (9,)  (children  of    Samuel  Shermans  continued.; 

3.  Susanna,  b.  1670,  m.  Daniel  ilitchell.  4.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  1673,  d.  y6ung. 
5.  Grace,  b.  July  1676,  m.  Daniel  Sention  (St.  John),  of  Norwalk.  6.  Eliza- 
beth, b.  Jan.  1675-9,  m.,  Nov.  1702.  Isaac  Clark.  7.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  16,  1681. 
m..  Jan  1706-7  Samuel  Beers,  of  Newtown,  Conn.  .^W^ajV,  b.  Aug.  4,  16S8- 
la.  Dec.  1708,  James  Beelje,  of  Danbury,  Conn. 

I  think  Mary,  as  well  as  the  first  Sarah,  must  have  died  young.  In  1719, 
-he  heirs  of  his  estate  are  Daniel  Sherman,  Daniel  Mitchell  (husb.  of  Susan- 
na,! Daniel  Sention  (husband  of  Grace,;  James  Beebe,  (husband  of  Abigail,) 
Isaac  Clark,  (husband  of  Elizabeth  )  and  Samuel  Beers,  ^husband  of  Sarah.) 

Matihew  Sherman,  Son  of  Samuel  1st,  m.  Hannah .     He  d.  in  169S. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  Straifield  church,  1695.  She  also. 
They  had  Dacid,  1692,  m.,  June  1718,  Dinah  Rise,  of  Wallingford.  She  d- 
April,  1732.     He  married  twice  afterward.    Hannah,  1694.  m.  in  Jan.  1716-7 


1646  II  I  S  T  t)  K  Y     OF      ANCIENT     AV  O  0  D  B  U  K  Y  . 

David  Beach.     Jahez,  1697,  bap.  in  Stratfiold,  lived  in  Stratfield,  had  son  Sol- 
omon bap.  there. 

Edmund  Sherman,  son  of  Samuel  1st,  m.  Susanna,  dau.  of  Richard  Hardy 
of  Stamford.  After  death  of  E.  S.  she,  in  1694  had  become  wife  of  one  Ray. 
nor.  They  had,  Bezalecl,  b.  Jan.  1st,  1673-4,  d.  171T,  m.  widow  Jane  Corn  well, 
March  1706-7.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  8, 1677-8.  Edmond,  b.  March  29,  1779-80. 
Mntthew,  b.  Jan.  8,  1683-3,  m.  Dec.  1710,  to . 

With  regard  to  Sarah,  whom  you  add,  "  bap.  1678.  There  are  no  baptis- 
mal Records  of  infants  in  Stratford,  and  only  here  and  there  one  of  adults  in 
Stratford  till  after  1700.  I  never  met  with  Sarah's  name  on  any  record,  but 
cannot  correct  it.     There  was  room  for  her  to  come  in,  in  1676.      , 

Bezaleel,  son  of  Edmond  Shei-mon,  m ,  March  1706-7,  widow  Jane  Corn, 
wall.  They  had,  Susanna,  1707.  Bezaleel,  Oct.  1717,  and  ihe  father  d.  the 
same  year.     I  find  no  other- children  recorded  to  them. 

Matthew  Slierman,8on  of  Edmond  and  Susanna,  m.  — ,  Dec.  1710.  He  had 
Abigail,h&i\  in  Stratfield,  March  1711-2.  Rebecca,  h.  in  Stratfield,  July  1713. 
1  find  no  others  recorded  to  them,  and  am  strongly  convinced  that  the  Lemuel 
and  David  given  to  him  (page  6§3)  belong  to  his  uncle  Matthew,  who  d.  in 
1698,  who  had  a  David  at  least. 

Page  683.  John,  son  of  Samuel  Sherman  1st.  I  have  nothing  to  add  to  or 
alter  your  account  of  him. 

Sarah,  dau.  of  Samuel  Sherman  1st,  m.  John  Rossiter,  of  Guilford,  about 
1675.  They  had,  1.  A^am/i,  1677,  died  1678.  2.  ElizabetJi,  \()79,  May  U.  3- 
/(?.s-«V</i,  1680,  May  30.  4.  Samuel,  J&n.  28,  1&S2,  died  soon.  5.  limothy,  Jane 
5,  1683.  6.  John,  Oct.  IB,  1684,  died  young.  7.  ^aww?,  1685-6,  Feb.  S.David, 
April  1687,  died  1688.  9.  Jonathan,  April  3,  1688.  10.  Nathaniel,  Nov.  10, 
1689.  11.  Sarah,  Feb.  25,1691.  12  Patience,  April  6,  1692.  13.  Joanna, 
April  23,  1693,  died  1703.  14.  Mary,  Sept.  3,  1694.  15.  TheopMlns,  Feb.  12, 
1696.  16.  *S«s«?u<a,  Jan.  13,  1697.  17.  jE'^ct^'^c/-,  Feb.  4,  1699.  17  children 
in  22  years ! ! ! ! 

Nathaniel  Sherman,  b.  1657,  son  of  Samuel,  m.,  June  1681,  Mary,  dau. 
of  Benjamin  Phippeny,  of  Boston.  Mr.  Sherman  was. a  Locksmith.  In 
Nov.,  1707,  he  m.  a  second  wife,  Mrs.  Abigail  Hanford,  of  Fairfield.  Child- 
ren:  By  1st  wife,  only  one  is  recorded  to  him,  viz  :  Comfort,  b.  probablj^  1683, 
m.  in  1702  Richard  Nichol  s  ,  son  of  Isaac  N.  Jr.  By  his  second  wife,  Abigail, 
Nathaniel  Sherman  had,  Sarah,  Sej)t.  3,  1708,  m.  John  Lewis,  Dec.  1727.  Pe- 
niuah,  April  5,  1710.     Naomi,  Isl&y  12,  1712,  m.  John  Lewis,  Dec.  1731. 

Ben.jamin  Sherman  b.  1661-2,  son  of  Samuel  1st,  m.,  June  1683,  Rebe. 
kah,  dau.  of  Benjamin  Phippeny.  of  Boston.  He  died  1741,  aged  80.  She 
died,   Aug.  1739,  aged  75.     Their  grave  stones  are  in  good  preservation. 

Their  children  were:  1.  Abigail,  b.  April  10,  1684,  d.  unmarried,  1743.  2. 
Wilmitt,  Jan.  21,  1688,  named  for  Rebecca's  mother,  who  was  "AVilniot  Phip- 
peny." 3.  Joh,'\i.  April  7,  1690,  m.  Sarah  Seeley,  may  28,  1713,  had  Ann, 
1714.  4.  Nathaniel,  b.  Dec.  1,  1692,  m.  Ruth  Curtis,  Dec.  1720  (d.  1726,)  m. 
Eunice  Patterson,  May  1728.  5.  Martha,  b.  Dec.  20,  1695.  6.  Mary,  b.  Feb. 
24,  1696-7.  7.  Enos,  b.  April  15,  1699,  m.  Abigail  Walker,  Jan.  1725,  had 
Walker,  1732;  Ol/m',  1736.  8.  Benjamin,  April  1703,  m.  Obedience,  (widow 
of  Nathan  Fairchild)  Nov.  29,  1740,  had  Benjamin,  1741  ;  Becca,  1743.     She 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      W001>BURY.  1547 

w£s  Obedience  Mallory,  m.  Edmund  Curtis,  1723,  m.  Fairchild,  1727.    9.  Sain- 

ii^i, 1706,  bap.  in   Stratfield.      19.  James,  h.   March    1706-7,  m.   Sarah 

<3ooke,  Jan.  17,  1788-4.     He  had  Adonijah,  1734  :  Billee,  1736. 

David,  "  Ensign.  "  Lieut.,  "  Captain,"  (not  Daniel,)  son  of  Samuel  Sher- 
man 1st.,  settled  in  Stratfield,  was  dea.  of  the  church  there.     He  married 

Mercy ,  (whose  family  name  has  been  the  object  of  abundant  enquiry. 

Goodwin  and  Savage  thought  her  a  dau.  of  Jeremiah  Judsou,  but  Ms  dau. 
Mercy  m.  Sokmion  Burton  in  1687.  And  there  is  not  another  disposable  girl 
of  the  name  on  record  in  the  second  generation  in  Stratford.) 

Dea.  David  Sherman  died  1753.  He  and  his  wife  were  dismissed  1695  to 
tinite,  as  original  members,  with  the  Stratfield  church  (now  Bridgeport  First. \ 
They  had:  1.  Tamar,  bap.  March  1695-6,  m.  Henry  Howland  1Y18.  3.  AM- 
afi,  bap.  Oct.  1697.  3.  Eunice,  bap.  Jan.  1699-00.  4  Edher,  bap.  April  1702. 
5.  Mercy,  bap.  May  1704.  6.  Prudence,  bap.  Oct.  1706,  m.  Robert  Denison 
April  1783.  7.  Ehiathan,  bap.  May  1709,  with  wife  joined  Stratfield  church 
by  renewing  covenant,  Feb.  1750-1,  and  had  bap.  Eunice,  April  1781  ; 
Ainjah,  March  1756.  8.  Melietahel,  bap.  May  1711.  9.  Dorothy,  bap.  Aug. 
1714.     10.  Jeruslia,  m.  1744,  Joseph  Seeley. 

There  is  an  error  on  page  680.  "  Mary  m.  John  Brattle,"  sliould  read  Jfe- 
hetabel  m.  John  Battell,  of  Dedham. 

To  the  children  of  Daniel  (12*  p.  084,  should  be  added  IV.  Rebecca,  who 
m.  Gideon  Hollister. 

To  the  children  of  Samuel  (37)  p.  684,  should  be  added  111.  Beers,  IV.  Cyrus. 

No.  136,  p.  688,  Lewis  O.  b.  April  4,  I8l3.    Flora,  b.  April  5,  1815. 

Deacon  Elijah  Sherman,  (86)  p.  687.  d.  Oct.  23,  1854.  His  dau.  Margaret 
S.  (128)  m.  Dr.  Stephen  B.  Fairchild,  formerly  of  Newtown,  the  same  day. 
The  deacon  requested  the  ceremony  to  be  performed  before  he  died,  and  his 
wishes  were  gratified. 

Hon.  John  Sherman.  U.  S.  Senator  of  Ohio,  has  furnished  the  principal 
part  of  the  following  account  of  his  branch  of  the  family,  to  the  writer. 

One  branch  of  the  Sherman  family  is  descended  from  Taylor  Sherman, 
No.  83  of  your  Sherman  family.  He  was  m.  in  1787  to  Elizabeth  Stoddard, 
(dau.  of  Israel,  S.,  No.  16  of  your  Stoddard  family,)  and  lived  and  died  as  a 
Lawyer  and  Judge,  in  Norwalk,  Conn.  He  died  May  4,  1815.  His  widow 
came  to  Ohio,  and  died  in  Mansfield,  Aug.  Ist,  1848.  Their  children  areas 
follows :  1.  Charles  Robert,  b.  Sept.  26,  1788.  2.  Daniel,  b.  March  36,  1790. 
3.  Betsey,  b.  Dec.  7,  1791. 

t 'harles  R.  m.  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  Mary  Hoyt,  May  8.  1810.  Soon  after,  he 
removed  to  Lancaster,  Ohio,  where  he  became  distinguished  as  a  Lawyer,  and 
especially  as  an  advocate.  He  held  several  important  oflSces,  and  in  1823  bel 
Cfime  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  in  which  position  he  acted  until, 
on  the  24th  day  of  June,  1829,  when,  while  on  the  Bench  at  Lebanon,  O.,  he 
sickened  and  Died.  He  was  buried  at  Lancaster.  His  widow  died  at  Mans, 
field,  Sept.  23,  1852.  Their  children  were  :  1.  Charles  Taylor,  b.  Feb.  3, 1811 , 
m.  Feb  2,  1841,  with  Eliza  Williams,  of  Dayton,  and  have  five  children.  A 
Lawyer  at  Mansfield,  O. 

2.  Mary  Elizabeth,  h.   April  21st,  1812,  m.  Oct. -39,  1829,  with  Gen.   W.J 
Reese,  .and  have  five  children,  one  of  whom  is  married.  Live  in  Lancaster  0. 

45- 


1548  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

3.  James,  b.  Dec.  10,  18U,  in.  Sophia  Connell,  Oct.  11,  1843.  Have  three 
children.     Merchant  in  Fort  Fort  Des  Moines.  Iowa. 

4.  Amelia,  horn  Feb.  11.  181G,  ni.  Robert  McComb,  Aug.  3,1833.  Have 
seven  children,  one  of  whom  is  m.  and  has  a  child.     Farmer  in  Mansfield. 

5.  J^dia  Ann,  b.  July  24,  1818,  m.  June  o,  1838,  to  John  G.  Willock,  of 
Lancaster.     Died  April  3,  184'2.  having  one  child. 

7.  William  Tecumseh,  b.  Feb.  8,  1820,  grad.  at  West  Point.  Served  ia 
Mexican  War  as  Capt.  and  Brev.  Major.  Married,  May  1,  1850,  with  Ellen 
B.  Ewing,  dau.  of  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  of  Ohio.  Children :  Maria  Eioing 
Sherman,  b.  Jan.  38,  1851.  Ma/ry  Elizabeth  Sherman,  b.  Nov.  17th,  1853- 
William  Tecmmseh  Sherman,  b.  June  8th,  1853,  d.  Oct.  3,  1863.  Thomas  Ew- 
ing  Sherman,  b.  Oct.  13,  1856.  Ellen  Mary  Sherman,  b.  Sept.  5,  1859.  Ra- 
chel Ewing  Shermati,  b.  July  5,  1861.  CJmrles  Celestine  Sherman,  b  June  11, 
1804,  d.  Dec.  4,  1864.    Phileman  Tecumseh  Sherman,  b.  Jan.  9,  1867. 

(ien.  Sherman,  at  a  late  New  England  dinner,  gave  the  following  account 
of  his  family : 

'■  I  learned  from  books  alone,  that  in  1634,  fourteen  years  after  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  landed  at  Plymouth  Rock,  three  persons  by  the  name  of  Sherman 
readied  the  Boston  coast  [applause]  :  the  Rev.  John  Sherman  ;  his  cousin? 
John  Sherman,  who  was  styled  the  Captain  ;  and  his  brother,  Samuel  Sher- 
man. The  Rev.  John  Sherman  and  the  other  cousin  settled  at  Watertown, 
Mass.,  and  it  is  related  of  the  Rev.  John  Sherman  that  he  preached  a  sermon 
under  a  tree  there.  Samuel  Sherman,  a  young  man,  about  14  years  of  age,, 
and  adventurous,  emigrated  to  Connecticut.  Samuel  Sherman  was  the  an- 
cestor of  my  branch  of  the  family,  and  settled  at  Stratford,  Connecticut,  and 
lived  there  fifty  years  after  reaching  his  home.  He  married  and  liad  chil- 
dren, and  his  second  son,  John  Sherman,  adopted  the  legal  profession- 
[Laughter.]  Tliat  John  Sherman  had  another  son  John,  who  had  a  son  Dan. 
iel  Sherman,  a  man  of  note  in  his  day,  a  cotemporary  of  Roger,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council  of  Safety  and  the  Legislative  Assembly.  His  youngest 
cliild,  Taylor  Sherman,  settled  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  was  Judge  of  the  Probate 
Court,  and  was  one  of  those  who  lost  property  by  Arnold's  descent  upon  the 
coast  of  Connecticut.  He  also  was  one  of  those  who  inherited  part  of  the 
land  which  the  State  of  Connecticut  donated  in  the  Western  Reserve,  and 
was  one  of  those  who  went  to  the  West  to  arrange  a  treaty  vdth  the  Indians. 
In  1808  he  returned  to  Connecticut.  He  went  out  again  in  1808  and  made  a 
partition  of  the  fire-lands.  His  son,  my  fatlier.then  a  young  man  of  30  years, 
married  Mary  Hoyt  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  in  1810,  and  their  families  still  live 
there.  My  father  went  to  Lowcastle,  Ohio,  followed  by  my  mother  and  her  ^ 
child,  on  horseback.  That  child  was  my  brother,  Judge  Charles  Sherman  of 
Ohio.  I  was  the  sixtli  child.  Our  father  died  and  left  us  all  very  bare. 
[Laughter.]  But  friends  came  up  and  assisted  us,  and  we  all  reached  matu- 
turity,  and  we  all  married,  and  the  number. of  children  we  liad  I  really  can- 
not keep  on  counting.  [Cheers  and  laughter.]  Gentlemen,  the  Shermans  are 
a  numerous  family,  and  I  may  safely  assert  that  they  all  obeyed  the  Divine 
commandment— they  went  forth,  increased  and  multiplied  [laughter],  and  I 
hope  they  have  done  their  share  toward  replenishing  the  earth.  [Laughter 
and  cheers.]" 

7.  Lumson  Parker,  b.  Oct.  l;i,  1831,  m.  at  Cincinnati.  O.,  Mary  Qichell.    • 
Has  on«^  child.     Live  in  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WO  O  I)  H  U  li  Y  ,  1549 

8.  Jofui,  h.  May  10,  182:3,  m.,  Aug.  31,  1848,  S.  C.  Stewart,  dan.  of  Judge 
Stewert.     Live  in  Mansfield.     Now  Senator  of  Ohio. 

9.  Susan  Denman,  b.  Oct.  10,  1835,  m.,  Nov.  7,  1844,  Hon.  T.  W.  Bailley^ 
now  Supreme  Judge  of  Ohio.     Have  two  children.     Reside  in  Mansfield. 

10.  Hoyt,  b.  Nov.  1,  1827.     Now  Banker  in  Port  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

11.  Fanny  BeeeJwr,  b.  May  i,  1829,  m.,  May  9,  1855,  Charles  W.  Moulton, 
of  Mansfield. 

(2.)  Daniel,  removed  early  to  Huron  Co.,  O.,  and  resided  there  ever  since. 
Farmer,  m.,  July,  1813,  to  Abby  Guthrie.  He  died  April  23,  1830  :  m.  2d  to 
to  Laura  Hubble,  o,  1824.  Has  children  :  1.  BeUey,  b.  Nov.  5, 1814  ;  ni..  May 
1835,  to  C.  B.  Hall,  of  Vermont,  and  has  several  children.  2.  William,  b.  Jan. 
30,  1817,  unmarried.  3.  iJnrriet  E.,  b.  April  4,  182.5 ;  m.  S.  D.  Fish,  of  Mon- 
roeville,  and  have  children. 

(3.)  Betsey,  ni.  July  10,  1820,  Jacob  Parker,  oi  Mansfield,  O.,  (Late  Judge 
of  Com.  Pleas).  She  died  April  25, 1851.  Had  three  children  :  Cha)ii>fte,h. 
28th  Sept.,  1833,  m.  John  Wood,  of  Mansfield,  and  have  children:  Clmrle» 
W;  b.  nth  Sept.,  1828,  unmarried.  In  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  b. 
24th  May,  1831,  m.  Dr.  Mowry,  and  d.  April,  1855,  childless. 

Homer  B.,  son  of  Amos  Sherman,  (see  No.  30,  p.  083,)  b.  Dec.  7,  1797,  m. 
Laura,  dau.  of  Stephen  Crane,  of  New  Milford,  Dec.  1818.  Children  :  1. 
Frederick  L.,  b.  Nov.  18,  1819.  He  took  an  active  part  iu  recruiting  for  the 
late  war,  and  was  very  effective  in  many  capacities.  He  was  appointed  As- 
sistant Provost  Marshall  of  Conn..  Nov.  17,  1862,  and  Enrolling  Officer  for 
Roxbury  and  Bridgewater,  May  28,  1863,  both  of  which  offices  he  filled  with 
loyal  vigor  and  success.  2.  }fary  J.,  b.  Nov.  10,  1821,  ni.  Stephen  Wells,  of 
New  Milford,  Oct.  1847;  have  two  dau.  3.  George  T.,  b.  Feb.  10,  1824,  m. 
Mary  Robbins,  of  Cold  Spring,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  1844.  Children  :  Ma.ry,  b.  Oct. 
1845.     4.  Laura  C,  b.  June  15,  182(5. 

1.  Fred.  L.  m.  Lydia  E.  dau.  of  Joel  Bishop  of  Washington,  Nov.  16,  1843. 
Children:  Homer  TF.,  b.  June  17, 1846,  d.  April  2<),  1870.  Homee  M.,  b.  July 
6.  1847  ;  resides  in  New  York  city. 


STILES  FAMILY. 
[.\dditions.] 

Stixes,  Francis,  is  not  named  in  any  Stratford  Record,  and  there  seem.s  to 
be  no  reason  for  thinking  he  ever  came  to  that  town.  Savage  uotc^s  the  re- 
corded birtli  of  a  child  to  Francis,  at  Windsor,  Aug.  3,  1645.  He  also  thinks 
Francis  Stiles  died  at  Windsor,  not  later  than  1 653.  Very  likely  he  may 
have  been  an  original  patentee  oi-  jiroprletor  of  Stratford,  but,  like  William 
Judson,  came  not  himself  to  dwell  there.  Several  of  his  sons  however,  set- 
tled in  Stratford.  Robert  Clurk  ni.  Sarah,  widow  of  F.  Stiles,  some  vears  be- 
fore 1665. 

Thomas  Stii.ks,  (brother  of  Francis,  and  son  of  Thomas,  of  England,)  was 
an  original  patentee  of  Flushing,  L.  1.,  1645,  and  his  descendats  were  there. 

Ephraim  Sxif/ES,  eldest  son  of  Francis,  m.,  July  8,  1669,  Ruth,  widow  of 
pbadiah  Wheeler,  b.  1645,  d.  June,  1714,  aged  69,  in  Stratford.  His  second 
wife  m.  after  1680  :  was  Batli.sheba,  dau.  of  Henry  Tomlynson,  b.  .Ian.  166n-i . 


1550  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

After  Stiles  death,  in  1714,  she  m.  a  Curtis.  Her  grave-stone  strangely  omits 
the  name  of  her  last  husband,  and  reads  "  Bathsheba  Curtis,  formerly  \rife  of 
Ephraim  Stiles,"  aged  74,  d.  1735.  Mr.  Stiles  d.  in  June,  1714.  His  will 
was  made  1712.  He  had  Elizabeth,  Feb.  18,  1687,  m.  Ephraim  Curtis,  1707, 
had  13  children;  Sarah,  Nov,  4,  1693,  m.  Thomas  Welles,  Aug.  1710,  had 
nine  children  ;  Phebe,M&rc\\  35,1696,  m.  David  Judson,  Oct.,  1713,  had  10 
children,  of  whom  Ruth,  b.  1726,  m.  Benjamin  Stiles,  of  Woodbury,  p.  699,  (72). 
Bensamtn  Stiles,  son  of  Francis  (p.  696,  Benjamin  (11)  seems  to  have  d. 
in  Stratford.  "  Benjamin  Stiles,  aged  60,  April,  1711."  This  places  his  birth 
in  1651. 

Samuel  Stiles,  son  of  Francis,  m.,  Dec.  31,  1664,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Thomas 
Sherwood. 

T  think  Savage  errs  in  supposing  him  dead  before  1682,  for  he  is  named — 
Samuel  of  Woodbury,  1699-1708 — sometimes  as  "  Ensign  Samuel  Stiles," 
"  brother  of  Ephraim.  " 

Hannah,  dau.  of  Francis  Stiles,  m.  Edward  Hinman  of  Stratford.  He  d. 
Nov.  21,  1681.  They  had  5«r«A,  b.  Sept.  1653,  m.  Wm.  Roberts;  Titus,  h. 
Jan.  1655;  Samud,  b.  Jan.  1658;  Benjamin,  b.  Feb.  1663;  Hannah,  b.  July. 
1666;  Mary,'b.  1668;  Patience,  b.  1670,  m.  John  Burroughs;  Edward^,  b. 
1672,  had  13  children  in  Stratford.  It  was  his  wife,  Hannah,  who  lived  to 
99  years,  and  foretold  the  day  of  her  death. 

M.'VRY,  dau.  of  Francis  Stiles,  (b.  not  later  than  1640,)  m.,  about  1660,  Hope, 
son  of  William  Wasliborne,  of  Stratford,  and  then  of  Hempstead,  L.  I.  Hope 
Washborne  removed  from  Stratford  to  Derby)  upon  the  settlement  of  that 
town.  He  was  however  for  some  years  with  his  father,  in  L.  I.,  at  Oyster 
Bav,  &c.  His  children  recorded  in  Stratford  are,  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  1661 ;  John, 
b.  May  1666  ;  William,  b.  March  1669  ;  Sami/el,  b.  March  1671 ;  Ephraim,  b. 
Aug.  1673.     Savage  adds  Mary  and  Jane. 

Sakaii,  dan.  of  John  Stiles,  (p.  695,  m.,  about  1650,  John  Stewart,  of  Spring- 
field.    In  1691  she  m.  John  Sacket,  of  Northampton. 

Isaac  Stiles,  (son  of  John),  p.  696-(7,)  m.  Hannah,  dau.  of  Robert  Rose,  wf 
Stratford.  (R.  R.,  Senior,  came  from  Ipswich,  Suifolk  Co.,  England,  in  the 
ship  Francis,  1634,  having   among  other  children  Robert,  aged  15.     Robert 

Rose,  Jr.,  came  to  Stratford  before  1648,  and  there  had  wife  Rebecca ,  and 

children:  3far)/,  1656;  Rebecca,  1657;  Elizahcth,  1659;  Dorcm,  1661;  Sarah, 
1664:  Mercy,  1672  ;  Hannah,  1666.  Mary  m.  Moses  Johnson,  of  Woodbury. 
Sarah  m.  John  Minor,  Jr.,  of  Woodbury,  and  Hannah  m.  Isaac  Stiles,  Jr.) 

Isaac  Stiles,  son  of  Jolm,  is  termed  Jr.,  for  what  cause  does  not  appear- 
but  it  implies  another  Isaac,  of  whom  I  find  no  mention.  By  his  wife  Han- 
nah, who  outlived  him.  he  had,  1.  Sarah,  b.  1677,  m. Perry,  of  Derby. 

2.  Deborah,  b.  Jan.  1682,  m.  John  Shether,  of  Killingworth.  3.  Jonathan, 
b.  March  10.  1688-9.  Isaac,  (who  may  have  come  between  Deborah  and  Jon- 
atlian),  m.  Abigail  Adams,  of  Milford,  Feb.  1618-9,  and  had  William,  Jan  33, 

1719-20. 

John  and  Joseph,  whom  you  name,  I  do  not  find  on  Stratford  Record  as 
children  of  Isaac.  Jonathan,  son  of  Isaac,  went  to  New  Jersey.  He  was  on 
Stratford  Record— wife  Rebecca  and  children :  Joseph,  1706  ;  John,  May, 
1709  ;  Thomas,  Dec.  1711 ;  Rebecca, '^^^1.  1719:  Ephraim.  Feb.  1723-4.  Isaac 
Stiles  d.  in  Jan.  1714-5. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEKT     WOODBURY.  l.')5l 

leaac  Stiles,  eon  of  Isaac,  (ai  bottom  of  your  page  700)  is  the  above-named 
husband  of  Abigail  Adams,  who  was  his  first  wife,  and  who  seems  to  have  d. 
before  1724,  for  in  that  year  his  wife  "  Sarah "  was  dismissed  to  Ri])ton 
church,  from  Stratford. 


SHIPMAN  FAMILY. 

Daniel  Shipmau,  b.  May  i;^,  177:}.  Sarah  Eastman,  b.  Aug.  11  th.  1774. 
Parson  G.  Shipman,  April  18,  1799.  Azaiiah  B.  Shipmau,  March  32d,  1808- 
John  O.  Shipman,  Jan.  5  ,  180o.  Eleanor  W.  Shipman,  Feb.  11,  1807. 
Daniel  M.  Shipman,  March  39,  1810.  Joseph  A.  Shipman,  Dec.  lo,18l2, 
Richard  E.  Oct.  1815. 

Marriage.     Daniel  Shipman  and  Sarah  Eastman,  Dec.  27,  1797.» 
,     Deaths.     Daniel  Shipman,  March  od,  1820,  aged  49  years  (>  months  and  10 
days. 

Sarah  Shipman,  his  wife,  Oct.  27, 1842,  aged  68  years  2  month  and  IG  days. 

Sarali  A.  Wallace,  dau.  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Shipman,  May  10,  180:3.  aged 
49  years  6  months  and  1  day. 

John  O.  Shipman,  Sept.  24,  1800,  Azariah  B.  Shipman  Se])i.  1."),  18i''8,  in 
Paris,  France. 

Parson  G.  Shipman,  January  19, 1871,  aged  71  3'ears  8  months  and  29  daj's. 

Parson  G.  Shipman's  family.  Parson  G.  Shipmau  1).  April  18,  1799.  Sa- 
rah Fairchild,  Nov.  9,  1802.  Eliza  Shipmau,  April  21,  1824.  Henry  Ship- 
man,  ^Nlay  3,  1828.  Helen  Shipnum,  Aug.  S,  1830.  Sarah  Shipman,  July  20, 
18:34.  Elizabeth  L.  Way,  July  1,  18:32.  Sarah  Eastman  Shipman.  Eeb.  25, 
1855.  Daniel  Shipmau,  July  15,  1857.  Elizaljeth  Shipman,  Dec.  4,  1858. 
Parson  G.  Shipman,  Feb.  25,  1801.  Eleanor  Weller  Shipman,  April  25,  186:3. 
Jane  Evans  Shipman,  Oct.  20,1805.  Azaiiah  B.  Shipman,  7,  1S08.  John 
Orville  Shipman,  June  13,  1870. 

Marriages.     Parson.  G.  Shipnum  and  Sarah  Fairciiild,  July  '.k\,  182:). 
Parson  G.  Shipman  and  Elizabeth  L.  Way,  May  10,  1854, 
Eliza  A.  Shipman  and  Francis  Jewell,  June  22, 1847. 
Helen  Shipman  and  Rufus  K.  Chaudlur'  Feb.  4,  1857) 

Deaths.  Henry  Shipman,  .son  of  P.  (i.  and  Sarah  Shii)uuin,  June  25,  18:31. 
aged  :3  years  1  month  and  22  days. 

Sarah  Shipman,  dau.  of  P.  (i.  and  Sarah  Shipman,  March  20,  1835,  aged 
8  months. 

Sarah  Shipman,  wife  of  P.  G.  Shii)uuin,  May  2S,  1853,  aged  50  years  G 
months  and  19  days. 

Daniel,  son  of  P.  G.  and  Elizal)eth  Shipuian,  Jan.  10,  1858,  aged  G  months 
and  1  day. 

Helen  Chandler,  dau.  of  P.  (il.  and  Sarali  Shipman,  March  5,  18()4,  aged  ;»3 
years  7  months  and  3  days. 

Parson  G.  Shipman,  Jan.  19,  1871,  aged  71  years  8  months  and  29  days. 

Lydia  Daniels,  sister  of  Daniel  Shipman,  was  bom  July  13,  170:!:  d.  in 
Mulnott,  U.  C,  July  19th,  1861.  ^ 

S.MiAii  E.  SniPM.vx.  \ 


1552  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Marriages.  Arad,  son  of  Arad  and  Martha  Evans,  of  the  town  of  Paris, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  T.,m.  Eleanor  W.  Shipnian,  Sept.  34,  1826. 

Births.     Martha  Jane  Evans,  b.  June  24th,  1827,  at  Cazeno\-ia,  N.  Y. 

Daniel  Shipman  Evans,  b.  June  15th,  1830,  CazenoA-ia,  N.  Y. 

John  Orville  Evans  b.  Feb.  7,  1837,  at  Fayetteville,  N.  Y. 

Edwin  Henry  Evans,  Dec.  4,  1839,  Fayetteville,  N.  Y. 

Deaths.     Martha  Jane  Evans,  June  18,  1842. 

Edward  Henry  Evans,  Oct  1st,  1841. 

Married.    John  Orville  Evans  m.  Carrie  Beard,  Nov.  15,  1865. 

Sarah  Ammarilly  Shipman,  m.  Sept.  1836,  to  William  H.  Wallace,  of  Ro- 
chester, N.  Y. 

Births.     Henry  William  Wallace,  1838.    Matthew  Thornton  Wallace,  1841- 

Dr.  John  Orville  Shipman  n).  Kachel  Green,  of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  Dr. 
Daniel  Madison  Shipman,  ni.,  1st,  Sarah  Townsend.  Children  :  Mary  Antoi- 
nette and  Sarah  m.  2d,  Mary  Yelverton.  Children  :  Henry  and  Louisa.  Dr. 
Joseph  A.  Shipman  m.  Hannah  Hunter  in  1841.  Children:  Martha  Jane> 
Madison,  Mary,  Oi'villc  and  Beury.     The  last  two  are  dead. 


■  STEONG  FAMILY. 
[Additions.] 

On  page  70S  it  is  said  that  Eheiiczer  Strong  was  "  probably  the  son  of  Adino 
Strong,  Sen.,  b.  before  his  removal  to  Woodbury."  Further  investigations 
render  this  supposition  to  be  a  truth.  Ebenezer  was  the  oldest  son  of  Adino, 
b.  Sept.  27,  1704.  His  2d  w.,  Mary  Smith,  was  b.  I2th  Feb.  1707.  This  has 
been  stated  to  the  writer  by  Rev.  Benj.  W.  Dwight,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.  The 
conclusive  evidence,  however,  is  found  in  the  wills  of  Adino  and  his  wife, 
Eunice,  where  he  is  especially  mentioned  as  the  first  born.  Mr.  Hermon 
Perry,  of  Southbury,  searched  out  these  wills. 

Children  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  Strong.  1,  Elizabetli,  b.  Nov.  27, 1729,  m. 
Asa  Johnson.  Cliildren  :  Justus,  Asa,  Amos,  and  a  dau.  who  m.  David  San- 
ford.  2.  Enrdee,  b.  14th  Aug.,  1731,  m.  David  Birce.  Children  :  Eunice,  m. 
Phineas  Barnes  ;  Comfort,  m.  John  Edwards  ;  Currence,  m.  John  Piatt ;  Mer- 
cy m.  Wni.  Piatt;  Betty  d.  young  ;  Patience  m.  Samuel  Botsford. 

3.  Boreas,  b.  Oct.  13,  1733,  m.  Amos  Bronson. 

4.  Charles,  b.  June  26,  1735,  m.  Betty  Hinman,  dau.  of  Andrew  Hinman. 
Children:  1.  Benjamin,  remoyed.  to  Coos.  2.  Ia(  cretia,  m.  Ohver  Chatfield ; 
3.  Anna,  m.  Simeon  Mitchell ;  Betty,  m.  Thomas  Ames,  removed  to  Coos ; 
Andreic  m.  Sarah  Hoi)kins,  removed  to  Bangor,  Me. ;  4  and  5.  Mary  and  01 
ive,  (twins) :  Mary  m.  Deacon  Frederick  Perry.  C'hildren  :  Betsey,  Charles, 
Sophia  and  Andrew;  6.  OKre,  m.  Abner  Clark,  of  Northampton,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio.  Children  by  2d  wife :  Charles  and  Harmon — removed  to 
Western  New  York.  5.  Josiah,  b.  5tli  Jan.,  1737,  m.  Mary  Baldwin,  of 
Woodbridge.  6.  MoUy,  b.  I4th  Oct.  1740,  d.  unm.  ;  7.  Ebenezer,  b.  8  June, 
1743,  m.  Patience  Hinman.  Children :  Ephraim,  m.  Hale,  of  Glaston- 
bury, Rchecca,  who  m,  Nathaniel  Bacon.  8.  Mercy,  b.  loth  Sept.,  1745,  m- 
Sylvester  Wooster — removed  to  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y. 


HISTORY     OF     A  N  ( ■  I  E  y  T     W  C  O  I>  K  L    K  Y  .  1553 


STODDARD  FAMIIA'. 

Charles  S.  Woodward,  Esq.,  a  great -graudsou  of  Kev.  Anthony  Stoddard, 
has  furnished  me  the  following  additional  matter,  including  some  repetitions 
of  the  items  contained  in  the  former  edition  for  the  sake  of  greater  clearness 
in  tracing  the  connections  of  the  family  : 

Issue  of  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard.  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  b.  Aug.  9, 
1678,  d.  Sept.  6,  1 7 6n,  graduated  at  Harvard,  1697.  Settled  as  minister  at 
Woodbury,  Conn.,  where  he  continued  sixty  years.  He  m.  1st,  Prudence 
Wells,  dau.  of  Robert  and  Elizabet  Goodrich  Wells,  of  Wethersfield,  Conn. 
Oct.  30,  1700.  Prudence  was  born  1682,  died  May,  1714,  aged  32  ;  m.  3d, 
Jan.  31,  1715,  Mary  Sherman,  dau.  of  Edmond  and  Susannah  Sherman, 
who  died  Jan.  12,  1720,  aged  2!».  Children:  1.  Mary,  b.  June  19,  1703, 
m.  Jbseph  Curtiss,  sou  of  Stephen  and  Sarah  Minor  Curtiss,  b.  Oct.  20, 
1700.  2.  Solomon,  b.  Oct.  13,  1703,  died  May  23,  1737,  of  sickness  called 
'•great  fever."  3.  Eliakim,\>.  April  3,  1703,  d.  1750.  He  m.  Joanna  Curtiss, 
dau.  of  Ensign  John  and  Johanna  Curtiss,  in  1739.  4.  Elisha,  h.  Nov.  34, 
1706,  d.  1766.  He  m.  Rebekah  Curtiss,  dau.  of  Stephen  and  Sarali,  Minor 
Curtiss.     Israel,  b.   Aug.  7,  1708,  d.  May  30,   1737.     John,  b.  March   3,  1710. 

7.  Prudence,  b.  Oct.  12, 1711,  m.  Mr.  Glover,  and  settled  in  Newtown  Conn.  8. 
Qideon,  b.  May  37,  1714,  m.  in  1734,  Olive  Curtiss,  dau.  of  Peter  Curtiss,  and 
grand-daughter  of  Israel  and  Rebecca  Curtiss.  9.  Esther,  b.  Oct.  11,  1716, 
m.  Preserved  Strong.  10.  Ahijah,  b.  Feb.  28,  1718,  m.,  April  4,  1739,  Eunice 
Curtiss,  dau.  of  Ensign  John  and  Johannah  Curtiss.  11.  Elkahelh.h.  Nov. 
15,  1719,  m.  Daniel  Munn.  They  had  one  child.  Elizabeth,  who  ni.  Lewis 
Beers. 

Issue  of  Eliakhn  and  Joanna  Curtiss  Stoddard.  1.  Lieut.  JoJui,  b.  Jan  36, 
1730,  d.  June  32,  1795,  m.  Mary  Atwood,  A]>ri]  15,  1751.  She  was  dau,  of 
Lieut.  Jonathan  and  Hannah  Sherman  Atwood,  born  April  30,  1733  and  d. 
Jan.  16,  1802,  residence  Watertown,  Conn.     '2.  Israel,  b.  Jan.  38, 1733,  d.  Aug 

8,  1794.  He  m.  July  4,  17.59,  Elizabeth  Reade.  3.  Anthomj.  b.  Oct  31,  1734, 
d.  1735,  m.  Phebe  Reade.  sister  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Israel  3.  4.  Joanna,  b 
July  16,  1738,  m.  Reuben  Squires.  5.  Prudence,  b.  Sept.  34,  1740,  m.  John 
Marchant.  6.  Eliakim,  b.  July  25,  1742,  d.  in  infancy.  7.  Seth,  b.  Dec.  3, 
1744,  m.  Hannah  Noyes,  of  Sharon,  Conn.  7.  AMf/ail,  b.  Aug.  2,  1747,  d. 
Dec.  17,  1803,  m.  Oct.  17,  1765,  Israel  Woodward,  b.  Marcli  17,  1740,  d.  Nov. 
22,  1814.     9.  Eliakim,  b.  Dec.  11,  1749,  d.  in  Canada. 

Issue  of  Lieut.  John  and  Mary  Atwood  Stoddard.  1.  Samxoi,.  b.  Oct.  35, 
1752,  d.  Nov.  1,  1809,  m.  1st,  Susannah  Nettleton,  who  d.  April  24,  1779  ;  m. 
3d,  Amy  Goodwin,  who  d.  Sept.  16,  1827.  2.  Ahirwin,  b.  Oct.  35,  1756,  d.  Oct. 
25,  1776.  3.  Wells,  b.  July  1,  1759,  d.  Nov.  11,  1838,  m  Sarah  Hick  cox,  who 
d.  June  3,  1841,  aged  80.  4.  Phehe,  b.  Feb.  19, 1761,  d.  Sept.  25,  1837, m.  Dec 
2,  1779,  Josiah  Hickcox,  wlio  was  b.  Sept.  9,  1760,  d.  Sept.  20,  1786.  5.  John, 
b.  July  1,  1763,  d.  Feb.  34,  1821,  m.  Sarah  Woodward;  dau.  of  Nathan  and 
Sarah  Hickcox  Woodward,  who  was  b.  Sept.  17,  1766.  6.  Submit,  b.  March 
17,  1766,  d.  Sept.  7,  1775.  7.  Joanna,  b.  Feb.  19,  1767,  d.  June  5,1847,  m. 
Eri  Parker.  8.  Mary,  b.  June  II,  1771,  d.  in  1845.  m.  1st,  Randall  Judd,  pa- 
rent s  of  Lewis  Judd,  late  of  Woodburv.     He  d.     2d,  Natlianiel   Curtis.     9. 


1554  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

Sarah,  b.  May  13,  1773,  d.  May  20,  1831,  m.  James  Williams,  b.  May  13,  iTTS. 
d.  at  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20, 1809.  10.  Israel,  b.  Feb.  15,  1776,  d.  Apru 
4,  1859,  m.  iBt,  Polly  Wileon ;  2d,  Mary  Wilson,  both  of  Harwintoa, 
Conn.  11.  Eliakim,  b.  Aug.  10,  1779,  d.  Feb.  28,  1860,  ni.  1st,  Lois  Matthews. 
b.  April  23,  1781,  d.  Dec.  12,  1842 ;  2d,  Nancy  Adsit,  July  13,  1843.  She  was 
b.  Dec.  20,  1794,  d.  Oct  29,  i860. 

Issue  of  Israel  and  Elizabeth  Reade  Stoddard:  1.  Phebe,  b.  Nov.  25,  17bO, 
d.  in  1775.  2.  Asa,  b.  Sept.  4,  1762,  d.  in  Dayton,  Ohio  April  11,  1842,  m.  Ar- 
menal  Prindle,  who  d.  at  Woodbury  Nov.  8,  1825,  aged  63.  3.  James,  b. 
May  14,  1765,  d.  in  Washington,  Conn.,  1805,  m.  ^Mary  Judson,  by  whom  lie 
had  five  children.  He  was  a  Physician.  4.  Elizabeth,  h.  June  17,  1769,  d. 
Aug.  2,  1848,  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  m.  Taylor  Sherman,  son  of  Hon.  Daniel  and 
Mindwell  Sherman.  He  was  a  lawyer,  resided  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  where  he  d. 
May  4,  1815. 

Issue  of  Abigail  Stoddard  Woodward:  1.  Rev.  Israel  Beard  Stoddard,  h. 
Dec.  4,  1767,  Congregational  minister,  d.  at  Wolcott,  Conn.,  Nov.  17,  1810,  m. 
Sally,  dau.  of  Rev.  John  Smalley,  of  New  Britain,  Conn.  3.  Pamela,  b.  April 
15.  1770,  d.  Dec.  18,  1830,  m.  Chester  Belden,  resided  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.  g. 
Abigail,  b.  May  19,  1772,  d.  at  Watertown,  Conn.,  Sept.  21,  1850,  unmarried. 
4.  Anna,  b.  Dec.  4,  1774,  d.  at  Watertown,  Conn.,  April  21,  1862,  m.  Young- 
love  Cutler.  March  19,  1806,  who  d.  April  29,  1816.  Children:  Dotha  Stone 
Cutler,  b.  Dec.  23,  1805,  d.  at  Watertown,  Conn.,  Jan.  26,  1836 ;  Hon.  Leman 
Woodward  Cutler,  b.  Dec.  12,  1807,  m.  Oct  31,  1831,  Mary  E.  Holcomb,  dau. 
of  Rev.  Frederic  Holcomb,  D.  D.,  residence,  Watertown,  Conn,  5.  Asa,  b. 
Aug.  24,  1779,  d.  June  1st,  1864,  m.  April  6,  1801,  Hannah  Hickcox,  dau.  of 
JosTah  and  Phebe  Stoddard  Hickfox,  b.  April  6,  1781,  d.  April  14,  1851,  resi- 
dence, Watertown,  Conn.  They  had  one  son,  Charles  Stoddard  Woodward, 
b.  Oct.  10,  1804,  m.  Jan.  20,  1852,  Maria  L.  Andrew,  of  Litchfield,  Conn,  b. 
March  6,  1820.  Children:  Charles  Asa,  b.  April  12,  1855  ;  Andrew  Jackson, 
b.  July  3,  1857. 

Issue  of  Phebe  Stoddard  Hickcox:  1.  Hannah,  b.  April  6.,  1781,  m.  A.sa 
Woodward.  2.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  17, 1783,  d.  Oct.  29,  1839,  m.,  about  1805,  Hul- 
dah.  dau.  of  Col.  -Vner  Bradley,  of  Watertown,  Conn.  Issue,  one  son,  Sam- 
uel Josiah,  b.  Oct.  20,  1806,  d.  at  New  Orleans  Oct.  18,  1832,  unmarried.  :;. 
Josiah,  b.  Feb.  13,  1786,  d.  Jan.  10,  1787. 

Issue  of  Asa  and  Annenal  Prindle  Stoddard  :  1.  Henri/,  horn  in  Woodbury. 
Conn  ,  March  18,  1788,  was  a  Lawyer,  residence,  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  d. 
Nov.  1,  1869  ;  m.  1st,  Harriet  L.  Patterson,  Dec.  4,  1821.  She  d.  Oct.  1,  1822, 
leaving  one  son,  Asa  P.  b.  Sept.  21,  1822.  Henry  m.,  Aug.  27,  1833,  Susan  C. 
Williams.  Children:  Henry,  b.  Jan.  2,  1835  ;  John  W.,  b.  Oct.  1,  1837  :  Eb- 
enezer  Fowler,  b.  July  16, 1845.  2d  w.  d.  April  4,  1861.  2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct. 
23,  1789,  d.  April  80,  1861,  m.  Ebenezer  Fowler;  one  son,  Henry  S.  Fowler, 
residence,  Dayton,  Ohio.  3.  Ann  M.,  b.  Nov.  31,  1792,  m.  Sheldon  T.  Gibba; 
one  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  residence,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Issue  of  Elizabeth  Stoddard  Sherman  :  1.  Charles  Robert  Sherman,  b.  Sept. 
26. 1778,  at  Norwalk,  Conn.;  d.  June  24,  1829,  m.,  May  10,  1810,  Mary  Hoyt,  of 
Norwalk,  Conn.  He  studied  .law  in  the  office  of  his  father  and  of  Judge 
Chapman,  of  Newtown  ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1810,  and  soon  after  re" 


HI6T0BT      OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  lo5£. 

moved  to  Lancaster,  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  2.  Daniel  Slierman,  b.  Marchf 
26, 1790,  d.  in  Monroeville,  Ohio,  Nov.  12,  1864.  3.  Elizabeth  Sherman,  b. 
Dec.  7,  1791,  d.  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  April,  1851,  m.  Jacob  Parker,  who  d.  Dec- 
31,  1858  ;  three  children  only  are  living. 

Issue  of  Charles  Robert  and  Mary  Hoy t  Sherman:  1.  Charles  Taylor,  h' 
Feb.  3,  1811, -residence  Mansfield,  Ohio.  2.  Many  Elizabethh.  in  Lancaster, 
Ohio,  April  21,  1812.  3.  James,  b.  Dec.  12,  1814,  d.  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  July 
10,  1864.  4.  Amelia,  b.  Feb.  1816,  d.  Jan.  9,  1862,  residence,  Mansfield  Ohio. 
6.  Julia  Ann,  b.  July  24,  1818,  d.  April  7,  1842.  6.  William  Tecumseh,  b. 
Feb.  8,  1820,  m.  in  Washington,  D.  C.,May  1,  1850,  Ellen  Boyle,  dau.  of  Hon. 
Thomas  Ewing,  of  Ohio,  has  six  children  and  is  now  General  of  the  United 
States  Army.  7.  Sampson  Parker,  b.  Oct.  13,  1821  :  a  banker,  Des  Moines 
Iowa.  8.  John,  b.  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  May  10,  1823,  m.  Aug  31,  1848,  M.  L. 
Cecelia  Stewart ;  now  Senator  in  Congress  of  United  States.  9.  Susan  Den- 
man,  b.  Oct.  10,  1825,  m.  Nov.  7,  1848,  Hon.  Thomas^  W.Bartley,  Ex-Governor 
and  Supreme  Judge  State  of  Ohio,  residence  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  10.  Iloyt,  b, 
Nov.  1,  1827.  Lawyer  and  banker,  residence  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  11.  Fran 
ees  Beecher,  b.  May  3,  1829. 

■  On  page  634,  "Curtiss  Family,"  the  following-  correction  should  be  made,. 
viz  :  Joseph  Curtiss,  son  of  Stephen  and  Sarah  Minor  Curtiss — he  was  b.  Oct. 
20,  1700,  d.  June  5,  1727,  m.  Mary  Stoddard,  1).  June  19,  1702,  d.  May  27  1727. 
She  was  daughter  of  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  left  two  childreii.  1.  Pra- 
rf<'?ice,  b.  June  1724,  m.Wm.  Martin,  settled  in  Bethlehem,  Conn.  Reared  a 
numerous  family.  One  of  her  sons,  Samuel  Stoddard  Martin,  m.  Olive  Minor 
and  resided  on  the  homestead  many  years.     2.   Thaddeus,  bap.  April  24,  1726, 

m. Stoddard,  and  removed  to  Rutland,  Vt.  about  1761.     Six  children  :  1- 

Mary,  bap.  April  8,  1750.  2.  Sarah,  bap.  Sept.  24,  1752.  o.  Thaddexs,  bap. 
Sept.  29,  1754.  4.  Mary,  bap.  July  11,  1756.  5.  Elizaheih,  bap.  Feb.  19,  1758. 
<5.  Prudence,  bap.  May  25,  1760. 

Mr.  Elijah  W.  Stoddard  (I  l^elieve  he  sails  under  the  titlt;  of  Rccerend)  in 
his  genealogy  of  the  Stoddard  family,  published  in  1865,  p.  45.  Speaking  of 
the  late  Col.  Henry  Stoddard,  of  Dayton  Ohio,  mentioned  on  page  714,  chose 
t  o  make  the  following  false  and  slanderous  remark,  with  what  good  purpose 
cannot  be  seen.  "  In  Cothren's  '  Ancient  Woodbury,'  references  are  made  to 
Henry  above,  which,  as  I  learn, ''  are  very  incorrect  as  to  dates,  farts  and  infe- 
rences, and  were  in  no  part  furnished  by  him,  and  were  not  known  to  him 
till  read  in  the  printed  copy  of  the  book."  The  author  has  to  say,  that  all 
the  dates  &rxA  facts  were  furnished  him  by  Col.  Stoddard,  and  he  has  trow  in 
hie  possession  the  original  manuscript.  He  had  been  for  a  great  number  of 
years,  indeed  from  his  very  youth,  residing  in  the  We^t,  and  the  writer  had 
no  other  means  of  obtaining  ih%  facts  and  dates  except  from  himself.  It  is  to 
be  remarked  here,  that  this  statement  is  not  to  be  so  much  wondered  at> 
when  one  examines  the  account  of  the  Woodbury  Stoddard  families  in  this 
Mr.  Stoddard's  Genealogy,  and  notes  the  manifold  and  Inexcusable -blunders 
and  inaccuracies  contained  in  it. 

Col.  Henry  Stoddard  remained  to  the  end  of  his  life  a  friend  to  the  writer 
never  finding  any  fault  with  anything  in  the  Woodbury  History.  He  always 
was  liberal  in  donations  towards  any  Woodbury  local  object.  As  an  instance; 
he  contributed  f50  towards  the  erection  of  our  "  Father's  Monument." 


1556  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

He  was  b.  in  Woodbury,  March  18,  1788,  and  d.  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  Nov.  1, 
1869.  Went  into  a  store  when  16  years  of  age,  (1804,)  remained  five  years. 
(1809,)  when  he  commenced  the  study  of  tlie  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1813.  In  1816  he  went  West.  He  commenced  the  investigation©*^ 
the  Amos  Stoddard  matter  in  1837,  which  eventuated  in  his  great  and  suc- 
cessful lawsuit  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  He  retired 
from  tlie  active  practice  of  the  law  in  1844,  giving  his  attention  only  to  the 
Amos  Stoddard  matter,  his  own  private  business,  and  the  business  of  a  few 
of  his  old  country  clients,  whose  affairs  he  had  managed  for  25  or  30  years, 
and  who  would  not  be  thrown  off.  Age  and  its  infirmities  came  creeping  on- 
however,  and  for  the  last  six  years  of  his  life,  he  had  not  been  away  from  his 
home. 

An  extract  from  a  Dayton  paper  will  show  the  appreciation  of  Col.  Stod- 
dard  by  his  fellow-citizens  : — 

"  Another  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Dayton  Bar  is  gone.  Henry  Stoddard,  Sr., 
the  oldes't  lawyer  in  Dayton,  died  at  his  residence  in  this  city,  yesterday,  at 
one  o'clock,  P.  M.  Although  advanced  in  years  and  of  feeble  health,  the  an- 
nouncement of  his  death  will  be  received  by  his  many  friends  with  surprise. 
On  Friday  last  he  was  as  well  as  usual ;  on  Saturday,  though  not  so  well,  his 
indispositif)n  was  not  such  as  to  seriously  alarm  his  family,  but  early  on  Sun. 
day  morning  there  was  an  alarming  change  for  the  worse,  which  continued 
until  The  last. 

"  The  deceased  was  a  son  of  Asa  Stoddard,  who  died,  at  an  advanced  age, 
in  this  city  in  1842.  The  family  of  Stoddard  are  descendants  of  Rev.  An- 
thony Stoddard,  whose  grandfather,  Anthony  Stoddard,  a  citizen  of  London, 
emigrated  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Boston,  Mass.,  more  than  two  hundred 
years  ago.  It  is  large,  and  comprises  many  men  of  eminence  and  worth,  among 
whom  are  Senator  Shennan,  of  Ohio,  and  his  distinguished  brother.  General 
W.  T.  Sherman. 

"  Henry  Stoddard,  Sr.,  was  bom  at  Woodbury,  Connecticut,  on  the  18th 
day  of  March,  1788,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  the  83d  year.  In  Ms 
25tli  year  he  was  admitted  to  i)ractice  law  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and 
four  years  after  he  emigrated  to  the  West,  and  settled  in  Dayton,  then  a  vil. 
lage  of  six  hundred  inhabitants.  He  made  the  journey  from  the  East  on 
horseback,  in  company  with  Judge  George  B.  Ilolt,  who,  since  the  death  of 
Mr.  Stoddard,  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  Dayton  Bar. 

"  Mr.  Stoddard  was  eminently  successful  as  a  laAvyer,  and  by  his  ability 
and  exertions  as  such,  early  acquired  a  competency,  upon  which,  after  an  ac- 
tive and  well  sj^ent  life,  about  twenty  years  ago,  he  retired  from  practice  and 
devoted  his  time  to  his  own  affairs  and  to  the  care  of  his  estates. 

"  As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Stoddard  was  remarkable  for  the  care  with  which  his 
cases  were  prepared,  and  for  the  learning  and  ability  displayed  during  their 
trial.  His  strict  integrity  and  deterniined  character  enabled  him  to  acquire 
a  large  practice,  and  for  n'iany  years  after  he  had  retired  from  the  active  du- 
ties of  his  profession,  he  received  from  a  number  of  his  old  clients  in  this 
county  such  earnest  entreaties  to  attend  to  their  legal  business,  that  their 
deatli  only  relieved  him  from  what  he  looked  upon  as  a  duty.  For  many 
years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Stoddard  was  an  earnest  and  consistent  Christian, 
-a  member  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  thia 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  fi  Y  .  1557 

city,  and  contributed  liberally  toward  its  support.  For  all  charitable  objects 
hie  hand  was  open,  and  his  abundant  means  enabled  him  to  accomplish  much 
good. 

"  It  is  with  unmixed  sadness  we  chronicle  the  loss  to  our  community  of  one 
of  its  most  prominent  members,  and  the  Bar  of  its  oldest,  and  for  many  years 
its  leading  practitioner.  But  we  mourn  not  for  him.  He  had  passed  the  al . 
loted  time  of  three  score  years  and  ten,  and  will  now  enjoy  the  rest,  he  has 
earned  by  a  long  and  virtiu)us  life." 

Col.  Stoddard  m.  1st,  Harriet  L.  Patterson,  Dec.  4,  1821,  who  d.  Oct.  1, 1823, 
leaving  children:  Asa  P.,  b.  Sept.  21,  1822.  He  m.  2d,  Susan  C.  Williams, 
who  d.  April  4,  1801.  Children  :  Henry,  b.  Jan.  2,  1835,  m.  Sallie  L.  Kemper. 
Children:  1.  lltnry,\i.  Axig.  11,1860.  2.  Car^eio//,  b.  Dec.  27,  1861.  o.  Frank, 
b.  Sept.  13,  1863.     4.  Rebecca  L.,  b.  Nov.  4,  1866. 

John  W.,  b.  Oct.  1,  1837,  m.  May  7,  1861,  Susan  Kiefer.  Children :  1.  8u- 
mn  K,  b.  April  1,  1863,  d.  Aug.  2,  1868.  2.  Charles  Grimes,  b.  Jan.  :;l.  1865. 
3.  Daniel  Eeifer,  b.  July  29,  1869,  d.  July  1st.  1870. 

Eliza  Jane,  b.  March  25,  1843. 

Ebenezer  Fowler,  b.  July  16,1845.  Entered  Yale  College  Sept.  1863.  m.  Nov. 
10,1868,  Elizabeth  W.Lowe.  Child:  Mariaiinc  P7ii7^<>v,  b.  Sept.  30,  1869, 
d.  April  6,  1870. 

Dea.  Gideon  Stoddard'',  (11)  p.  7 '5,  had  three  more  children  than  he  is  cred- 
ited with  on  that  page,  viz  :  Ghloe,  b.  Nov.  30,  1764,  m.  Samuel  Martin;  Ruth, 
b.  May  30.  17f,8,  and  Olimr,  b.  in  1771.* 


I 

SEDGWICK  FAMILY. 

Gen.  Eobert  Sedgwick  was  m.  in  England,  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  He  d.  at  Jamaica,  W.  I.> 
May  24,  1656.  His  wid.  Johanna  d.  later  than  1657.  Children:  1.  Sam.  bap. 
1639.    2.  Hannah,  bap.  1641.     3.  William,  bap.  1643.    4.  Robert.  5.  Sarah. 

3.  William,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  m.  Elizabeth  Stone,  dau.  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Stone,  second  minister  of  Hartford,  Conn.  Had  one  child.    4.  Samuel,  b.  1667. 

This  child  Samuel  (4)  m.  Mary  Hopkins,  of  Hartford,  grand-dau.  of  Ste- 
phen Hopkins,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  town  1689.  Capt.  Samuel 
Sedgwick  d.  March  24,  1735,  in  his  69th  year,  and  was  buried  in  West  Hart- 
ford burial  ground.  His  wid.,  buried  in  the  same  place,  d.  Sept.  4,  1743,  aged 
73.  Children  :  4.  Samuel,  b.  Aug.  22,  1690.  5.  JouafJutn,  b.  March  29,  1693. 
0.  Ehi'iieser,  b.  Feb.  25,  1695.  7.  Joseph,  b.  May  16, 1697.  8.  Stephen,  b.  Mar. 
17,1701.  9.  yi%rti7,  b.  Feb.  23, 1703.  10.  J/a?7/,b.  July  1, 1705.  11.  Will. 
JAM.  b.  June  29, 1707.  12.  Elizabeth,  b.  Dec.  10,  1708.  13.  Thankful,  b.  Nov. 
3, 1710.  14.  ^fercy,  b.  Jan.  18,  1713.     15.  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  7,  1716. 

Wtllia.vi,  (No.  11,)  of  Hartford,  Conn;,  m.  Mirriam  Hopkins,  widow  of 
Ellas  Hopkins,  of  Hartford,  and  dau.  of  Capt.  D^Ael  Webster,  of  Hartford, 
May  14,  1761.'     Elias  Hopkins  was  son  of  Consider  Hopkins,  of  Hartford,  b. 


''  Capt.  Daniel  Webster  was  great-grandson  of  John  Webster,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  one  of  the  early  Governors  of  Connec- 
ticHT, — in  the  line  of  his  son  Robert   Webster,  and  grandfather  of  the  late 


1658  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

in  1726.  William  Sedgwick  d.  1771,  aged  64.  His  wid„  after  two  other  ia- 
tennarriages,  d.  Sept.  17,  1819,  aged  nearly  90.  Children:  16,  WUliam,  bap. 
June  6,  1762.  17.  Timothy,  born  Dec.  7,1763.  He  d.  Oct.  2,  1833,  aged 
nearly  70. 

17.  Timothy  m.  Lucy  Sedgwick,  Oct.  4,  1787.  She  was  b.  Oct.  17,  1771. 
Shed.  Dec.  12,  l8o8.  Children:  18.  Hannah  m.  Timothy  C.  Steele,  Jan.  1. 
1809.  Shed.  Feb.  19,  1868.  20.  Namy,h.  Feb.  15,  1791,  m.  Timothy  An- 
derson, Jan.  26,  1815.  21.  Timothy  Jr.,  b.  June  30,  1793,  m.  Ist,  June  13, 
1820,  Amni  Mix,  who  was  b.  22d  March,  1777.  She  d.  Feb.  2,  1866  ;  m.  2d,  Ma- 
rivaE.  Holmes,  May  23,  1867,  22.  Hiram,  b.  Sept,  16,  1795,  m.  Almira  S, 
Merriam,  Ap.  39, 1819.  23.  Pamela,  b.  Feb.  38,  1798,  m.  Horace  Wells,  Dec. 
24,  1823.  34.  Levi,  b.  Aug.  11,  1800,  d.  June  10,  1868,  m.  1st,  Lucy  Ensign- 
Oct.  12,  1825.  She  d.  Sept.  1,  1830,  aged  36.  Mar.  2d,  Sarah  Lewis,  who  d. 
Sept.  6,  1853,  aged  51.  Children:  George  Ensign,  d.  Dec.  28,  1849,  aged  31. 
Thomus,  d.  Dec.  9,  1850,  aged  18.  Willard  WTiiting  d.  June  15, 1856,  aged  18. 
Zedi  A.,  d.  Sept.  11,  1861,aged31.  35.  William,  July  12,  1803,  d.  March  11. 
1864;  m.  1st,  Louisa  Brace,  March  20,  1828.  She  d.  April  6,  1854;  m.  2d, 
Anne  Louisa  Barber,  Feb.  1,  1855.  26.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  31, 1806,  m.  Harry  Good- 
win March  15,  1832,  d.  April  4,  1843.  27.  Amos,  b.  May  6,  1808,  d.  Dec  5, 
1866.    38.  Lucy  Ann,  b.  July  38,  1810,  d.  Oct.  23, 1815. 

25.  William,  m.  1st,  Louisa  Brace,  March  20,  1828.  She  was  b.  June  21. 
1803.  Children  :  29.  Helen  Louise,  b.  June  11,  1829.  30.  John  Webster,  b.  July 
24,  1831.  31.  Timothy,  b.  July  20,  1833,  m.  2d,  Annie  Louisa  Barber,  FH).  1. 
1855.     Children  :  32.  William  Thompson,  b.  Dec.  9,  1855. 

30.  John  Webstek  m.  Mary  Annie  Wood,  May  18,  1858.  Children :  -ST. 
Ella  Adele,  b.  Jimell,  1859.    38.  Clarence  Wood,  b.  Sept.  1,  1863, 

31.  Timothy,  m.  Mary  Elizabeth  Went  worth,  June  14,  1855.  Children: 
33.  George  Wentirorth  h.  Aug.  23,  1856.  34.  Louisa  Brace,  b.  Dec.  22,  1858- 
35.  Mary  Emma,  b.  Nov.  24,  1861.  36.  Edward  Timothy,  b.  Oct.  5, 1865.  d. 
April  4, 1867;    Mrs.  S.  d.  Oct.  1868. 

From  the  first  Gen.  Robert  Sedgwick,  in  direct  lineage,  are  descended  Gen. 
Charles  F.  Sedgwick,  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  now  and  for  many  years  State's  At- 
torney for  Litchfield  County,  and  Major  Geo.  John  Sedgwick,  of  the  United 
States'  Army,  who  fell  a  patriotic  sacrifice  in  the  w^ar  of  the  Rebellion  in  de- 
fence of  tjie  country  he  loved  so  well.  He  was  removed  by  six  generations  from 
Major  Gen.  Robert  Sedgwick,  who  struck  such  sturdy  blows  for  the  rights  of 
the  people  while  marching  under  the  banners  of  Cromwell.  He  was  b.  in 
Cornwall  Hollow,  Conn.,  I3th  Sept.  1813.  He  was  killed  at  Spottsylvania  by 
a  sharpshooter,  while  on  a  reconnoisance.  He  was  borne  to  his  home  a* 
Cornwall  Hollow,  and  a  public  funeral  offered  by  the  Legislature,  which  was 
declined  by  the  family,  with  thanks.  No  military  salute  Avas  fired  above  his 
grave,  but,  as  the  body  was  lowered  to  its  last  resting  place,  a  peal  of  thun- 
der, like  the  roar  of  distant  artillery,  reverberated  along  the  heavens,  sound- 
ing his  requium.  And  tile  tired  soldier  rested.  Miss  Catharine  Sedgwick, 
the  authoress,  is  of  the  same  lineage. 

Noah  Webster,  LL  D.,  author  of  the  Dictionary.  Charles  Webster,  brother 
•f  the  latter,  m.  1st,  Betsey  Woodruff.  Children:  Charles  and  Nelson.  Mar. 
2d,  Mrs.  Joanna  Wilkinson,  b.  3d  Jan.  1776.  Children:  Elizabeth  A.,  b.  No^. 
10,  1811,  and  Hon.  John  W.  Webster,  of  Waterbury,  b.  Jan.  19,  1817. 


HISTOKY      dF      ANCIENT      WOODBURT. 


1559 


STEELE  FAMILY. 


Argent  a  bend  chequy  sable  and  ermine  between  two  lions'  heads  erased 
gnles  ;  a  chief  azure.  Crest — Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  derai  ostrich  with 
wings  endorsed,  gules. 

Quite  a  full  account  of  the  Woodburj-  Steele  family,  was  given  in  the  first 
Tolume.  Since  then  a  full  history  of  the  name  in  this  country  has  been  pub. 
lished  by  Mr.  Daniel  Steele  Durrie,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  to  which  those  desiring 
a  full  account  of  the  name  are  referred. 

Mr.  John  Steele  was  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  country.  His  name  ap 
pears /rs(  in  connection  with  Dorchester,  one  of  the  earliest  settlements  of 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in  the  year  1630,  ten  years  only  after  the  arrival 
of  the  Pilgrim  company  in  the  Mayflower. 

Next  he  is  found  to  have  been  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Cambridge, 
(first  called  Newtown,)  in  1632.  Two  others,  George  and  Henry  Steele,  were 
also  proprietors  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  John  Steele,  having  been  made  free- 
man by  the  Court  in  1634,  was  elected  a  re])resentativ(!  from  Cambridge,  in 
1685;  Cambridge  being  designed  to  be,  the  ca])ital  of  the  colony,  as  it  was 
soon  after  the  seat  of  the  University. 

During  this  period,  however,  the  numerous  arrivals  at  Cambridge,  and  the 
want  of  pasture  lands  in  the  vicinity,  induced  a  portion  of  the  people,  inclu- 
ding a  number  of  their  chief  men,  with  the  Kev.  Mr.  Hooker,  their  pastor,  to 
seek  another  location.  Another  induc(nnent  for  their  removal  was,  a  dislike 
of  some  regulations,  which  were  thought  to  circumscribe  their  rights  as  free- 
men. The  proposed  enterprise  met  with  strong  opposition,  but  at  length  its 
advocates  obtained  the  consent  of  the  majority,  and  Mr.  John  Steele,  in  the 
flMumn  of  1635,  led  'the  pioneer  band  through  the  rugged,  pathless  wilder- 


1 560  HISTORY     OF      A  N  <  J  I  E  N  T     W  O  O  D  il  U  U  Y  . 

ness,  to  a  new  location  on  the  Connecticut  river.  As  leader  and  magistrate, 
he  appears  to  have  conducted  the  expedition  safely  and  wisely.  Arriving 
late  in  the  season,  they  had  to  endure  all  the  trials  and  hardships  of  a  severe 
winter,  with  the  labors  of  clearing  the  forests,  constructing  their  rude  dwel- 
lings, securing  food,  and  of  protecting  themselves  from  cold  and  wet,  the  rav- 
ages  of  wild  beasts,  and  the  warlike  savage.  Bravely  persevering,  while 
other  expeditions  during  the  same  season  failed,  and  many  i^erished.  they 
succeeded.  And  in  the  ensuing  summer  came  the  main  portion  of  their  com- 
pany— men,  women  and  children,  with  their  minister — to  their  new  home. 

Here,  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  near  the  head  of  its  navigable  waters, 
and  through  much  toil,  patient  endurance,  aud  trust  in  an  Almighty  arm  for 
success,  they  laid  the  foundations  for  a  new  toion,  afterwards  named  Hartford  : 
and  of  a  new  Colony  (Connecticut)  the  tliird  of  the  colonies  of  New  England. 
And  here  the  subject  of  this  narrative,  as  a  faithful  head  of  a  family,  as  an 
active  member  of  the  church,  as  a  magistrate,  as  one  of  the  principal  mem- 
bers of  their  legislative,  judicial,  colony  Court,  aided  in  establishing  a 
community,  the  duration,  wisdom,  and  happy  influence  of  whose  institutions 
have  been,  with  few  exceptions,  the  glory  of  the  State.  During  twenty -three 
years  elected  to  the  x^nncipal  Colony  Court,  he  was  present  at  eighty -eight,  at 
least,  of  its  sessions,  and  engaged  in  its  legislative  and  judicial  decisions,  and 
for  four  years  its  Secretary,  or  Recorder.  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  was 
also  recorder  of  the  town  of  Hartford,  and  for  a  time  Recorder  of  Farmington. 

His  closing  years  were  passed  in  Farmington,  where  he  was  a  member  of 
their  church.  His  residence  in  Hartford  was  on  the  Main  street,  just  North 
of  the  present  Atheaeum.  His  will  bears  date  Jan.  30,  1663-4.  He  died 
Nov.  25, 1665. 

A  very  complete  pedigree,  from  the  first  John  Steele  down  to  the  Wood- 
bury branch,  was  inserted,  in  the  former  edition.  But  as  Mr.  Durrie,  in  his- 
exhaustive  examination,  w^as  able  to  discover  some  additional  dates,  a  few  of 
the  generations  will  be  repeated  to  include  these,  and  the  latest  information. 

1.  John  Steele,'  b.  in  Essex  Co.,  Eng.,  came  to  New  England  about 
1631-2.  Settled  1st  at  Newtown — now  Cambridge,  Mass. — removed  to  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  and  thence  to  Farmington,  Conn.  He  m.  1st,  Rachel ,  prob- 
ably in  England.  She  d.  in  1653  ;  m.  2d,  Mercy,  wid.  of  Richard  Seamer,  or 
Seymour,  at  Farnaington,  Conn.,  d.  Nov.  25,  1665.'  Had  8  Children  :  among 
whom  was — 2.  John,  Jr.^  m.  Mercy  Warner  in  1645,  d.  before  his  father,  in 
1653-4.  After  his  decease,  his  widow  m.  Thomas  Hill.  She  was  dau.  of 
Andrew  Warner,  who  came  from  Cambridge  to  Hartford  in  1635-6.  They 
had  six  children,  the  last  of  whom  was, 

3.  Samuel',  b.  March  15,  1652,  m.  Sept.,  1680,  Mercy,  dau.  of  Major  Wm 
Bradford;  he  d.  1710.  She  d.  1720.  He  resided  in  Hartford,  Conn. ;  had  five 
sons  and  two  dau.,  of  whom  was — 4.  TIIOMAS^  b.  Sept.  9,  1681  ;  m.  May  10, 
1709,  Susanna  Webster  ;  he  d.  1757.  She  d.,  Nov.  27, 175T.  Resided  in  West 
Hartford,  Conn.     Had  eight  children,  of  whom  the  second  was  5.  Samuel',  b. 

March  11,  1712  ;  m.  Dec.  20,  1739,  Elizabeth  Merry;  2d,  Martha  S ;  he  d. 

Sept.  12,  1779.     Had  fifteen  children,  the  fifth  of  whom  was  AUyn — pp.  691- 

'  Durrie  has  it  1655,  p.  7.,  a  mistake  of  ten  years. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCMENT     \V  O  O  I>  1>  U  R  Y  .  1661 

692.  The  reniauiderof  the  pediirree  is  full  from  this  point,  except  such  items 
as  have  originated  since  1852. 

Page  693.  Roderick  S.  Woodruff  ni.  Clara  Shear,  of  New  York  City,  Nov. 
28,  1871.  80.  Henry,  d.  July  29,  1869.  Mary  Louisa  Steele,  m.  Henry  D. 
Atwater,  of  New  York  City,  Oct.  10,  1866.     He  was  b.  May  2:5,  1836. 

Thomas  Sedywiek  Steele,  ni.  Annie  E.  Smith,  Nov.  10,  1868.  She  was  b. 
March  8,  1844. 

82.  (Jlmrles  A.  Steele,  m.  Jane  E.  Parmelee,  Sept.  11,  1839. 

Hannah  Sedgwick  Steele,  p.  693,  d.  Jan.  19,  1868.  Julia  A.,  dau.  of  Ueorge 
T.  Steele,  (No.  83,  p.  69-3,)  b.  Nov.  1,  1848,  m.  Samuel  D.  Bull,  May  24, 1870. 

Lucy  J.,  (p.  693)  m.  Austin  Curtiss,  Sept.  18,  1861.  Have  one  child  :  ("has, 
Henry,  b.  Oct.  14, 1864.  Frances  L.,  (p.  693)  m.  Frederick  T.  Stone,  Oct.  18* 
1871. 


THOMAS  FAMILY. 

Page  722.  John  Thomas  was  the  father  of  Jeremiah  Tlumias  who  first  set- 
tled on  the  summit  of  the  hill  known  as  Good  Hill,  on  the  main  road  from 
Woodbury  to  Rosbury.  Jeremiah  Thomas  first  settled  on  that  part  of  Rox- 
bury  known  as  the  lower  road,  a  little  west  of  where  the  Baldwin  family  now 
reside.  His  sons  all  died  unmarried  save  Deacon  Charles,  who  inherited  all 
tlie  real  estate,  but  was  to  pay  so  large  legacies  to  the  daughters  in  cash,  he 
was  obliged  to  dispose  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  real  estate,  to  do  it ; 
retaining  a  homestead,  which  has  been  handed  down  through  three  succes- 
sive generations  of  sons,  and  is  now  owned  by  George  W.  Thomas,,  youn- 
gest son  of  Capt.  Charles  Thomas.  Deacon  Charles,  son  of  Jeremiah .  mar- 
ried Mary  Burgess,  (instead  of  Barges,  as  you  have  it  in  the  history,)  of  Bran, 
ford.  The  Burgesses  now  residing  in  Washington  are  a  branch  of  this  family. 
Deacon  Charles'  children  were :  1st,  Deacon  Joh^,  who  married  Parnel  Wel- 
ler,  and  died  Avithout  issue.  2d,  Jeremiah,  who  married  1st,  Sarah  Judt^on, 
by  whom  he  had  twelve  children  ;  he  moved  to  Spencertown,  N.  Y.,  but  soon 
after  returned  to  Salisbury,  Conn.,  where  he  died.  Two  of  his  sons  entered 
the  profession  of  Law,  one  settling  in  the  State  of  N.  Y.,  the  other  in  Ohio. 
3d,  Mary,  married  1st,  Noah  Dudley,  by  whom  she  had  one  son  ;  2d,  Seth 
Mitchell,  by  whom  slie  had  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  one  of  which  now  re. 
sides  at  Montrose,  Penn.,at  the  advanced  age  of  87  years.  3d,  Deacon  Icha- 
bod  Ward.  4th,  David,  who  died  in  infancy.  .5th,  David,  who  married  Abi 
gail  Case ;  his  children  were  Benajah  C,  Polly,  Abigail,  Calvin,  who  held  the 
office  of  Quartermaster  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  John,  who  received  the  apjioint- 
ment  of  Postmaster  in  the  town  where  he  resided  ;  Sally  and  Anna.  David 
moved  from  Connecticut  to  Vermont,  and  from  there  to  Jefferson  Co.  N.  Y., 
and  from  there  to  Northern  Ohio,  where  many  of  the  descendants  now  re- 
side, while  many  others  are  scattered  over  the  different  States.  6th,  Charles 
married  Jerusha  Weller,  and  had  three  children  ;  Charles  and  Jerusha  (twins) 
and  Mary.  Joshua,  the  twin,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  21,  first  victim  in 
Roxbury  of  the  scourge  known  as  the  New  Milford  fever.  Charles  married 
let,  Susanna  Warner,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Charles  W.  who  receiv- 


1562  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUET. 

ed  the  degree  of  A.  B.  from  Yale  College,  and  is  now  a  Methodist  clergyman 
in  Texas  ;  has  lield  the  office  of  Presiding  Elder  in  his  conference  ;  Daniel 
W.,  who  went  sonth  and  died  at  the  age  of  23 ;  Elvira  C,  who  now  resides  at 
West  Haven,  Ct.,  m.  2d,  Jane  Miller,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  :  Jerusha 
J.,  who  is  married  and  now  lives  in  West  Haven,  Conn.:  and  George  W., 
who  is  also  married,  and  now  lives  at  the  old  homestead  in  Roxbury,  and  has 
a  family  of  five  children — two  sons  and  three  daughters.  7th,  Annis,  who 
married  Abel  Bronson.  8th,  Sarah,  who  married  Thomas  Warner.  9th,  Su. 
sanna,  who  married  Stephen  Terrill.  10th,  James,  who  died  in  childhood. 
Capt.  Charles  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age  of  80  years,  and  is  now  at 
West  Haven,  Ct.,  with  his  daughter,  a  pleasant,  genial  old  gentleman.  Capt. 
Charles'  mother,  Jerusha  Waller,  did  not  die,  as  recorded  in  the  former  edi- 
tion, but  lived  after  her  husband's  death  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  died 
at  tlie  old  homestead,  at  the  advanced  age  of  94  years. 


THOMPSON  FAMHjY. 
[Additions.] 

Thompson,  Ambrose,  (page  737)  was  son  of  John  and  Micable  Thompson, 
who  were  among  the  first  settlers  at  Stratford,  and  had  numerous  descend- 
ants. Their  own  history  had  a  decided  romance  about  it.  His  wife  was  Sa- 
rah, dau.  of  John  Welles,  1st,  of  Stratford.  (I  cannot  explain  his  having 
children  baptized,  in  two  instances,  in  Woodbury,  for  he  lived  in  Stratford, 
and  all  his  children  are  recorded  there.)  He  would  seem  to  have  been  visit- 
ing Woodbury  on  these  occasions. 

Daniel  Thompmn  was  son  of  Daniel,  son  of  Ebenezer,  son  of  Ambrose. 

Henry  Thomj)son  was  son  of  Daniel,  son  of  Eben',  son  of  Ambrose. 

Doctor  Ebenezer,  I  suppose  to  be  also  a  descendant  of  the  same  line,  but 
cannot  positively  connect  him  now. 

WrLLiAM  Augustus  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Fairfield  County,  State  of 
Connecticut^  the  11th  of  December,  1787.  When  six  months  old,  was  taken 
by  his  grandparents  on  his  father's  side,  to  Woodbury,  in  Litchfield  County, 
and  brought  up,  and  educated  by  them,  principally  under  the  tuition  of 
Matthew  Minor,  a  ripe  scholar  and  a  graduate  of  Yale.  When  18  years  of 
age,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  his  uncle,  Charles  Thompson,  and 
continued  with  him  until  February,  1809,  when  he  went  to  the  City  of  New 
York,  and  finished  his  legal  studies,  under  the  supervision  of  John  Anthon, 
Esq.,  a  distinguished  Lawyer  of  that  city. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  1809,  in  the  May  Term  of  the  Supre«ie  Court  of  the 
State,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  to  practice  as  an  attorney. 

After  having  taken  the  oath  of  office  as  an  Attorney,  a  pleasant  incident 
occurred.  On  his  way  back  to  his  seat,  he  was  accosted  by  an  elderly  gentle- 
man, who  happened  to  be  sitting  near  his  seat,  who  asked  him  if  he  was  the 
son  of  Wm.  A.  Thompson,  of  Woodbury,  in  Connecticut  ?  To  which  he  re- 
plied that  he  was.  "  Well,"  replied  the  elderly  gentleman,  "  your  father  and 
I  were  school  boys  together.    I  am  most  happy  to  see  ysu,  and  I  wish  you 


HISTORY      OF      A  N  C  I  K  X  T  WO  O  D  B  ir  R  Y  .  1 5  63 

-o  jjTo  with  me  to  my  office,  No.  14  Broad  Street,  in  the  city  of  N  Y.,"  only  a 
i'-w  doors  from  the  old  City  Hall,  where  General  Washington  was  sworn  in 
as-  -Aif  first  President  of  the  United  States.  This  elderly  gentleman  proved 
:o  Vie  Col.  John  A.  Graham,  a  distinguished  and  eminent  criminal  Lawyer, 
acd  an  urbane  and  polished  gentleman.  His  partner  having  died  only  three 
weeks  before,  leaving  several  suits  pending,  he  was  in  need  of  a  yoimg  At- 
torney to  attend  to  these  suits,  and  to  prepare  them  for  trial— and  Wm.  A. 
wa.«  pleased  with  an  opportunity  to  commeijce  business,  and  improved  the 
opportunity  of  a  copartnership  for  two  years  with  Col.  Graham. 

^^]lortly  after  the  copartnership  with  Col.  Graham  had  expired.  Col.  Aaron 
Burr,  the  late  Vice  President  of  the  U.  S  ,  returned  from  Europe,  and  settled 
down  in  the  practice  of  Law  at  No.  9  Nassau  st.,  N.  Y.,  and  needed  a  young 
man  to  aid  him  in  his  business,  which,  on  account  of  his  previous  high  repu. 
tation  as  a  Lawyer,  had  become,  in  a  few  days,  overwhelming.  Timothy 
Green,  an  old  friend  of  Col.  Burr,  having  learned  the  Colonel's  necessity,  and 
being  acquainted  with  W.  A.,  recommended  him'  as  a  suitable  person  for  a 
partnership  in  his  business — which  the  Colonel  approved  of,  and  continued  it 
f:.;r  several  years. 

Ill  1823  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  While 
there,  he  introduced  a  new  and  safe  principle  into  Banking  Institutions,  giv- 
ing great  confidence  and  credit  to  the  circulating  medium,  never  before  at  - 
tained,  and  which  has  since  been  adopted  by  all  the  respectable  Banking  Insti- 
Tiitions  in  the  United  States. 

it  consisted  in  requiring  all  Banking  Institutions,  before  they  commenced 
operations,  to  appoint  the  Governor,  Comptroller,  and  the  Attorney  General  of 
the  State,  Trustees,  and  to  deposit  in  their  hands  $120  of  good  securities 
for  every  dollar  they  intended  to  issue,  and  that  all  the  bills  of  the  bank 
should  be  counter-signed  by  a  Deputy  Comptroller,  before  they  were  put 
into  circulation.  He  also  procured  the  bill  Incori>orating  the  Merchant's  Ex- 
change to  be  passed. 

His  speech  on  a  bill  relating  to  the  Education  of  the  Indians,  is  novel  and 
interesting.  It  will  be  found  in  the  "  National  Advocate  "  of  the  34th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1823. 

In  the  Assembly,  on  the  bill  Incorporating  the  Merchants  Elxchange  Co.,  of 
the  city  of  N.  Y.,  Mr  Thompson  said  "that  in  compliance  with  the  requestof  the 
gentleman  from  Allegany,  (Judge  McCall,)  he  rose  to  explain  to  the  members 
of  the  House  the  objects  contemplated  by  the  bill,  and  also  to  state,  that  it  is 
now  presented  for  consideration,  with  such  provisions  and  amendments  as 
corresponded  with  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  whole  Committee  to  whom  it 
*  ad  been  committed,  composed  of  the  delegation  from  the  city  of  New  York. 

'  Tlie  object  of  the  bill,"  said  he.  "  is  to  enable  the  applicants  to  purchase 
ground,  and  erect  thereon  an  edifice,  in  some  proper  and  convenient  place  in 
llaat  city  for  the  accommodation  and  convenience  of  merc-antile  and  commer- 
cial men,  to  be  a  place  of  general  resort  for  all  persons,  either  native  bom  or 
ibreigners,  who  are  anywise  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits.  Buildings  of 
a  eirailar  kind  have  been  erected  in  all  the  principal  commercial  cities  of  Eu- 
46 


1564  HISTORY     OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

rope,  and  are  considered  amongst  the  greatest  ornaments  and  conveniences  of 
those  pountries.  In  Liverpool,  a  city  with  which  we  hold  a  great  commerciai 
intercourse  it  is,  he  believed,  called  the  '  Merchants  Exchange  ; '  the  one  in 
London  is  called  the  '  Royal  Exchange  ;  *  and  are  considered  amongst  the 
principal  conveniences  and  advantages  of  those  places.  My  Honorable  friend 
on  the  right,"  said  Mr.  Thompson,  "  desires  to  be  informed  of  the  necessity  of 
euch  an  immense  appropriation  as  .One  Million  of  Dollars.  My  answer  is, 
that  the  ground  on  which  the  building  is  to  be  erected,  being  in  a  business 
section  of  the  city,  must  be  purchased  at  a  very  high  price,  and  it  is  contem- 
plated that  the  building  itself  will  be  of  a  stupendous  and  magnificent  struc. 
ture,  calculated  to  adorn  and  beautify  the  great  and  growing  metropolis  of 
this  free  and  prosperous  country — and  like  the  Acropolis  of  Athens,  and  the 
Pantheon  of  Rome,  to  be  a  lasting  monument  of  the  taste,  genius  and  glory 
of  the  age  in  which  we  live.  An  Exchange,  or  a  suitable  building  for  the 
transaction  of  business,  has  long  been  needed  by  the  citizens.  And  for  my. 
self,"  said  he,  "  I  am  happy  to  see  men  of  sufficient  public  ambition,  like 
those  named  in  this  bill,  associated  for  so  laudable  and  praise-worthy  a  pur- 
pose, as  the  one  expressed  in  the  memorial  to  this  Honorable  Body.  I  there- 
fore h(ipe,'  said  he,  '  as  every  member  of  this  House  must  feel  a  considerable 
share  of  pride  and  ambition  in  relation  to  every  thing  that  regards  the 
style  and  structure  of  the  public  edifices  of  his  country,  and  particularly 
those  of  a  durable  and  lasting  character,  in  which  the  genius  and  taste  of  his 
countrymen  are  displayed,  that  he  will  not  hesitate  to  freely  give  his  assent  to 
the  passage  of  this  bill."* 

As  a  memento  of  his  early  acquaintance  and  friendship  with  Cooper,  our 
distinguished  countryman  and  Novelist,  at  the  request  of  his  mother,  Mr.  P. 
(•aused  a  law  to  be  passed,  adding  the  name  Fennemore,  to  his  name,  as  she 
desired  that  the  name  of  Fennemore  should  go  down  to  posterity,  with  Wx?- 
unfading  reputation  of  her  distinguished  son — James  Fennemore  Cooper. 

AUALiNK  Augusta,  m.  Joseph  M.  Palmer,  one  of  the  most  eminent  and 
dietingushed  Lawyers  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  as  the  Law  Reports  of  that 
State  for  many  years  will  readily  show.  He  died  4th  April,  1870,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  87  years. 

Julia  Margaret,  b.  June  11,  1795,  m.  Doctor  Rice,  a  distinguished  Phy. 
iician,  and  d.  Ist  March,  1829,  at  Thompsonville. 

Caroline  Rebecca,  b.  28th  Jan.,  1802,  m.  James  Hillhouse  Raymond,  of 
New  Haven,  11th  June,  1813.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  studied 
Law,  and  commenced  tlie  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  State  of  Maryland. 

He  was  a  ripe  and  indefatigable  scholar,  and  wrote  and  published  several 
books  of  merit  on  the  different  branches  of  legal  science.  At  the  request  of 
the  Legislature  of  that  State,  he  wrote  an  essay  on  the  subject  of  free  and 
■lave  labor,  for  which  he  was  highly  applauded,  and  pecuniarily  rewarded  by 
the  State. 

Cornelia  Ann,  b.  4th  Jan.,  1801,  m.  Jonathan  Stratton,  of  Sullivan  Co, 

*  This  building  fronts  on  Wall  Street,  with  twelve  stone  columns  of  f<^rty- 
f«et  in   height,  three  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and  co.st  $4,000  each. 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODIUIRT.  1565 

He  was  a  prominent  citiztin  of  the  County,  and  was  twice  a  member  of  the 
Legislature. 

Children  of  Wm.  Augustus:  John  H.  Tfurmpsoii  was  born  the  Tth  day  of 
Feb.,  1813,  in  th'.  City  of  New  York,  and  died  July  2.')th,  1847,  while  l)ein^ 
educated  for  the  Medical  j)rofession. 

Wallace  Thonipson  was  born  on  the  5th  day  of  Jan.,  1815,  and  died  at  Sa- 
marang,  in  the  Island  of  Java,  the  11  th  day  of  Aug.  1839. 

Alfred  TJiompson  was  born  the  I8th  day  of  October,  1816.  He  was  edu- 
cated for  the  legal  profession,  but  was  obliged  to  abandon  it,  to  take  ciiurge 
of  the  family  estate. 

Eunice  Dwight  Thorapxon  was  Ijorn  the  12th  day  of  Aug.,  1822,  in  tlie  City 
of  New  York,  and  m.  (Jaret  S.  Van  wagoner,  a  Lawyer,  of  Patterson,  .V.  J. » 
Jan.  25th,  1844. 

Had  two  children  :  C.  S.  and  Looim.  Vanioauoner. 

Frances  Amy  Thompson  was  born  the  2d  day  of  May,  1824,  in  the  City  of 
New  York,  and  m.,  March  8th,  1854,  Doctor  J.  S.  Chapman,  a  graduate  of  the 
Medical  College  of  Maryland,  and  son  of  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Chapman,  of  Vir ' 
ginia. 

She  had  two  children  :  Nina  and  Josephine,  both  b.  in  the  City  of  New 
York. 

Josephine  Thompson,  was  born  the  'ilst  day  of  August,  1826,  in  tlie  City 
of  New  York,  and  married  Doctor  Justo  del  Risco,  of  the  City  of  Puerto 
Princepe,  in  the  Island  of  Cuba.  He  came  to  the  City  of  New  York  and  gradu- 
ated at  the  Medical  College  of  the  city,  after  which  he  went  to  Paris,  and 
perfected  himself  in  the  study  of  Surgery,  in  which  branch  of  his  profession 
he  has  since  gained  distinguished  honors. 

Cornelius  8.  Vanwagoner,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  City  of  New  York,  on  the 
8th  day  of  Nov.,  1844. 

Maria  Louise  Vanwagoner  was  born  in  the  City  of  Patterson,  N.  J.,  on  the 
6th  day  of  Sept.,  1846. 

Florence  del  Bisco  was  b.  in  the  City  of  Puerto  Princepe,  Island  of  Cuba, 
on  the  30th  day  of  Oct.,  1824. 

Justice,  Arthur  and  Josephine  del  liisco,  were  born  |in  the  City  of  Puerto 
Princepe. 


TROWBRIDGE  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

Page  740.  William  (3.)  of  New  Haven,  did  not  marry  lat  a  SuUivant,  and 
2d  a  Lamberton — but  Capt.  George  Lamberton,  of  New  Haven,  who  was  lost 
in  the  fatal  ship.  Jan.  1646,  had  a  dau.  Elizabeth,  who  m.,  Oct.  17,  1654, 
David  Sillivant,  (Silliman,)  and  on  New  Haven  Records.  William  Trow- 
bridge  ra.  March  9,  1657,  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Daniel  Sillivant. 

It  was  William  Jr.,  that  experienced  the  storm  and  famine,  instead  of  Will- 
iam Sen.  5.  William,  m.  Tliankful,  dau.  of  Rev.  Wni.  Stow,  of  Middletown. 
Page  741.     Doct.  Israel  L.  should  read  Isaac  L. 

Henry  Aikin,  (p.  743,)   moved   from   Middletown   to  Norfolk,  Conn.,  lived 


1560  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

with  his  son     Lemuel,   d.  in  1816,  aged  86,  and  was  interred  in  the  old 
cemetery  in  that  town. 
2S.  John,  (p.  742,)  d.  Nov.  11,  1855.     His  wife  Mahala  d.  April  6,  1855, 


TUTTLE  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

WilIjIAM  TuTTLli!,  from  whom  the  Tattles  in  Woodlrai")'  and  Southbury 
are  descended,  emigrated  from  England  in  1635  and  settled  at  New  Haven  in 
1639.  In  the  year  1651,  in  company  with  several  others  lie  hired  a  vessel, 
put  his  effects  on  board,  and  sailed  for  Delaware  Bay.  Upon  reaching  Man- 
hattan, they  were  intercepted  by  the  Dutch,  treated  Avith  great  indignity,  and 
compelled  to  return.  At  the  next  session  of  the  Commissioners,  William 
Tuttle  and  Jasper  Crane,  for  themselves  and  associates,  presented  a  highly 
wrought  statement  of  their  grievances,  and  demanded  severe  measures  of 
redress.  After  the  Delaware  expedition,  William  Tuttle  remained  in  .New 
Haven  until  his  decease,  which  took  place  in  1673.  He  possessed  considera- 
ble wealth,  and  was  also  a  man  of  influence,  as  appears  from  the  fact  that  the 
prefix  "  master "  was  attached  to  his  name,  a  tenn  of  distinction  very  spar, 
ingly  used  in  those  days.  He  had  eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  six  of 
the  former  and  tliree  of  the  latter  married,  and  had  families.  Their  descend- 
ants may  now  be  found  in  almost  every  State  in  the  Union,  and  among  them 
are  many  who  have  acquired  an  extended  rei)utation  for  distinguished  ability. 
The  descendants  of  William,  through  his  daughter.^,  are  almost  if  not  quite 
as  numerous  as  those  of  his  sons.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  married  Richard 
Edwards,  and  was  the  grandmother  of  Jonathan  Edwards. 

William's  youngest  son,  Nathaniel,  settled  in  Woodbury  about  1680,  and 
died  Aug.  26,  1721. 

Newton  Tuttle,  the  great-grandson  of  Nathaniel,  the  first  settler  in 
Woodbury,  was  born  in  the  then  parish,  now  the  town  of  Southbury,  in  the 
year  1768.  On  the  10th  of  Sept.,  1786,  he  married  Ruth  Pierce,  great-grand, 
dauglitor  of  Deacon  John  Pierce,  and  settled  in  Southbury  as  a  farmer.  But 
his  thoughts  and  energies  were  not  confined  Avithin  the  limits  of  his  farm, 
and  during  the  intervals  of  business,  he  ardently  availed  himself  of  such 
means  of  information  as  were  within  his  reach.  About  the  year  1794,  he  be- 
came a  convert  to  Methodism,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  first  society 
of  that  denomination  in  the  town.  A  short  time  after  he  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  continued  to  officiate  until  his  decease.  The  first  Methodist  so- 
ciety in  the  town  was  organized  upon  George's  Hill,  so-called,  and  continued 
to  worship  there  until  about  1832.  Mr.  Tuttle  had  the  pastoral  charge  of 
this  society  for  many  years,  and  frequently  officiated  in  other  places. 

As  his  sons  became  old  enough  to  go  into  business  for  themselves,  be  pro- 
vided each  with  a  fann,  taking  the  burden  upon  himself,  and  in  no  case  al- 
lowing them  to  become  indebted  to  others.  In  more  than  one  instance  he 
gave  up  his  own  homestead  to  a  son,  and  at  great  inconvenience  to  himself 
sought  another  residence.     Nor  did  his  parental  solicitude  cease  after  he  had 


HISTORY     OF     AN«;iENT     W  O  O  I)  BR  U    Y  .  1567 

(Started  his  children  in  life — he  coniinued  to  watch  over  and  advise  with  them 
as  long  as  he  lived,  and  so  elevated  was  his  character,  that  not  one  of 
them  would  have  deemed  it  prudent  to  have  disregarded  his  wishes.  During 
his  life  he  became  interested  in  some  manufacturing  enterprises,  which  he 
carried  on  in  connection  with  liis  farm.  He  transacted  a  large  amount  of 
public  business,  and  his  services  were  in  frequent  requisition  as  administra- 
tor and  executor  in  tlie  settlement  of  estates,  and  as  guardian  for  minors.  It 
was  his  custom  to  take  his  wards  into  his  own  family,  and  treat  them  as  his 
children.  A  man  of  lofty  character  and  rigid,  perhaps  stern  ideas  of  duty, 
he  expected  those  placed  under  his  charge  to  conform  to  the  same  standard 
he  had  set  up  for  himself.  His  widow  used  to  relate,  that  at  one  tinxe  he 
was  appointed  guardian  for  a  refractory  boy,  who  had  been  the  terror  of  a 
whole  neighborhood.  She  begged  her  liusband  not  to  take  this  boy  into  the 
family,  for  fear  his  example  might  be  injurious  to  their  own  children.  But 
she  was  overruled,  tlie  boy  came,  and,  with  no  coercion  beyond  the  influence 
and  example  of  his  guardian,  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  best  behaved  boys 
she  had  ever  seen.  If  any  disagreements  arose  among  his  neighbors  or 
friends,  he  constituted  himself  a  peace-maker,  and  his  efforts  were  always 
sucxjessful.  The  late  Chief  Justice  Hinman  used  to  say,  that  he  had  met 
with  but  few  persons  who  possessed  so  strong  a  mind  and  as  well-regulated 
a  j  udgment  as  Nfewton  Tuttle. 

He  represented  the  town  of  Southbury  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1824 
and  1828,  and  died  on  the  12th  of  December,  1883.  His  wife  survived  him 
and  died  in  July,  1850,  aged  eighty-three  years. 

Johnson  Tuttle,  No.  06,  p.  726,  b.  Feb.  38d,  1797,  farmer,  resides  in 
Southbury,  Conn.  Married,  Jan.  21,  1818,  Esther  Plinman,  who  was  born 
Feb.  r>.  1800.  Had  one  child  :  Jennette  E.,  who  was  born  Sept.  8,  1811.  Far- 
mer, resides  in  Newtown,  Conn.,  had  two  children  :  Johiisou  Tattle  Piatt,  b. 
Jan.  12,  1844,  m.  Sept.  3d,  1867,  Mary  Jay  Pettee,  of  Mass.,  who  was-b.  June 
7,  1846.  Occupation,  Lawyer ;  resides  in  New  Haven,  VA.  LL.B  Harvard 
University,  1865  ;  Theron  E.  Piatt,  b.  May  16th,  1848;  occupation  farmer,  re- 
sides in  Newtown,  Conn. 

The  following  is  a  continuation  of  the  genealogy  of  the  family  of  Aaron 
Tuttle,  No.  35,  p.  725,  and  Rebecca  Wooster.  Aaron  died  Sept.  15,  18:>6,  aged 
76  years.  Rebecca,  his  wife,  ditid  Oct.  4,  1855,  aged  88  years.  They  had  11 
children:  Olin,  Cyrus,  Anna,  Daniel,  Betsey,  Mary  B.,  WilUavi  L..  David  iV. 
Harry,  Sikts,  Aaron. 

Olive,  b.  Jan.  14,  1791,  m.  Daniel  Higly  March  11th,  1813;  d.  Nov.  28th, 
1824,  aged  84  years,  had  five  children  :  hkekiel,  David,  AHjah,  Elkanah,  Wit 
Ham.  T. 

Cyrus,  b.  Jan.  1793,  m.  Hezekiah  Kiggs,  had  no  children.  He  d.  July  20, 
1870,  aged  77  years.     Time  of  her  death  unknown. 

Anna,  b.  1795,  m.  Isaac  Benham,  had  three  children  :  Williaiii,  Jared,  Bet- 
sey A  an. 

Daniel,  b.  Sept.  4th,  1797,  m.  Sally  Piatt,  Oct.  7,  1818,  had  seven  children : 
Btbicra,  Ruby,  Melissa,  Sarah,  Elizer,  Aaron,  Edmund  A. 

Betsey,  b.  Jan.  31,  1800,  m.  Samuel  W.  Treat,  Dec.  5th,  1822,  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Oeorge,  Macy  Ann,  Olive,  Jan^. 

Aaron  m.  Anna  Abbott,  liad  three  chldren  :  James,  Jerome,  Celestia. 


1568  niaxouY    OF    ancient    woor»HURY, 

William  m.  Emerett  Manvill,  had  four  children :  Cyrus,  Mary,  Enieret,  Elr 
len.     Win.  d.  in  1865.  § 

David  N.  m.  Euphemia  Dockerty,  had  three  children  :  Washing  ^.,  George< 
David.  He  was  the  youngest  son ;  was  Captain  of  a  Company  in  the  lato 
Rebellion,  and  was  killed  by  a  rebel  bullet  at  Donaldsonville,  Louisiana. 
David  N.,  the  father,  died  Jan.  16th,  1870. 

Henry,  b.  Jan.  20,  1809,  d.  Nov.  30,  1883,  aged  "24  years,  m.  Harriet  Mun- 
Bon,  had  one  child  :  Harnett. 

Silas,  b.  June  26,  181'i,  m.  Susan  Allen,  Sept.  1st,  1883,  had  three  children  : 
Julia  8.,  m.  Algernon  O.  Beach,  Feb.  20th,  1861.  Had  one  child,  Frances 
EmUy,  d.  March  26,  186tt  ;  Ehnily  Augusta,  Mary  Ellen. 

David,  b.  Sept.,  1814,  d.  Oct.  27,  1871,  aged  56  years,  m.  Eliza  Munson,  has 
three  children :  Frank,  Helen,  Flora. 

I  cannot  give  the  names  or  number  of  the  grand-children  of  all  of  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Aaron  and  Rebecca  Tuttle.  I  have  only  named  that  of  my 
own  grandfather,  he  being  in  the  eighth  generation  in  the  direct  line  from  Wil- 
liam Tuttle,  who  emigrated  from  England  in  1635.  I  will  however  say,  that 
my  brother  Daniel  has  one  great-grandchild  that  is  in  the  9th  generation  in 
the  direct  line.     I  am  not  able  to  give  full  dates,  as  I  should  like  to  do. 

Yours  respectfully,  Silas  Tuttle. 

George  F.  Tuttle,  Esq.,  of  N.  Y.,  furnishes  the  fbllowin^: — 

Wm.  Tuttle,  of  New  Haven,  and  wife  Elizabeth  and  three  chh  :  John,  Ann 
and  Thomas,  aged  i-espectively  3|,  2^-  and  3  months,  sailed  from  London  in  the 
ship  Planter,  in  April,  1635.  Wm.  Tuttle  was  at  that  time  26  years  of  age- 
and  his  wife  was  three  years  his  junior.  They  landed  in  Boston  the  same 
year,  and  he  removed  to  New  Haven  in  1639.  In  the  meantime  two  more 
children  were  born,  namely  David  and  Jonathan.  The  rest  of  his  twelve 
children  were  born  in  the  New  Haven  Colony.  The  foUovidng  is  a  list  of  his 
childrQU,  and  their  births  and  marriages  ,  John,  b.  1631,  m.  Catharine  Lane  j 
Ann,h.  1633;  Thomas,  b.  1635,  m.  Hannah  Powell;  Jonathan ,  h.  1637,  m. 
Hannah  Powell  ;  Jonathan,  b.  16S7,  m.  Rebecca  Bell ;  David,  b.  1639,  d.  child- 
less; JosejJi.  b.  1640,  m.  Hannah  Munson  ;  Sarah,  b.  1642,  m.  John  Slauson; 
Elizabeth,  h.USAb.  m.  Richard  Edwards;  <%woti,  b.  1647,  m.  Abigail  Beach; 
Benjamin,  b.  1648  d,  unmarried  ;  Merry,  b.  1660,  m  Samuel  Brown  ;  Nathan- 
iel, b.  Feb.  24,  16.52,  m.  Sarah  Howe. 

Nine  of  these  twelve  children  had  families,  and  I  have  gathered  several 
hundred  naihes  of  each  of  the  nine.  John  and  Thomas  remained  in  New 
Haven.  Jonathan  removed  to  North  Haven  in  1670,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  there,  and  many  of  his  descendants  still  remain  in  that  town. 
The  town  records  were  destroyed  several  years  ago,  which  makes  the  task  of 
tracing  his  descendants  more  difficult.  Joseph  settled  in  East  Haven,  Conn. 
Two  of  his  sons  removed  to  Morris  C().,  New  Jersey,  and  were  the  progeni- 
tors of  a  numerous  and  highly  respectable  family  in  tha^i  State.  Sarah  set 
tied  with  her  husband  in  Stamford,  Ct.  Elizabeth  was  the  mother  of  Rev. 
Timothy  Edwards,  D.  D.,  64  years  minister  of  East  Windsor.  He  was  her 
only  son.  Timothy  had  a  son  Jonathan,  who  was  President  of  Princeton 
College,  and  the  most  celebrated  theologian  that  America  ever  produced- 
Jonathan  Edwards,  Preadent  of  Union  College,  was  his  son.  Timothy  Dwight, 


HISTORY      OF      A  N  C  I  K  N   1       \r  O  O  D  B  •  «  T  .  1 569 

President  of  Yale  College,  was  the  elder  Jonathan's  grandson.  Col .  Aaron  Burr, 
Vice  President  U.  S.,  was  also  a  grandson  of  the  lat  Jonathan  Edwards. 
Theodore  Woolsey,  recently  President  Yale  College,  is  a  great-grandson.  A 
very  large  number  of  distinguished  men  descended  from  Elizabeth  and  Rich. 
&rd  Edwards.  William  Tattle  was  a  leading  man  in  New  Haven,  much  em- 
ployed in  public  affairs.  All  of  his  children  married  in  the  leading  families 
and  the  blood  of  Wm.  Tuttle  still  remains  the  best  blood  in  Connecticut. 
Col.  Brown,  of  Waterbury,  (Brown  &  Elton,)  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Mary 
Tuttle  and  Samuel  Brown.  Joseph  Tuttle,  President  of  Wabash  College, 
descends  from  Joseph  and  Hannah  Munson  ;  as  does  the  Rev.  James  M.  Tut 
tie,  D.D.,  a  very  eminent  man  in  the  Methodist  Epis.  Church.  Every  branch 
of  William's  descendants  has  given  birth  to  a  large  number  of  clergymen. 
Bishop  Tuttle,  of  Montana,  is  descended  from  Simon  and  Abigail  Beach 
His  wife  is  also  a  Tuttle,  her  mother  being  2d  cousin  to  the  Bishop.  I  have 
made  considerable  collections  in  every  one  of  these  nine  families,  and  the 
subject  grows  in  interest  every  day. 

In  the  same  ship  in  which  Willium  arrived  in  Boston  in  1635,  there  came 
Ricliard  Tuttle,  wife  and  son,  and  John  Tuttle  and  son.  Richard  settled  in 
Boston,  and  l)ecame  a  wealthy  and  distinguished  man  there,  and  all  the  Tut- 
tles  in  Eastern  Massachusetts  for  several  generations  were  descended  from 
Richard  and  from  John,  who  settled  in  Ipswich.  Whether  these  were  related 
to  William,  is  not  certainly  known.  Another  John  Tuttle  arrived  a  few  years 
later  at  Boston,  and  was  one  of  the  company  that  made  the  first  settlement 
in  Dover,  Xevv  Hampshire.  There  are  man}'  descendants,  and  a  geneological 
account  of  them  has  been  compiled  by  Charles  W.  Tuttle,  of  Boston,  Mass. 
Th"^re  is  a  tradition  among  the  Dover  Tuttles  that  John  was  a  brother  of 
William,  of  New  Haven. 

John  Tuthill  came  to  New  Haven  with  William,  and  was  .soon  appointeti 
by  the  Court,  to  take  charge  of  their  new  settlement  on  the  East  end  of  Long 
Island.  It  is  asserted  by  some  writers  that  this  John  Tuthill  was  brother  to 
William,  and  there  is  some  foundation  for  the  assertion.  This  family  ha.s 
continued  to  spell  the  name  Tuthill,  and  are  thus  distinguished  from  all  the 
other  families  of  the  name  in  the  country.  The  wife  of  Wm .  Henry  Harrison 
was  of  this  family.  Many  years  ago  1  stopped  at  the  house  of  one  of  her 
sons,  "  John  Scott  Harrison,  a  little  below  North  Bend,  and  was  hospitably 
entertained  He  told  me  his  family  had  always  held  their  Tuttle  relations  in 
high  esteem.  Judge  Tuthill,  of  Iowa,  is  compiling  the  genealogy.  The  de- 
scendants of  William  are  probably  more  numerous  than  all  the  others  coni- 
bin»'d,  and  Charles  W.  Tuttle,  of  the  Dover  family,  wrote  me,  they  are  "  the 
moet  distinguished."  It  is  marked  by  honesty  and  worth  of  character,  a.i 
well  as  capacity. 

You  may  perhaps  feel  some  curiosity  to  know  my  own  line.  It  is  from 
Simon  Tuttle  and  Abigail  Beach.  They  had  a  son  Deac<jn  Timothy,  who  em- 
igrated from  Wallingford  to  Cheshire,  and  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the 
latter  town — in  which  house  four  generations  of  his  descendants  were  born 
and  lived.  Deacon  Timothy  had  a  son  Ephraim,  who  married  Hannah  Pain«- 
They  had  a  son  Ephraim,  who  married  1st,  Mary  Hull,  a  sister  of  Gen.  An 
drew   Hull,  and  grand  aunt  of  Andrew   Hull   Foote,   Admiral  U.   S.  Navy. 


1570  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Capt.  Lucius  Tuttle,  a  brother  of  my  grandfather  Ephraim,  married  Hannah 
Hull,  a  sister  of  my  grandmother,  Mary  Hull.  Andrew  Hull  Tuttle,  a  son  of 
Capt.  Lucius,  moved  to  North  Carolina,  and  some  of  his  grandchildren  were 
"killed  in  the  Confederate  service,  as  were  some  of  the  other  branch  on  the 
Union  side.  Mary  (Hull)  Tuttle  had  but  one  child,  Uri-(my  father).  She 
died  when  he  was  three  years  old,  and  he  removed  to  New  Haven  when  he 
was  about  20,  married,  and  had  a  large  family  of  children.  So  much  for  my- 
self 

I  thank  you  for  the  list  of  names  who  would  give  information.  With  seve- 
ral of  them,  we  have  been  for  some  time  in  correspondence.  I  will  write  to- 
the  others. 

I  would  now  like  to  ask  if  you  can  tell  me  what  family  John  Tuttle  belongs 
to,  to  whose  memory  the  citizens  of  Waterbury  erected  a  monument.  Seve. 
ral  years  ago  he  lost  his  life  in  attempting  to  rescue  two  young  girls  from  a 
burning  building.  The  circumstances  are  related  in  Barber's  "Historical 
Collections  of  Connecticut." 

Your  very  valuable  genealogical  notes  are  received.  I  am  very  muck 
pleased  with  the  verses  by  your  grandmother,  and  will  endeavor  to  emlxxJy 
them  in  our  work. 

Nathaniel,  of  Woodbiary,  son  of  William,  of  New  Haven,  had  eight  chil- 
dren. I  have  the  names  of  7,  as  follows  :  Mary,  bap.  May  1683.  Ephraim,  b. 
July  20,  1683.  Hezehiah,  Sergeant,  /«aac,  Feb.  3,  1697.  Temperance,  Nov. 
24,  1684.    Ann  and  Aaron. 

Nathaniel  was  married  to  Sarah  Howe,  Aug  10,  1682.  He  died  Aug.  10, 
1721. 


TOMLINSON  FAMILY. 

More  research  is  needed  in  the  records  of  this  name,  particularly  in  New 
Haven,  regarding  Thomas  Tomlinson,  who  took  the  freeman's  oath  there  in 
April,  1644.  What  became  of  him'?  Were  .Hem*^  and  he  brotherzf  Did 
TTiontaK  leave  any  family  in  New  Haven  V  Was  William,  (whom  the  Derby 
people  gave  in  1671  oO  acres  of  land,  if  he  will  settle  thereon  by  March,  1672,) 
a  son  of  Charles  ?  or  of  Henry '? 

Derby  Records  need  examination  for  tlie  childrt^n  of  Jonas  (son  of  Hecry 
Tomlinson,  of  Stratford,)  who  settled  there  so  early  at  least  as  l(i76,  probably 
indeed  was  among  the  first  company  of  settlers.  ' 

Also  examine  there  for  the  children  of  William  Tomlinson,  mentioned 
above.  In  1696  (June),  Saralu  Tomlinson,  in  Derby,  married  Andrew  Smith. 
John,  Isaiw,  Ahraham,  Samuel,  WiUiam,  Jr.,  are  also  on  Derby  Records.  How 
many  of  them  belong  to  Jonaa  and  how  many  to  WUliam  ? 

"  Elixaboth  lomlinxon  of  Derby,"  covenants  and  is  bap.  in  Stratford  Oct.  8, 
1693.  Was  she  &  d&n.  of  Joyias?  Can  you  draw  from  the  Town  Clerk  of 
Derby  any  facts  regarding  these  parties '!  The  Derby  Town  Records  were 
beautifully  written  and  are  very  easily  examined.  The  Church  Records  are 
miserably  defective. 

Henry  Tomlinson  appeared  in  Milford  in   16r)2.     (Perhaps  earlier.)     His 


HISTORY       OF       ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  1571 

Hife  Alke  was  dismissed  to  Stratford  church  in  Oct.  1653,  (though  a  clerical 
error  on  the  Milford  Church  Record  styles  her  wife  of  Robert  Tomlinson,  by 
mistake,  insead  of  Henry).     Ills  children  were:  1.  Jonas;  2,  Margaret,  m. 

Jabez  Harger,  of  Stratford  and  Derby.     3.  Mary,  m. Pierson.     4.   Tahi- 

t?M,  m.  Edward  Wooster  as  liis  second  wife.  The.^e  were  before  he  came  to 
Stratford;  From  Edward  VV's  son  A}>raham,  by  his  first  wife,  Oen.  David 
Wooster  descended. 

5.  Phehe,   b.  in  Stratford,  Aug.  14,  llj.")!),  m.  Thomas  Wooster. 

6.  Agar,  "         "  Nov.  1,  1658,  d.  1738,  aged  70. 

7.  BatJisheba,  "  "  Jan.  .3,  1660-1,  m.  Ephraim  Stiles. 

8.  Abraham,    "         "  d.  May,  1662. 

Henry  Tomlinson  died  March  16,  1681.  His  widow,  Alice,  in  1688  m.  John 
Birdsey,  Sen.,  as  his  2d  wife.  She  outlived  Mr.  B.  eight  years,  and  d.  1698. 
Henry  Tomlinson's  estate  is  given  in  the  Probate  Record  as  £509. 

Of  his  "children,  Jonas  settled  in  Derby,  had  wife  Ilannnh,  named  in  his 
will  of  1692.  Had  children  :  Agur  Tomlinson,  son  of  Henry,  m.,  Dec  13, 
1681,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Jeremiah  Judson.  She  was  b.  Feb.  1658.  In  Oct,. 
1692  he  m.  Sarah,  widow  of  Ephraim  Hawley,  and  daughter  (jf  Samuel, 
youngest  son  of  Gov.  Thomas  Welles.  By  his  wife  Elizabeth  lie  had  Alice, 
d.  in  Oct.  1684.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  11,  1684.  By  his  2d  wife,  Sarah,  he  had 
Zechariah,  b.  Oct.  1693.  Mrs.  Sarah  Tomlinson  d.  in  June  1694,  and  in  April 
1 702,  Mr.  T.  m.  wid.  Abigail  brown. 

Zechariah  Tomlinson,  (son  of  Agur;  m.  Hannah,  dau,  of  Joseph  Beach, 
of  Stratford.  She  was  b.  Feb.  1702-3,  and  d.  1740,  aged  37.  About  1742  or 
'4S  Zech.  Tomlinson  m.  for  his  2d  wife  Mary,  widow  of  Daniel  Homes.  She 
d.  in  Oct.  1749.  They  had,  Agur,  Sept.  13,  1720;  Sarah,  Sept.  1722  ;  Jo.^eph, 
Nov.  13,  1724;  Beach,  Dec.  1726;  Zachariah,  March  1729-30;  Gideon,  M&xch 
1730-1;  Abraham.,  April  1733;  Henry,  July  1735,  d.  Dec.  1738;  dau.  (unna- 
med) Aug.  1737.  d.  same  day  ;  Uenrg,  April  1739,  d.  Feb.  1740.  By  2d  wife 
he  had  Mary,  bap.  Nov.  1744. 

Aguk  (Dr.),  son  of  Zechariah  Tomlinson,  m.  Mary ,  wiio  d.  1802.     He 

d.  1774.  They  had  C'? to,  bap.  June  1746;  Hezekiah,  (Dr.)  bap.  Dec.  1747; 
Hannah,  bap.  Feb .  1749-50 :  ^i/«r,  bap.  April  1752,  d.  young;  Mary,\>&\>- 
July  1753  ;  Agur,  Sept.  1754,  d.  young;  Henry  Agur,  bap.  Dec.  1755  ;  MoA'y 
bap.  Sept.  1758;  Ann,  bap.  June  1700;  William  Agnr,\>^\}.  June  1763;  Mary 
yl^tV^,  July  1766,  d.  1771. 

Joseph  Tomlinson,  son  cit  Zechariah,  m. — .     He  d.  1774,  aged  4& 

years  11  months.  Had  bap.  Stephen,  Oct.  1749  ;  Elizabeth,  Oct.  1758,  m.  Phil- 
ip Wells,  father  of  Tomlinson  Wells,  of  Litclifield  ;  Hannah,  Dec.  1763,  m. 
Othniel  DeForest ;  Katy,  .Aug.  1771. 

Beach  Tomlinson,  (son  of  Zechariah,)  m.  Charity,  (dau.  of  Josiah)  Shel- 
lon,  in  Oct.  17S2.  She  d.  in  Ripton  1809,  aged  72.  Had  Josiah,  July  1753  ; 
//<?n7"i/,  March  1 755  ;  Agvr,1  1757,  who  m.  Sarah  Curtis.  Shed.  1790:  Gid- 
eon, 1774,  bap.  in  Huntington  ;  David,  1779,  bap.  in  Huntington. 

Zechariah  (son  of  Zechariah,)  Tomunson,  m.  Amy ,  had  Sarah,  Oct. 

8,  1753. 

Sarah,  (dau.  of  Zechariali)  Tomlinson,  m.  Nov.  1748,  He/ekiah  Thomp- 
Bon.  He  died  in  Sept.  1750.  They  had  Zerhariali,  b.  Oct.  1749;  Sarah,  h. 
Feb.  1760-1,  after  his  death.     Tlif  widow  m.  in  17.")7,  Thomas   .Alcott. 


1572  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

Q-IDBON,  (son  of  Zechariah)  Tomlinson,  m.  Oct.  1767,  Mary,  widow  of 

Wells.  She  d.  June  6,  1758,  in  childbed,  aged  36.  He  then  m..  Jan.  17,  1760, 
Hannah,  dau.  of  Col.  Jabez  Huntington,  of  Windham.  She  d.  in  1769,  aged 
27.  Capt.  Gideon  Tomlinson  d.  in  1766,  aged  35.  By  let  wife  he  had  Mary, 
b.  June  6,  1758,  d.  with  her  mother,  same  day.  By  2d  wife  he  had  Jabez 
Huntington,  b.  Dec.  24,  W60. 

Capt,  ddeon  Tomlinson  was  present  at  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga  and  of 
Montreal.  A  sermon  preached  from  Ephesians,  vi,  11,  by  Rev.  Izrahiel  Wet- 
more,  in  Stratford,  May  1759,  to  Capt.  Tomlinson  and  his  Company,  on  their 
departure  for  the  northern  campaign,  is  still  preserved  in  the  Wetmoro 
family 

Jabez  Huntington  Tomlinson,  son  of  Gidon,  m.  June  1780.  Rebecca, 
dau.  of  Joseph  Lewis,  of  Stratford,  and  had  Gideon,  h.  Dec.  31,  1780;  Gov. 
of  Conn.  Rep.  in  Congress,  Senator  in  Congress,  LL.D. ;  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  10. 
1784  ;  Nancy,  b.  Jan.  23,  1785  ;  Sarah  Lewis,  b.  Feb.  27,  1789  ;  Huntington, 
father  of  Gideon,  now  resident  in  Stratford  ;  George,  bap.  July,  1796. 

Abraham  (son  of  Zechariah)  Tomlinson,  m.  Ist  Rebecca  dau.  of  Rev. 
Hezekiah  Gold,  of  Stratford.  She  d.  1774;  m.  2d,  Anne  dau.  of  Samuel  Ful~ 
som.  By  1st  wife  he  had  Jerusha,  Sept.  1756  ;  Alexander,  Jan.  1769,  d.  1759; 
Sarah  ;  May  1760 ;  Rebecca,  Aug.  1762  ;  Huldah,  May  1766,  d.  unm.  in  old 
age;  Henry  Abraham,  Jan.  1768,  d.  1785;  Baoid,  Nov.  1769;  Mary,  5&n. 
1772,  d.  1861  unm.;  Charles,  Sept.  1774. 

By  2d  wife.  A.  T.  had  Elizabeth,  Jan.  1778  ;  Anna,  Aug.  1782. 

Mrs.  Abby  J.  Hubbard,  wife  of  Hon.  J.  H.  Hubbard,  of  Litchfield,  has  fur- 
nished the  following  account  of  her  branch  of  the  family.  A  part  of  the 
names  and  dates  are  a  repetition  of  the  proceeding  account  of  Mr.  Swan,  but 
is  introduced  entire  to  show  more  clearly  her  connection  with  the  main  branch 
of  the  family. 

Heny  Tomlinson,  or  (Tomline,)  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Stratford. 
His  wife's  christian  name  only  is  recorded,  Alice. 

Their  children  were:  Jonas,  settled  in  Derby  ;  Margaret,  b.  1642,  m.  Jabez 
Hardyear,  1662  ;  Mary,  m.  a  Pierson  ;  Tabitha,  m.  Edward  Wooster  1669,  (an- 
cestor of  Gen.  David  Wooster) ;  Abraham,  d.  May  30, 1662 ;  Phebe,  m.  Thom- 
as Wooster,  (who  d.  in  Derby  1713  ;;  Agxir,  b.  1658;  Bathsheba,  b.  Jan.  1661, 
m.  Ephraim  Stiles. 

Henry  Tomlinson  d.  March  16,  1680-1,  His  wife  afterwards  m.  John  Bird- 
•ey  Ist,  as  his  2d  wife,  and  d.  1698. 

Agur  Tomlinson  8d,  son  of  Henry  and  Alice,  and  b.  Nov.  1668,  ui.  Dec.  13, 
1681,  Elizabeth  Judson,  dau.  of  Jeremiah  J.  Their  children  were  :  Elizabeth, 
b.  Aug.  11,  1684.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Tomlinson  d.  before  1692,  and  Agur  Tom- 
linson m.  Sarah,  widow  of  Ephraim  Hawley,  and  dau.  of  Samuel  Wells,  son 
Gov.  Thomas  Wells.  They  had  one  child:  Zechaiiah,  b.  Oct.  1693.  Mm. 
Sarah  Wells  Tomlinson  d.  in  1694,  and  Agur  Tomlinson  m.  3d  Abigail  Browa. 
He  d.  in  1727. 

Zechariah  Tomlinson,  son  to  Agur,  m.  1719,  Hannah  Beach,  dau.  of  Jo. 
Beph  Beach,  and  Abiah  (Booth),  his  wife.  Joseph  Beach  was  son  to  Joha 
Beach,  first  of  the  name  in  Stratford,  Their  children  were  :  Agur,  b.  Sept. 
18,  1720  ;  8arah,  b.  Sept.  1722  ;  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  13,  1734  ;  Beach,  b  Dec.  1736 ; 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1573 

Z/tchariah,  b.  March  173(t ;  Gideon. h.  1731,  d.  1766  ;  AbmMm,b.  April  1738; 
Henry,  h.  July  1755  d.  ;  a  dau.  d.  1787  ;  Henry,  b.  April  1739. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Tomlinson  d.  Oct.  1740,  and  Zephaniah  Tomlinson  afterward* 
m.  Mary,  widow  of  Daniel  Homes,  and  dau.  of  John  Moss.  They  had  ono 
thild  :  Mary  P..  b.  Nov.  1744.     Mrs.  Mary  Tomlinson  d.  1749. 

Agur  Tomlinson,  1st  son  of  Zechariah  and  Hannah,  and  b.  at  Stratford 
1720;  Sa/i'ah  ;  Joseph,  b.  at  Stratford,  Jan.  13,  1724,  m.  Elizabeth  or  Betty 
Curtiss,  an  only  dau.  Their  children  were:  Stephen,  b.  Oct.  1749,  d.  young; 
PTcebe,  m.  Capt .  Moore ;  Curtiss,  m.  widow  Martin  ;  Joseph,  m.  Sally  Curtisa  > 
Elizaheth.  b.  Oct.  1757,  m.  in  April,  1776,  Philip  Wells,  of  Stratford  ;  SaVy, 
m.  Samuel  Mills;  Hannah, h.  Dec.  1763,  m.  Capt  Hovey :  Katy,  b.  Au(f 
1771,  m.  a  Shelton. 

Beach,  b.  1726,  son  of  Zechariah  and  Hannah  Tomlinson ;  Zechariah  ;  son 
of  Zechariah  and  Hannah  ;  Oidroti,  son  of  Zechariah  and  Hannah,  and  b. 
1731.  m.  1757,  Mary  Wells,  and  had  in  1758,  one  dau.,  Mary.  Mrs.  Tomlin- 
son d.  and  Mr.  T.  then  m.  Hannah,  dau.  of  Jabez  Himtington,  of  Windham, 
Cl.,  and  had  one  son  :  Jc^jez  Hnntington,  b.  Dec.  34,  1760. 

(rideon  Tomlinson  was  a  Captain  at  Ticonderoga  and  Montreal.  His  death 
■occxirred  I7n6. 

Jabez  Huntington  Tomlinson,  son  of  Gideon  and  Hannah,  m.  Juno 
1780,  Rebecca  Lewis,  had  two  sons  :  Gfideon,  b.  Dec.  31,  1781,  who  was  Gov- 
of  Conn.,  and  Huntington,  who  settled  in  Stratford. 

Abraltam,    son  of  Zechariah  and  Hannah  Tomlinson,  and  b.  April,  1733,  m. 
Dec.  1754,  Rebecca  Gold.  dau.  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  Gold.  ,  Their  children  were 
Jerusha,  b.  1759  ;  Alemuider,]).  1759,  d. ;  Sarah,  b.  1760;  Rebecca,  b.   1762 
Henry   A.,  b.    1763;  HvldaJi,   b.    1766;  Daml,   b.   1769;  Mary,  b.    1772,  d 
fjh(irles,h.  1774. 

Abraham  Tomlinson  m.  1777,  Anna  Fulsom,  and  had  two  children  :  Eliza- 
heth, b.  1778  ;  Anna,  b.  1782. 

Henry,  son  of  Zephaniah  and  Hannah  Trowbridge  ;  Mary,  dau.  of  Zecha- 
riah and  Hannah  Trowbridge. 

Ann  Fulsom,  second  wife  to  Abraham  Tomlinson,  was  a  near  relation  of 
Cloriana  Fulsom,  a  lady  of  very  great  beauty,  who  m,  1771,  a  Scoth  Noble- 
man, Lord  Sterling. 

«."urti88  Tomlinson,  who  lived  in  Huntington,  was  the  father  of  John  Tom 
linson,  M.  D.,  who  early  removed  to  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  and  was  the  father  of 
ihe  late  Mrs.  Carity  Tomlinson  Belknap,  wife  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Elizabeth  Tomlinson,  dau.  of  Joseph,  was  b.  Oct.  1757,  m.  to  Philip  Weils, 
177o.  Philip  Wells  d.  Dec.  2:5,  1818,  aged  65.  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  d.  Nov. 
27th,  1848,  aged  92.  Children  :  Hezekiah  m.  Eunice  Blackney ;  Sally  m. 
Marsh  ;  Philip  m.  Nancy  Watson  ;  Betsey  m.  Cyrus  Northrop ;  Tamlinaon  m. 
Electa  Smith  ;  Sophia,  m.  McMahon;  John  m.  Jane  Vanderbergh  ;  Joseph  m. 
Anna  Marsh  ;  Stephen,  unmarried. 

Tomlinson  Wells  was  m.  to  Electa  Smith  June  16,  1823.  Children: 
Philip  ;  Abby  Jane  m.  John  H.  Hubbard  ;  Virginia  M ;  Frank,  who  served 
»e  (-apt.  in  the  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  from  its  enlistment  until  it  was  mustered 
out,  a  period  of  four  years  and  four  months,  and  with  but  one  exception  a  Ion 
ger  time  than  any  other  known  offlcer  served  in  one  Conn,  Regiment  during^ 
the  war. 


1574  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

Abby  Jane  Welle  was  m.  to  John  H.  Hubbard,  Sept.  1855.  Children  :  John 
Tomlinson ;  Philip  Parley,  Aium  Electa,  twins;  Frank  Welles 

Betsey  Wells,  who  m.  Cyrus  Northrop,  had  children  :  Caroline,  who  ni. 
Wm.  My gatt,  Oxford,  N.  Y.  ;  Sarah,  m.  Col.  Wm.  J.  Starr,  New  Milford ; 
Emily,  m.  Earl  Bostwick,  New  Milford  ;  Joel  in.  Catharine  Canfield,  New  Mil- 
ford  ;  Sophia  ni.  Eli  Mygatt,  New  York  ;  Catliurine  m.  James  Hine,  M.D.  New 
Milford,  from  whom  I  have  received  much  information  regarding  the  Tom- 
linson  family,  as  well  as  other  family  records.        « 

I  find,  in  looking  over  old  records,  that  John  Hollister  l.st,  (page  58o  An- 
cient Woodbury,)  m.  Joanna  Treat,  dau.  of  Richard  Treat,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Wethersfield,  sister  of  Robert  Treat,  for  thirty  years  Governor  of 
the  colony  of  Conn. 

Their  dau.  Mary  2d,  m.  John  Wells,  of  Stratford,  son  of  John  Wells  and 
grandson  of  Thcmia's  Wells,  one  of  the  early  Governors  of  Conn. 

Thomas  Wells,  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Hollister,  m.  Sarah  Stiles,  who 
m.  Bathsheba  Tomlinson  (Page  696.) 

Hezekiah  Wells,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Stiles,  was  father  of  Pliilip 
AVells,  who  m.  Elizabeth  Tomlinson.  ♦ 

Thus  I  find  that  we  are  descended  from  the  Tomlinson  family,  on  tlie  Wells 
side,  too,  as  well  as  from  the  Stiles  family. 

Thefft  is  shown  us  an  old  well  in  Stratford  in  which  my  grandmother. 
Elizabeth  Tomlinson,  descended  on  the  stones,  coming  up  in  the  .same  way, 
bringing  her  child,  about  two  years  old,  who  had  fallen  into  the  well.  The 
well  was  eighteen  feet  deep  before  reaching  the  water  where  the  child  was 
found,  playing  on  a  large  stone.  It  being  "town  meeting  day,"  no  one  could 
be  found  to  go  down.     I  fear  her  descendants  do  not  inherit  her  couragt^ 

William  R,  Tomlinson,  Esq.,  of  Oxford,  furnishes  the  following  : — 

Family  of  Russell  Tomlinson,  Esq.,,  of  Woodbury.  Russell  Tomlijn.son 
was  b.  Dec.  23,  1764.  Agnes  Cortelyou,  of  New  Utrecht,  L.  I.,  was  b.  March 
l6t,  1764,  m.  April  25,  1779.  Their  children  were:  Sarah,  b.  March  14,  17S0; 
Isaac,  b.  May  26, 1782  ;  Peter,  Nov.  18, 1784  ;  Simon,  b.  May  22,  1787  ;  Ja.mes, 
b.  Aug.  18,1789;  Betsey,  b.  April  29, 1792;  Btissell,  b.  March  2?,t801  ;  James 
C.  b.  March  4,  1806. 

James  was  drowned  in  the  Housatonic  river,  April  22,  1804;  Es<[.  Riissali 
d.  June  22d,  1809.  . 

Family  of  Peter,  sou  of  Russell  Tomlinson,  Escj. :  Esther  llolhrook.  wife  of 
Peter,  was  b.  Sept.  27,  1783.  Their  children  wiiV(i:Willard,h.  Aug  22,  1320: 
Peter  and  Edtcin,  b.  Dec.  17,  1823. 

Willard  d.  Dec.  7,  1832  ;  Peter,  son  of  Russell,  d.  July  lith,  1842;  Esther, 
wife  of  Peter,  d.  Feb.  10,  1859. 

Family  of  Simon,  son  of  Russell  Tomlinson,  Esq.  Charity  Hurd,  his  wife, 
waB  b.  July  8,  1780.  They  were  m.  Aug.  28,  1806.  Their  children  were: 
Agnes,  b.  Jan.  22,  1808 ;  WUliomR.,  b.  Sept.  15,  1809  ;  Catherine  A.,  b.  Oct.  5, 
1811  ;  Charles  H.,  b.  May  1,  1813;  George,  b.  Sept.  29,  1814:  Mariett,  b.  Feb. 
2,  1816  ;  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  22,  1818. 

Bimon  d.  Aug.  25,  1818  ;  Sarah  T.,  d.  April  1842. 

Family  of  Sarah,  dau.  of  Russell  Tomlinson,  Esq.     She  m.  David  Tonilin- 


HISTORY      OF      A  N  O  1  K  V  T      W  O  O  D  B  U  R  V,  1575 

ma.  of  Derliv.  Sept.  20,  17911.  CliildnMi  :  J'JHza,  b.  May  4th,  1801  ;  Mar?/, 
Id.  March  5,  1803;  Dmid,  b.  Sept.  1,  18U4;  Auf/usfn,  b.  Nov.  12,  1806;  Ja/ie, 
Nov.  7,  1808;  Charles,  b.  Nov.  (J,  181(t :  56^,s^y,  b.  Sept.  21,  1812;  Sarah,  b. 
Dec.  5,  1814;  Imae,  b.  May  24,  1817  ;  6V??io?i,  b.  April  11,  1820. 

Charles  and  Eliza  are  dead  ;  dates  unknown. 

Family  of  Isaac,  son  of  Kiissell  Tomlinson,  Esq.  Grace,  dau.  of  Reuben 
Lxim,  his  wife ;  Jennett,  m.  Sherman  Prescott,  of  New  Haven  ;  James  m.  Milly 
Miles,  of  Derby ;  Mary  m.  Anson  T.  Colt,  of  New  Haven ;  Peter, m.  —  Can- 
field,  of  Derby  ;  Betsey  m.  —  Canfield.  of  New  Haven ;  Isaai'  d.  when  a  child. 

Betsey,  dau.  of  Esq.  Rusi-d!.  m.  Charles  Bacon.     No  children. 

Family  of  KiisseU  Tomlinson.  .Jr..,  wlio  ni.  Sarah  Burwell,  of  Brookfield. 
Mary  Tomlinsoii. 

Family  of  James  C,  son  of  Russell  Tomlinson,  Esq.,  who  m.  Laura  Tom. 
linson. :  chh.  :  Affiles;  Elizabitli  ;  John  R. ;  Mary  A. ;  Willard  ;  Edward; 
Isaac;  Laura.     Births  I  do  not  find.     Laura,  the  youngest,  Ls  dead. 

The  wife  of  James' was  a  Tomlinson,  and  the  husband  of  Sarah  was  a  Toni- 
linf^on.     Relationship  not  traced. 

The  folloAving-  items  are  taken  from  the  Woodl)ury  Records : — 
Honjy  Tomliur^on  d.  March  16,  1680-1.     His  s.  Abraham  d.  May  3n,  16t52. 

Isaac  Tomlinson  m.  Sybilla .     She  d.   May  29,  J  774.     He  d,  Dec.  19, 

ISOti  aged  84.  2d  wife  Mary  d.  loth  Sept.,  1843,  aged  88.  Child:  Sam- 
ud,  b.  July  9.  1759,  d.  25th  May,  1809.  Wid.,  Jerusha,  d.  April  1,  18u4.  aged 
49  :  Daniel,  b.  29,   1761  ;  Mary  Ann,  b.  Feb.   11,  1763,  d.  of  small  pox 

March  29.  1777  ;  Sarah,  b.  May  12,  1765. 

,  Dr.  Abraham  Tomlinson  m.  Mary  Gypson.  Nov.  11,  1760.  Children  ;  BUly 
b.  Nov.  9.  1761. 

Deacon  Samuel  Tomlinson  m.  Comfort  Hurlbut,  of  Roxbury,  Nov.  1,  1753, 
Lydia,  wife  of  Capt.  Isaac  Tomlinson,  d.  May  29,  1774.  Hannah  Tomlin- 
son m.  Benjamin  Ingraham,  Feb.  18,  1742.  Samuel,  son  of  Jonas  Tomlinson^ 
bap.  Dec.  1687.  Samuel  Tomlinson  m.  Jerusha  Martin,  Jan.  17.  178".  Isaac 
Tomlinson  m.  Jemima  Bacon,  April  1784.  David  Tomlinson  m.  Lorena  Ba- 
con, 1784.  Child :  Bavid,  b.  March  4,  1788.  Caleb  Tomlinson  m.  Mary  South- 
worth,  of  Soiithbury,  Sept.  1,  1747.  Benjamin  Tomlinson  m.  Sarah  Turner, 
Jan.  31,  1770.  Child  :  James,  bap.  Feb.  12,  1771.  Martha  Tomlinson  m.  Na. 
thaniel  Holbrook,  June  19,  1791.  Children  of  Timothy  and  Eunice  ( Booth) 
Tomlinson.  (He  d.  .Jan.  2,  1821.  She  d.  Nov.  25,  1821:)  Timothy,  h.  March 
•J 9.  1792  ;  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  28,  1796  ;  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  12,1898. 

Children  of  Abijah  Tomlinson:  Moses,  b.  March  4,  1764  ;  Levi,  bap.  March 
2.  1766  :  Sarah,  d.  Nov.  27,  1768.  Truman  Tomlinson  m.  Nancy  Perry,  June 
22,  1806. 

Sybel  TfynilvMon,  b.  Sept.  10,  1750 ;  Isaac,  father  of  Harriet  2d,  w.  of  Hon. 
Noah  B.  Benedict,  b.  Aug.  31,  1752  ;  Rusnell,  (see  preceding  page)  b.  at  Squan. 
tuck,  (Derby,)  Dec.  23,  1754  ;  Timothy,  b.  in  Derby,  June  18,  1757  ;  Samuel,  b 
July  9,  1759 ;  David,  b.  May  29,  1761  ;  Mary  Ann,  b.  Feb.  11,  1763,  d.  March 
1777  ;  Sarah,  b.  May  12,  1766,  m,  Dr.  Phinias  Meigs,  and  became  mother  of 
Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Meigs,  the  celebrated  missionary  to  Ceylon.  Dr.  Phinias 
M.  d.  Dec.  19,  1806.  aged  45. 
■  1.  Timothy  Tomlinson,  above,  ra.  Nancy Hibbard.  Child:  Samuel, m.  Jen. 


1576  HISTORY     OF     ANOIENT     WOODBURY. 

Bette  Patterson,  of  Roxbury.  Cliildren  :  Elisha  P.  ;  Sarah  ,7.,  who  m.  Rob- 
ert C.  Partree,  Jan.  5,  1848,  and  has  children:  Homer  A.,  and  Betsey,  whom. 
John  Weely  Judson.  Samuel  T.  d.  Dec.  10,  1860,  aged  64.  2.  Joseph,  whom. 
Alma  Partree.  Child  :  John  B.,  who  d.  June  20,  1854,  while  a  member  of  Yale 
College,  aged  21  ;  George.  The  mother  d.  before  the  father.  Hed.  Sept.  12. 
1867,  aged  60.  3.  Isaac  d.  nnmar.  4.  Nathaniel  va.  Elvira  Davis,  lives  Id 
Michigan,  and  has  five  children.  Caroline  Tomlinson  m.  Leman  A.  Warner. 
April  10,  1844.  Eliphalet  Tomlinson  m.  Polly  Logan,  Oct.  12,  1824.  Agnes 
Tomlinson  m.  Charles  Wagner,  March  30,  1828.  Maryette  Tomlinson  m. 
Harry  Johnson,  April  3,  1831.  Bennet  Tomlinson  m.  Martha  Hurd,  Dec.  28, 
1834.  Sylva  Tomlinson  m.  Erastus  Burr,  Oct.  1,  1839.  Sarah  Tomlinson  m. 
Charles  B.  Benton.  ^8th  Oct.,  1840.  Amos  B.  T.  m.  C.  Upson,  1  Jan.  1844 
Wm.  T.  m.  Sarah  J.  Hine,  2d  Jan.  1848. 


WHEELER  FAMILY. 
[Additions  to  p.  747.] 
John  Wheeler*  was  son  of  Thomas,  of  Milford.  He  m.  Nov.  6,  1662,  Sarah, 
dau.  of  Thomas  Sherwood.  They  had  Sarah,  Feb.  24,  1663-4  ;  Mary,  Aug. 
26,  1666  :  Elizabeth,  Feb.  1669  ;  Mercy,  bap.  Jan.  19,  1671  ;  Tlwmas,  May  35, 
1678  :  Ruth-  Dinah,  m.  Ephraim  Tuttle  ;  John.  Elizabeth,  b.  1669,  m.  June 
1 696,  Jeremiah  Burch. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Wheeler,  p.  761,  was  a  descendant  of  Moses  Wheeler,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  Stratford. 


WARNER  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

The  first  Dr.  Ebenezer  Warner,  according  to  his  headstone  in  the  burial 
ground,  d.  April  26,  1760.  The  inscription  reads : — "  In  memory  of  Ebenezer 
Warner,  Captain  and  Doctor.  He  deceased  April  26,  1760,  aged  78  years." 
BuMinnah,  wid.  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Warner  2d,  d.  Oct.  19,  1782,  in  her  64th  year. 
Gideon,  son  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Warner  3d,  wasb.  Aug.  15,  1762.  Curtiss  War 
n«r  m.  Eunice  Caitle,  dau.  of  Israel  Castle.  He  d.  July  13,  1886.  She  d.  Jaa 
23,  1829. 


WALKER  FAMILY. 

[Additions  to  page  746.] 

Joseph  (7)  m.  Abigail,  dau.  of  Rev.  Peter  Prudden,  Nov.  14,  1667.     They 
had  JRobert,  b.  in  Milford  May  1668,  m.  Ruth  Wilcoison,  Aug.  1696.     He  d. 


HISTORY      OF     ANTIENT     WOODBURY 


15TT 


1743.     SamA,  b.  in  Stratford  Jan.  1669-70:  Ahigail.h  in  Stratford  Feb.  18, 
167-i;  Mary,  b  in  Stratford  Dec.  18,  1680. 

Armilla  Walker,  w.  of  Reuben  Walker,  (p.  746,)  daii.  of  Dea.  Matthew 
Minor,  b.  Feb.  1783,  and  d.  Jan.  18.  1858.  Their  son  (p.  743)  Joseph  F.  b- 
Dec.  11,  1806,  m,  1st  Maria  S.  Burnham,  Jan.  10,1831.  She  was"  b.  Oct.  30. 
1804,  and  d.  Nov.  4,  1833,  aged  29.  He  m.  2d  Esther  K.  Cogswell,  Aug.  20, 
1833.  She  was  b.  June  11,  1814.  Children;  1.  Frederick  A.,h.  March  11, 
1835.  2.  William  B.,\).  Jan.  12,  1837.  3.  Maiia  B.,  b.  March  1,  1845,  m. 
Walter  E.  Way,  Sept.  16,  1861,  and  d.  Aug.  5,  1863.  Child :  Freddie  W.  Way, 
b.  Aug.  12,  1862.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  F.  Walker,  is  his  guardian  till  he 
Bhall  be  21  years  of  age,  both  father  and  mother  being  dead  ;  his  father  hav. 
ing  d.  May  27,  1866,  aged  27  years.  4.  Hattie  (J.  b,  Sept.  11,  1844  m.  WiUiam 
J.  Clark,  Oct.  11,  1864,  d.  Dec.  11,  1866,  and  was  buried  Dec.  11,  1866— a  co- 
incidence of  dates     Child :  Sarah  P.  b.  Aug.  4,  1865. 

Fredericl  A.  Walker,  (1)  b.  March  11, 1835,  went  South  (to  La.)  in  1856  ^ 
returned  1861  on  account  of  the  War.  Mar.  Ist  Sarah  P.  (dau.  of  Silas  and 
Laura  Clark)  Sept.  18,  1861.     Ch  :  Edward  C.  Walker,  b.  July  25,  1862. 

Sarah  P.  Walker,  wife,  d.  Nov,  5,  1864. 

F.  A.  Walker  m.  2d,  Fannie  A.  Thompson,  (from  Ala.)  Oct.  7th,  1868,  dau. 
of  Wm.  P  Thompson.  Children:  Harriet  C,  b.  Nov.  9,  1b69;  Mary  M.,  b. 
Nov.  14,  1871. 

Elizabeth,  (No.  10,  p.  745,)  m.  Deacon  Samuel  Bull.     They  had  no  children. 

It  is  related  of  Joseph  Walker  No.  32,  p.  745,  that  he  froze  to  death  in  the 
month  of  June  1816 — known  as  the  "  cold  season."  He  was  85  years  of  age, 
went  to  bring  the  cows,  and  was  found  chilled  to  death.  This  was  at  Peacham: 
Vt. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

STATlSTIf'S. 


N  several  accounts,  the  artist  may  be  cred- 
ited with  having  hit  upon  the  proper  in- 
itial letter  for  this  chapter,  without  hint 
from  the  author.  He  has,  among  other 
thingrs,  represented  the  "old  store,"  where 
^^.        ^^1^%  the  "stores"  for  the  Revolutionary  army 

were  received.  The  writer  was  informed,  years  ago,  by  the  old 
people,  whose  memory  reaches  back  as  far  as  the  revolutionary 
period,  tliat  they  had  often  seen,  during  those  momentous  years, 
long  rows  of  barrels,  filled  with  beef  and  pork,  reaching,  in 
multiplied  series  from  the  store  to  the  Episcopal  Church.  No  one 
thought  then  of  stealing  any  of  the  patriotic  supplies. 

The  statistics  which  follow,  are  simply  additional  to  those  com* 
mencing  on  page  Y66. 

COUNTY   COMMISSIONER. 

Josiah  G.  Minor,  from  1865  to  1871. 


SENATORS. 


Abraham  Beecher,  Bethlehem,  1855. 
Frederick  W.  Lathrop,  Roxbury,  1858. 
Joshua  Bird,  Bethlehem,  1859. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODRURY 


1579 


Elisha  Wheeler,  Southbury,  1863. 
Henry  W.  Peck,  Bethlehem,  1865. 
Daniel  Curtiss,  Woodbury,  1866. 
Earle  Buckingham,  Washington,  1867. 


SPEAKERS    OP   THE    FIOUSE    OP   REPRESENTATIVES. 


Capt.  John  Sherman,  1712-13. 
Charles  B.  Phelps,  1852. 


JUDGES    OP    PROBATE. 

Chosen.  Retired. 

Charles  B.  Phelps,                        Ap.  1850,  July  4,  1858. 

Lewis  Judd,                                      "     1858,  «     "1860. 

Thomas  Bull,                 •                   "    1860,  "     "  1861. 
James  Huntington,                          ''    1861. 

CLERKS    OP    PROBATE. 


Alonzo  N.  Lewis, 


Appointed  Jan.  5,  1858. 


Charles  B.  Phelps, 

u 

July  5,   1858. 

James  Huntington, 

i( 

July  9,   1859. 

Charles  Betts, 

ti 

Ap.  17,   1860. 

George  H.  Peck, 

(( 

July  11,   1861. 

Lucien  Parker, 

(; 

Mar.  17,   1865. 

Frederick  A.  Walker, 

<( 

Oct.   11,  1867. 

Arthur  D.  Warner, 

<; 

Ap.    13,  1869. 

TOWN   CLERKS. 

Chosen.                                Retired. 

Lewis  Judd, 

Oct. 

1852,                  Oct.    1858. 

Robert  Peck, 

Oct. 

1858,                  Oct.   1867. 

Willis  A.  Strong, 

Oct. 

1867. 

ROLL    OR   ] 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

1854         Truman  H.  .Judson, 

David  S.  Bull 

1855         Lewis  Judd, 

Truman  Minor, 

1856         Asahel  W.  Mitchell, 

Benjamin  Fabrique, 

1857         George  B.  Lewis, 

Elijah  D.  Judson, 

'  Judge  Pholps  having  become  disqualified  by  age  to  hold  the  ofiice,  Mr.  Judd, 
who  was  not  a  lawyer,  was  elected,  with  the  understanding  that  Judge  Phelps 
should  continue  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  oflSce  during  his  life,  which  he 
did. 

47 


1580  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

1858  David  H.  Curtiss,  Walker  S.  Seeley, 

1859  Anthony  C-  Strong,  David  C.  Bacon, 

1860  Charles  Millard,  Philo  M.  Trowbridge, 

1861  Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  Joseph  F.  Walker, 

1862  Charles  H.  Webb,  Willis  A.  Strong, 

1863  Benjamin  Fabrique,  Thomas  Root, 

1864  Timothy  C.  Bacon,  Benjamin  Fabrique, 

1865  Daniel  Curtiss,  John  Abernathy, 

1866  David  C.  Porter,  Henry  S.  Curtiss, 

1867  Nathaniel  Smith,  John  Churchill, 

1868  John  Churchill,  Horace  D.  Curtiss, 

1869  Edwin  Roberts,  Robert  Peck, 

18*70         Geo.  P.  Crane,   •  Joseph  T.  Capewell, 

1871  Walter  S.  Curtiss,  CHiarles  Isbell. 

1872  Charles  C.  Mitchell,  Nathan  Warner. 

LIST  OF  POSTMASTERS — (continucd) 

Appointed.  Retired. 

George  P.  Allen,             June,     1853,  July  1,  1861. 

William  E.  Woodruff,  July    1,  1861,  Ap.     1,  1867. 

Frederick  A.  Walker,     Ap.     1,1867,  Oct.  19,  1867. 

Stanley  E.  Beardsley,    Oct.  19,  1867,  Ap.  26,  1869. 
William  E.  Woodruff,   Ap.  26,  1869. 

LIST  OF  GOVERNORS — (continued,) 

Henry  Dutton,     -         -         -  from  1854  to  1855. 

William  T.  Minor,             -  from  1855  to  1857. 

Alexander  H.  Holley,            -  from  1857  to  1858. 

William  A.  Buckingham,  from  1858  to  1866. 

Joseph  R.  Hawley,           -  from  1866  to  1867. 

James  E.  English,         -        -  from  1867  to  1669. 

Marshall  Jewell,       -         -  from  1  €69  to  1870 

James  E.  English,         -         -  from  1870  to  1871. 

Marshall  Jewell,       -        -  frpm  1871  to 


WOODBURY  LISTS. 

1853 

$1,127,123 

1860 

$1,084,570 

1867 

$1,228,690 

1854 

1,141,541 

1861 

1,188,788 

i868 

1,267,691 

1855 

1,138,892 

1862 

1,170,479 

1869 

1,271,856 

1856 

1,127,011 

1863 

1,170,718 

1870 

1,248,858 

1857 

1,069,182 

1864 

1,200,795 

1871 

1,122,275 

1858 

1,055,544 

1865 

1,264,907 

1859 

1,079,121 

1866 

1,306,377 

HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


1581 


LIST  OF    WOODBURY    JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 


Silas  Chapin,  Robert  Peck, 

Garwood  H.  Atwood,  Reuben  J.  Allen, 
Nathaniel  Smith,         Henry  Dawson, 
Cornelius  J,  Minor,     Henry  H.  Peck, 


John  W.  Rogers, 
Wra.  C.  Botstbrd, 
Jas,  Huntington, 
Thomas  F.  Judson, 


Scovill  Nettletou,  Edward  J.  Hubbard,  Eli  Sperry, 

Benjamin  Fabrique,  Reuben  B.  Martin,      Jesse  B.  Burton, 

Joseph  T.  Capewell,  Truman  S.  Minor,        David  S  Bull. 

John  W.  Judson,  John  Churchill,  Willis  A.  Strong. 

REVOLUTIONARY  SOLDIERS — (Additional  List.) 


Avery,  Roger 
Alfred,  Samuel 
Atwood,  Elijah,  Jr. 
Averill,  Col.  Perry 
Brewster,  Morgan 
Barney,  Fred. 
Backus,  Electus 
Baker,  Jacob 
P.   779,    Prownson  ; 

should  Brownson 
Brownson,  Abraham 

Jr. 
Fields,  Geo. 

"  John 

Fielor,  Geo. 
Glazier,  John 
Green,  Freeman 
Gillis,  Abraham 
Gibbs,  Timothy 
Hinman,  Nathan 
Hill,  Billiams 


Hollister,  Preston  ; 
killed  on  the  expe- 
dition to  Canada. 
Hurlbut,  Asahel 
"       Zula 
"       Jubillia 
"       Aaron 
Judson,  Lt  Joseph  ; 
d.  of  small  pox,  26th 

Ap.  1777 
Kenick,  John 
Kid,  Jeremiah 
Lewis,  Ebenezer 
Leavenworth,  Lt.  Eb 
enezf^r ;    died    of 
small  pox   18  Mar. 
Linch,  Michael 

1778,  aged  44 
Long,  Robert 
Lincoln,  Patrick 
LibeVty,  James 
Minor,  Titus 
"      Elnathan 


Moody,  Gideon  W. 

Porter,  William 

Penny,  Joseph 
"      James 

Pierce,  Samuel 

Ramsdale,  Ezra 

Koot,  Ezekiel 

Rowe,  Abraham 

Stoddard ;    killed    at 

Sharp,  Peter 

the  battle  of  Ben- 
nington 

Seeley,  John, 

Tyler,  Levi 

Tiff,  Major 
"     John 

Ufford,  Job 

Walker,  Nathan 

Williamson,  Joseph 

Welier,  Benjamin 

Whittlesey,  killed  at 
the    massacre   of 
Wyoming. 


WASHINGTON    REPRESENTATIVES. 

A 


1854  Cyrus  E.  Sterling, 

1855  Guy  C.  Ford, 

1856  Powell  Hickox, 

1857  Geo.  W  Cogswell, 

1858  Garry  Newton, 


Rufus  Smith. 
Joel  Morehouse. 
Samuel  J.  Averill. 
Powell  Hickox. 
Geo.  C.  Hitchcock. 


1582 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBFBY. 


1859  Joseph  E.  Hatch, 

1860  Isaac  1),  Patterson, 
1661  Orestes  Hickox, 

1862  Joseph  Watson, 

1863  Seth  S.  Logan, 

1864  Seth  S.  Logan, 

1865  Romulus  W.  Ford, 

1866  Henry  J,  Church, 

1867  Wm.  Beardsley, 

1868  William  Odell, 

1869  John  B.  Newton, 

1870  S.  H.  Welton, 

1871  Joseph  N,  Frost, 

1872  •      Geo.  S.  Cogswell, 


George  K.  Logan. 
Robert  B.  Limburner. 
Sidney  H.  Lyman. 
Nelson  Ford. 
Charles  C.  Lemmon. 
Willington  Watson. 
Abel  Bristol. 
Levi  Morehouse. 
B.  P.  Beach, 
James  D.  Barton. 
Henry  S.  Wharton. 
Samuel  H.  Clark. 
Geo.  S.  Humphrey. 
Sherman  Piatt. 


WASHINGTON    PROBATE   JUDGES. 

Ithiel  Hickox,  1852  to  1855.         Henry  J.  Church,  1860  to  1868. 


Daniel  G.  Piatt,  1855  to  1857. 
Ithiel  Hickox,  1857  to  1860. 


J.  B.  Newton,  Jr.  1868  to  1870. 
H.  H.  Morehouse  from  1870  to 


SOUTHBURY    E 

iEPRESEl 

SfTATIVES. 

1854 

Ely  Pierce. 

1863 

Anthony  B,  Burritt. 

1856 

Elisha  Wheeler, 

1864 

Reuben  Pierce. 

1856 

William  Guthrie. 

1865 

Henry  W.  Scott. 

1857 

Charles  Hicock. 

1866 

Samuel  J.  Stoddard. 

1858 

Almon  B,  Downs. 

1867 

Wm.  T.  Gilbert, 

1859 

Anthony  B.  Burritt. 

1868 

Ely  Pierce. 

1860 

Ely  Pierce. 

1869 

John  C.  Wooster. 

1861 

Nathan  C.  Munson. 

1870 

Samuel  W.  Post. 

1862 

Almon  B.  Downs, 

1871 

Chas.  S.  Brown. 

1872 

Ezra  Pierce. 

BETHLEHEM    REPRESENTATIVES, 

1854 

Benjamin  T.  Lake. 

1863 

Marvin  S.  Todd. 

1855 

Wm.  A.  Hayes. 

1864 

Abraham  Beech er. 

1856 

Henry  Catlin, 

1865 

Edwin  L.  Thompson, 

1857 

Leonard  L.  Hotchkiss. 

1866 

Henry  Davis. 

1858 

L.  H.  Guild. 

1867 

Henry  J.  Martin. 

1859 

Sidney  Peck, 

1868 

Hen-  y  Catlin. 

1860 

Samuel  L.  Bloss. 

1869 

Marshall  E.  Beecher. 

1861 

Marvin  S.  Todd. 

1870 

Warren  H.  Taylor. 

1862 

Henry  W.  Peck. 

1871 

Gideon  D.  Crane. 

1872 

George  S.  Guild. 

HISTORY   OF   ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 


1583 


ROXBURY   REPRESENTATIVES. 


1854  Harvey  Thomas.  1863 

1855  Jonah  T.  Davidson.  1864 

1856  Charles  Barnes.  1865 

1857  Herraon  B.  Eastman.  1866 

1858  Ell  Sperry.  1367 

1859  David  Pierce.  1868 

1860  Charles  Beardsley.  1869 

1861  Geo  W.  Morris,  1870 

1862  Elliot  Beardsley.  1871 

1872 


Edwin  E.  Prindle. 
Albert  L.  Hodge. 
Albert  L.  Hodge. 
Henry  L.  Randall. 
Charles  Barnes. 
Geo.  A.  Northrop. 
Elliott  Beardsley. 
Chauncey  A.  Beers. 
C.  E.  Trowbridge. 
Cyrus  E.  Prindle. 


ROXBURY    JUDGES    OF    PROBATE. 

Myron  Downs,  from  1851  to  1857.  Herman  B.  Eastman,  1860  to 
Charles  Beardsley,    1857*"  1860. 

FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  ROLL  OF  MEMBERS — (continued.) 

Mary  J.  Summers,  "     " 

Lucy  A.  w.  of  D.  S.  Bull,  "     " 
Elvira  W.  Somers,  "     " 

,1857. 
Mary  J.  Gorman,  Jan.  4. 
Ellen  C.  Curtiss,  Jan.  4. 
Mary  C.  Ames,  March  1. 

1858. 
Pbebe  May,  Jan.  17. 
John  B.  Bunnell,  Jan.  17. 
Mary  Z.  w,  Henry  P.  Summers, 

Feb.  7. 
Mary  A.  Banks,  May  2. 

Cordelia  Curliss,  " 

Martha  Finley,  " 

Martha  J.  Hitchcock,        " 
Mary  E.  Minor,  " 

Susan  L.  Minor,  " 

Betsey  Orton,  " 

Margaret  L.  Strong,  " 

Perry  W.  Lake,  Sept.  5. 

Ammi  F.  Hull, 


1854. 

Maria,  w.  of  Nathaniel  Preston, 
Sept.  3. 

1855. 

Elizabeth,  w.  of  Rev.  R.  G.  Will- 
iams, Aug.  31. 

Merlin  Upson,  Sept.  27. 

Emily,  w.  of  Merlin  Upson,  Sept 
27. 

1856. 

Sarah,  w.  of  T.  M.  Thompson, 
March  2. 

Harriet  L.  w.  of  Jason  Barker, 
May  4. 

Aurelia,  w.  of  Henry  Lambert, 
May  4. 

Edward  Wliitlock,         May  4. 

Henry  A.  Lambert,  "     " 

Jason  Parker,  Sept.  7. 

Walter  Curtiss,  "     " 

Emily  A.  Curliss,  "     " 

Rebecca  J.  Hurlburt,        "     " 


1584 


HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBUKY 


1859. 

Deborah  Cad  well,  July  3. 

Dea.  Judson  Blackman,  Nov,  5. 

1860. 

Liicretia  M.  w.  of  Joseph  Sher- 
man, June  3. 

Adolphns  F.  Sherman,  June  3. 

Sahrina  F.    w.   of   Horatio  S. 
Thomas,  July  15. 

1861. 

Ira  Thomas,  Jan.  4. 

Betsey,  M.  w.  of  Ira  Thomas, 
Sept.  5. 

Christina,   w.   of Wentz, 

Sept.  8. 

Hortensia,   N.  w.  of  Elara   B. 
Burton,  Sept.  8. 

Clementine  S.  w.  of  John  Daw- 
son, Nov.  8. 

Sarina  R.  w.  of  Lewis  Dawson, 
Nov.  8. 

1862. 

George  C.  Bradley,  Jan  12. 

Sarah  M.  w.  of  Geo.  C.  Bradley, 
May  11. 

Jemima  E.  Young,    t    May  11. 

Maria,    wid.    of    John    Leaven- 
worth, May  11. 

Julia  E.  Benedict,         May  11. 

Emily  S.  Hull, 

P.  B.  Hulse,  July  3. 

Margaret  Stewart,  July  6. 

Mary  Young,  " 

Caroline  M.  w.  of  Barlow  Rus- 
sell, Sept.  1. 

Elizabeth  L.  w.  of  Rev.  W.  T. 
Bacon,  Sept,  1. 

1863. 
Sarah  Barnes, 

1865. 
Rebecca  T.  Bacon,  March  5. 
Nathaniel  Smith,  May  V. 
Helen  R.  Thomas,  Sept.  7. 

1866. 

Nathaniel  M.  Strong,  Jan.  V 
Mary  O.  Martin,  " 


Susan  R.  w.  of  Rev.  Charles  Lit- 
tle, March  2. 
Helen  L.  Sedgwick,  March  2. 
Sherman  Ford,      March  4 
John  Dawson  " 

Floyd  F.  Hitchcock;         " 
Geo.  M.  Lock  wood.        May  6. 
Sarah  M,  Hitchcock,  " 

Jane  Minor,  " 

Charlotte  Minor,  " 

1866. 

Emily  E.Hitehcock,  July  1. 

Harriet  Leonard,  " 

William  T.  Bacon,  Jr.  " 

Charles  K.  Smith,  " 

Charles  E.  Strong,  " 

Josephine  A.  Dawson,  " 

John  O.  Martin,  " 

Harriet  E.  Strong,  Sept.  6. 
Eliza  A.  w.  of  Floyd  F.  Hitch- 
cock, Sept.  6. 

Verenice  Munger,  Sept.  6, 

William  H.  Williams,  " 

Ehza  J.  w.  of  do.  '' 

1867. 

Charles  C.  Nettleton  Jan.  6. 
Sallie  R.  w  of  Chas.   C.  Nettle- 
ton,  Jan.  6. 

Ellen  F.  Minor,  May  6. 

Mary  Upson,  " 
Eunice  E.  w.  of  Walter  S.  Cur- 

tiss,  May  6. 
James  Tyler,  June  30. 

1868. 

Benjamin  S.  Russell,       May  3. 

Harmon  Warner,  " 

Delia,  w.  of  H.  Warner,      " 

Henrv  Bryan,  " 

Frederick  T.  Strong, 

John  H.  Minor  •' 

John  W.  Nichols, 

Horace  Minor,  " 

Geo.  M.  Allen, 

Elizabeth  T.  w.  of  Wm.  T  Ba- 
con, Jr.  May  3. 

Julia  S.  w.  of  Alfred  F.  Belts, 
May  3. 


niSTOEY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 


1585 


Katie  M.  Woodruft;         May  3. 
Harriet  M.  Drakeley,  *' 

Harriet  J,  Lemmon,  " 

Clarinda  w.  of  Horace  Hard,  " 
Augusta,  w.  of  Geo.   M.  Allen, 

July  5. 
Charlotte  H.  w.  of  Rev.  Horace 

Winslow,  Sept.  3. 
Mrs.  Fanny  R.  Pettibone,  Sept.  3 

1869. 
Lydia,    w.   of   Ebben  Wheeler, 

Jan.  3. 
Ellen  C.  Lathrop,  June  3. 

Edwin  M.  Betts,  " 

Harriet  F.  w.  of  Horace  D.  Cur- 

tiss,  Jan.  3. 
Julia  M.  wid.  of  Johnson, 

Oct.  8. 
Jennett  A.  Tuttle,  Oct  8. 
Agnes,  w.  of  Rev.  Gurdon  W. 

Noyes,  Dec.  31. 


Louisa  K.  Noyes,  Dec.  31. 
1870. 

Almira,wid.  of  Joseph  Brothwell, 
Jan.  2. 

Mary    Ann,    w.    of  Grandison 
Beardsley,  March  4. 

Silas  H.  Marray,  May  12. 

Sylvia  A.  w.  of  Silas  H.  Murray, 

•  'May  12 

Mr3.  M.  Gydes,  Dec.  20. 

Louisa  J.  w.  of  William  J.  Wells, 
Dec.  30. 

1871. 

Cai'rie  C,  Noyes,  May  7. 

Julia  A.  w.  of Hinraan,  " 

Charlotte  S.    w.  of  D.    S.    Lem- 
mon, July  2. 

1872. 

Lillian,   w.    of   John    Warner, 
Jan.  7. 

Frances  Julia  Curtiss,  Jan.  7. 


LIST    OF   THE    PRESENT    INHABITANTS    OF    WOODBURY. 

This  list  includes  all  those  who  were  living  when  Mr.  William 
A.  Gordon  took  the  census  of  the  town  for  Government  in  1870. 
The  census  of  1860  was  taken  by  Mr.  Lewis  B.  Candee,  when  the 
total  population  was  2,050.  The  families  are  grouped  togther, 
the  fathers  and  mothers,  first,  united  by  a  brace,  and  the  children 
in  the  order  of  their  birth  ?o  far  as  practicable.  The  writer  could 
not  always  tell  by  the  copy  furnished  if  the  regular  order  of  birth 
was  followed  or  not.     But  it   will  make  little  practical  difference. 


CENSUS  OF  WOODBURY,  1870. 

Whole  population  1884,  of  which  55  are  colored. 
A. 


Abbott,  Ezra 

"  Almira 

Abernethy,  W.  P 
"  Lucy, 

"  Susan, 

"  Arthur 

Allen,  Abner  ) 
"  Betsey  A.  f 
"  Minnie  C. 
•'       James  H. 


B. 


Allen,  Gilbert      ) 
"       Elizabeth  ) 
"       Harriet 
"       Ira 
"       Sarah 

George  P.  ) 
Julia  ) 

Wm.  H.      I 
Lovina  A.   f 


Allen,  George  M.  ) 

"  Augusta     j 

"  George  H. 

"  Catherine 

"  Ellen 

"  Jo.seph 

"  Almii'a 

"  George 


1586 


HISTORY     OF     ANC  lENT   W  O  ODBUR  Y. 


Allen,  Emily  U. 
"       Mary  J. 

"       Catherine 
"       Henry  M. 

"       Reuben  J. 

"       Chauncey 

Andrews,  Geo.  N. 

Anthony,  Samuel  | 
«        Sarah      \ 

Alvord,  Edwin      ) 
"       Supan  M.  \ 
"      Hattie  M 
"       Clark 

Atwater,  Laura  A. 

Atwood,  Abiram  A.  ) 
"  Catherine  M.  J 
"  Eugene  F. 
"  Ernest 


"  Garwood  H. 
*•  Henrietta  E 
"  Henrietta  E 
"  Elizabeth  H, 


:[ 


Atwood,  Elijah  ) 
"  Pamela   f 

"  Roderick  ) 

"  Althea      \ 
"  Edson  S. 

"  Mary 
"  Herbert 
«  Ella 

"  Noble      I 
"  Alma  E.  \ 
"  Susan  E. 
"  Nellie  M. 
'•  Dora  S. 
"  Lovell  N. 

"  John  A.    I 
"  Lydia  A.  \ 
"  Nancy 
"  Jason 

"  Frank  J. 

"  Chauncey  ) 
"  Martha  \ 
'*  Bernice 


"  Frederick  S. 
"  Sarah 


"  Burr  B 
"  Mary  C 
"  Elisha 


.[ 


Atwood,  Francis  A. 
"  Marilla  S. 
"  Ida 
"  Martha 
"  Burton 
"  Infant 

"  Nancy  M. 

"  Lewis  H.    ) 
"  Harriet       j" 
"  Alanson 
"  Alice 

"  Wheeler 

"  Louisa 
"  Burnett 

"  Horace  S.    ) 
"  Maria  H.     f 


.} 


"  Samuel 
"  LucindaC 
"  Maria  J 
"  ClorundaL. 
*'  Katie 


"  Preston      ) 
"  Electa  A.  j" 
"  Frederick  B. 
"  Erraina  F. 
"  Betsey 


B. 


Banks,  Lucinda 
"     Mary  A. 

Barnes,  Reuben  ) 
"       Naomi    \ 
"       Seraph 
"       Colton  R. 

Bull,  Thomas  ) 
"     Susan     J 
♦'     Elizabeth  A. 
"     Julia  A. 


Bull,  David  S,    ) 
"     Lucy  A.    \ 
"     Elizabeth  M. 
"     Thomas 
"     Emily 


lan  ) 
riet  f 


Botsford,  Heman 

"  Harri 

"  Carrie  O. 

"  Ferris 

"  Mary 

"  Lucy 

"  Philo 


Bacon,  David  C.      ) 

"  Susan  M  J.  j" 

"  John  ) 

"  Augusta    I" 

«  Timothy  C.   ) 

"  Catherine  S.  j 

"  Simeon  W.    ) 

"  Harriet  M.     j 

«  David  C. 

"  Esther  W. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


1587 


Bacon,  George  H. 

"      Sylvester  K.  j 
"      Zernira  L.      | 

"  Wm.  A.  ) 
«  Sylvia  i" 
"      Caroline  A. 

"      Wm.  H. 

Brothwell,  Alraira 
Win.  C. 
"  Joseph  J. 

Blake,  Emeline  C. 
"       Ruth  J. 

Blakesly,  Edgar 
"  Nelson 
"  Gilbert 
"  Betsey 
»         Ed-gar 

Beecher,  Harriet  L. 

Brophy,  Patrick 
"        Mary 
"        William 

Beardsley,  Grandison 
"  Mary  A. 

"  Stanley  E. 

"  Alice 

"  Everett 

Willis 


Betts,  Ralph  N. 

"  Anna 

"  James  S. 

"  David-      ) 

"  AnnaM.  j" 

"  Sarah  M. 

"  Charles ) 

"  Jane       \ 


IE.  ) 

.C.f 


Bradley,  Edward  E 

"  Adaline 

"  Robert  P 

"  Charles  S 

"  Jessie  P. 

"  Frank 

"  S.  N, 

"  Sarah  H. 

Bartram,  Polley 


"      Cornelia  J.         Bassett,  Samuel 


Brooks,  Wra. 

Bourt,  Hezekiah 

Barnard,  Hiram  H. 

Bartholomew  Netttie 
E. 

Briggs,  Rosamond 
'*       Daniel 


"      C.  Edward 
"      Frederick  W. 

"      Marcus  D. 
"      Elizabeth  E. 
"      Otis  W. 

"  Alfred  F.     ) 

"  Julia  S         f 

"  Walter  W. 

"  Edwin  M. 

"  Perry 

"  Harriet 

"  Jennie 

"  William 

Botsford,  Wm.  C.    ) 
"      Annette  j 

"      Charles      ) 
"      Cornelia     ) 

"      George 

Bradley,  Enos  L. 

"  Sarah  S. 

"  William 

"  James  B. 

"  Samuel  E. 

"  Amerdo  H. 

"  George  H. 

"  Franklin  N. 

"       Frederick 

"      Phineas  S. 
"       Sarah  S. 


Beoham,  Enos        | 
Emily  J.  j 

"  Bennett       ) 

"  Harriet  E.  \ 

"  Emma 

"  George 

"      George 

Benedict,  Abel      ) 
"         Eunice  i" 
■   "         Sophia  E. 
"         Edward  H. 
"         Julia  E. 


Birch,  Alfred 
"  Maria 
"       Martha  J. 

Burton,  Nathan  B,     ) 
"        Jennet  M.    f 
"       Ira  M, 
"       Frank  W. 


Elam  B. 
Hortensia  M 
Jesse  B. 
Adelaide  P 
Mary  E. 

Jesse  B.  ) 
Sarah  J.  j 
Wm.  B. 
Nathan  R. 


.[ 


1588 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


Burton,  John  W.  ) 
"  Helon  O.  f 
"       Edna  G. 

"       Joseph      ) 
"       Meliss       \ 

Brownson,  Rob'i  S.  ) 
Emma  G.  \ 

Bodycut,   Thomas    ) 

Jane  [ 

"         Georgiana 

Baker,  Philip 

Bishop,  Leman 

"       Edward  N".     ) 
"       Henrietta        ) 

"       Riley  ) 

"      Elizabeth,    \ 
"       Elma  H. 


Bassett,  George 
"         Susan  M. 

Frank  C. 

Ella  L. 
"         Hermie 

Bryan,  Frank  P. 
„         Henry 

Bolster,  Levi      ) 
"      Mercie  \ 
"     Mercie  H. 
"     Nancy  C. 

Bolks,  Fred 
"       Berns 
"       Sarah  H. 
"       Henry  J. 

Broas,  Sarah 
"       Henry  D. 

Bailey,  William 
"  Mary  J. 
»      Ella  M. 


*♦       Noah      ) 
"       Abigail  [ 

Bristol,  Hannah  M. 

Bidwell,  Mary  B. 

Boughton,  John 
"         Dotha  A. 
Abby  M, 

Bunnell,  Sabra 

"       Watson  A, 


)  Blackman,  George    ) 

f 

Annette      f 

(( 

Maria  P. 

u 

Augusta 

(( 

Lillie  E. 

(( 

Nathan'l   B. 

(( 

Brewster  J, 

il 

Flora  A. 

n 

Julia 

(( 

John  E.       ) 

a 

Harriet  S.    \ 

a 

Augusta 

ii 

Ad  die 

n 

Samuel 

li 

William 

"       Maria  Bates,  Calvin 

"       Emeline  M. 

"       Wm.  R. 

"       Edwin  C. 

"       Robert  W. 

"       George  W. 

»       Julia^A. 

"       Elden 

"       Frederick 
)  Buckingham,  Nels'n 
\  '«       Hannah  B. 

"       Lewis 


Baldwin,  Horace  C.  ) 

"  Elizabeth  D  [ 

"  Lydia  L. 

"  Eunice 

"  Samuel  ) 

"  ICunice  ) 

"  Nancy 


"  Henry  ) 

"  Mary    j 

'•  Nettie 

"  Jane 

"  Henry 

"  Carrie 

"  Lacy 

Blackman,  Chas.  A. 

"  Lucinda 

"  Harriet 

'*  Charles 


Bennett,  Geo.  D.  ) 
"  Lucinda  F.  J 
"       Charles 

"       Betsey  A. 
Bell,  Thomas 
"     William 

Barto,  Marshall      ) 

"  Charlotte    \ 

"  Charles 

"  George 

"  Dora" 

"  Charles,  Jr. 

"  Ella 

"  Chauncey    ) 

)      "  Julia  j 

j      "  Wm.  H. 

"  Willis  L. 

"  Emma  J. 

"  Nettie 
Boylan,  Michael     ) 

"         Catharine  J 

"         Bartholomew 

"         Michael 

"         John 

"         Margaret 
Peter 

"        Nettie 

Buell,  Frederick 
"       Sarah  A. 


HISTORY      OP      ANCIENT      WOODBURY.          lo 

Buell, 

P''rancis 

Brown, 

George 
Hannah 

Barnes,  John  M. 

i( 

William 

t( 

Leslie  S 

(C 

Lillie 

(( 

Mary  A. 

Carrie  G. 
Martha  E. 

Bonsy 

,  Orra           ) 
Roxana     f 

Breckinridge,  Charles 

Albert 

(( 

(( 

Louisa  N. 

"         Frederick 

<( 

Ona  L. 

a 

Arthur  J. 

(( 

Clarinda 

"         Frank  H. 

<( 

Nellie 

Barnes, 

Vincent  W.  ) 
CaroUne         \ 

"         Lydia  B. 

it 

"         Charles 

Curtiss,  Haniel     ) 

Curtiss, 

c. 

Elizabeth  L. 

Castle,  Bethel  S.  1 
"     Fanny  C.  1 

(( 

Julia  F.  f 

« 

Emily  A. 

i( 

Benjamin  S, ) 
Marsha  J,     j 

i( 

Ellen  C. 

i( 

"  ChaunceyN. 

(( 

Edward  J. 

ii. 

Charles  S. 

"  Sarah  A. 

(( 

Frances 

a 

Jennie  W. 

"  Chauncey  J. 

(( 

P-]lizabeth 

li 

Benjamin  Jr. 

Clark,  Charles,  Jr. 

(( 

Walter  S. 

\      " 

Elnathan 

"     Emma, 

(( 

Eunice  E. 

"     Amos  E. 

(( 

Daniel  A. 

Capewell,  George  A.  [ 

"     Harriet 

i( 

Harriet  A. ) 

(( 

Horace  D. 

1     " 

Seymour  L. 

"     Silas     ) 
"     Laura  ) 

(( 

Harriet  A. 

John 

i( 

Horace  A. 

(( 

Harriet 

"     Sarah  P. 

(( 

Frank 

"     Wm.  J. 

(( 
(( 

.lames  G. 
JcnnetteM, 

[     " 

George  D, ) 
Mary  E.    j" 

"     Policy 

(( 

Henry  S, 

(( 

"     Sila 

(( 

Anna 

"     Susan  B. 

(i 

James  G.  J 

r. 

Joseph  T.  1 
Sarah          j     < 

(( 

Nellie  E. 

« 

Drane,  Betsey 

(( 

Flora, 

(i 

Ellen 

it 

Walter  J. 

(1 

Walter  S. 

"       George  P.  J 
"       Cordelia  S.  | 

(( 

David      1 
Edna  E.f 

Churchill,  John        | 

"       Henry  R. 

(i 

n 

Caroline  j 

"       George  H, 

<i 

Willie, 

11 

Harriet  C. 

t( 

Caroline 

11, 

Nathan  P. 

"       Stephen  H.  1 
"       Emma  B.     j 

(1 

Catharine 

Cothren 

,  William  » 
Mary  J.    j 

"       Horace 

(( 

Jane 

(( 

(t 

Mary  M. 

a 

Mary  Belle    Candee,  Betsey  E. 

"      Frank  B. 

It 

John   \ 
Maria  \ 

Cogswell,  VVm.  C. 

it 

(( 

Maria  J. 

"       Abigail 

(( 

Mary  A. 

"       Edward  D. 

1590 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


Candee,  Harry     | 
"      Eliza  O.  I 

Camp,  George     ( 
"       Margaret  ) 

Cramer,  John  \ 
"  Roxy  i" 
"      Everton  R. 

Conlan,  Thomas     | 
*'       Catherine  j" 


Comber,  James  I 

"  Mary  ) 

"  James 

"  William 

"  Thomas 

"  Margaret 

"  Catherine 

"  Sarah 

"  Emma 

"  William 

"  Thomas 


Cadwell,  Deborah        Cosier,  Mary  E. 


"       Walter 
Cued,  Albert 
Conner,  Catherine 
Corning,  Mary 

Chapman,  Albert  W.  i 
"         Ellen  J,     I 
"         William 
**         Annie 

CoUety,  James 
"      Catherine 
"      James,  Jr. 

Chamberlain,  Fileno 

Cartright,  Orson        j 
"  Margaret! 


Cozier,  Charles   I 
"      Mary       f 
"      Lillie 
"      Edwin 
"      Eugene 
*'      Margaret 

Carpenter,  Isabella 

\  "  Enos  L. 
"  Jane  L. 
«         Egbert  L. 

Carr,  George     I 
"     Margaret  I 
"     Geo.  F. 
"     Mary  E. 
"     Lucy  B. 


D. 


Carroll,  Patrick  ( 

"  Marv      * 

"  John 

"  Hannah, 

"  Margaret 

"  Ellen 

"  Patrick 

"  Deimis 

"  Martha 

"  Infant 

Cady,  Erastus 
"      Emily 
"     Jennie 

Callender,  Levi         | 
"  Sarah  M.  J 

«'  Alice  G. 

"  Susan  M. 

Canfield  Robert  A.  I 
"       Rachel       i" 

Cowles,  David      I 
"      EllaM.  ) 

"      Oliver       J 
"      Phebe  M.  f 

"  E'lvvard  I 
«  Esther  A,  I 
"     Julia  H. 

"  Eugene  A. 
"     Caroline  L. 


Drakeley,  Louisa 
"         Robert  J 


Downs,  Calvin  H. 

"       Minerva  A. 

"       Julia  E. 
Olive 

"      Millicent 
Laura  M. 

Harriet  M.  Dawson,  Henry  ) 
Lucius  "       Sarah   j 

Holiister  "       Catherine 

Jane 

George  "       William   ) 

"       Mary  P.  ) 


r 


awson,  Alice 
Emma 


John 
Clementine 

Frank        ) 
Ellizabeth  j 
Car  lie 
Nancy 
Louis 


Dawson 

,  John  P.  ) 
Jane        ) 

Dascura,  Charles 

Doran  John 

(( 

(I 

John 

"         George 

} 

Dayton,  William      ) 

t( 

Josejjhine 

"         Emma 

"      Mary  Jane  J 

"         Annie 

"     M.iry  A. 

DeForest,  Marcus 

"     Lillie  C. 

(t 

George     ) 
Mary  A.    j 

«'         Charles  E. 

"     Carrie  A. 

(( 

"         Almira 

"     Howard  C. 

(( 

George  A. 

Dewes,  William 

Dickerson,  Frank 

u 

James  B.  ) 
Mary         ) 

(( 

"     Hannah 

Deming,  Sarah 

'•     Nellie  L. 

(( 

Mary 

Douglas,  Levi  S. 

} 

Ditter,  Mary 

(( 

John  H. 

"       Sarah  A. 

Diamond,  Bridget 

(k 

Almira 

"       Hattie 

(( 

Frederick 

Doolittle,  Betsey 

(( 

Estelle 

Davis,  Marguerite 

DeWolf,  Geo.  W. 

11 

Win.  C.   ) 
Julia  M.  j" 

Dunee,  Thomas 

'         Sarah 

<( 

" 

Sarah  J. 

Doulan,  Margaret 

"       Georgiana 

(1 

Helen 

F. 

"       Lillie 

Forbes. 

,  Loren     | 
Harriet  f 

"     Charles 

Fisher,  Josephine 

n 

"     Lillie 

ii 

Mary  W. 
William 

"     Infant 

Fairclough,  Th©mas 

Fabrique,  Benjamin, 

Fox,  Julia  W. 

"    Philo  ) 

"    Aseiiath         \ 

Fardough,  Levina 
'  Thomas 

"  Joseph  P. 

Flowers,  George 

Fowler,  William  ) 
"  Martha  E.  \ 
"     Ellen 


Harmon    ") 
Hannah    ) 


"     Hannah 
"     Mvra 
"     Richard 


"     John  J.    ) 
"     Martha   f 


Jay 
Fileno 


"     Charles   ) 
"     Fannie    \ 


"     Susan 


Fanning,  Michsel   > 
"        Ann         ) 
"        Margaret 
"        James 
"        Mary 
"        Ellen 

Frost,  Alonzo  C.   [ 
"      Sarah  f 

French,  Julia 

Ford,  Frank  R. 
"  Addie  B. 
"      Infant 

"      Frederick  F. 


1592  HISTORY     or     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 

a. 


Gordon,  Alexandei 

Gibson,  Esther 

Galpin,  Infant 

"       Maria  H. 

(C 

Ellis 

"       Alexandei 

It 

Julia 

"     Charles  L 

"       Julia  M. 

"     Susan  A, 

"       Geo.  C, 

u 

Fred.  W.  > 
Eliza         ) 

"     George  L, 

"       Edwin  S, 

u 

"     Leslie 

(( 

Asahel  B. 

"     Lillie 

»      William  A 

■[ 

u 

Mary  J. 

"     Charles 

Sarah  E. 

u 

Eliza  A. 

'*     Minnie 

"       Carrie  M. 

"       Susan  C. 

Galpin,  Patty 

"     Julia 

u 

Cyrus 

Garroty,  Ellen 

Gleason,  James     [ 
"       Mary       f 

"       John  P. 

U 

Daniel  B.    ) 
Eliza  H.      \ 

(( 

"       Catherine 

Green,  J  Mines 

ii 

Martha 

"       Mary 

"       Fanny  S. 

Gyde,  Alfred 

a 

Thomas  C.    ) 
Sarah  J.        f 

"      Mrs  M. 

Gee,  John 

a 

"    Thomas 

i( 

Wellington 

Gorman,  Michael    ) 
"       Ann           j 

"    Joseph 

'•    Henry 

i( 

Stephen  F.   ) 

"       James 

"    Julia  G. 

u 

Sarah             ) 

"    Rnssell  0. 

u 

Hanford  J. 

Geeder  Adolphus 

Gilman,  Binjamin 

\ 

(t 

Sarah  A. 

Geer,  Henry      ) 
"     Mary  D.     j" 

"       Fannie 

"       AVilliam  W. 

a 

Mary 

"     Julia 

"      Benjamin 

T. 

(I 

Sarah  E. 

Goodsell,  Chas.  M. 

Gibson,  Asahel  R. 

[ 

(( 

Lorenzo 

"     Eliza 

i( 

William 

Griswold,  Dotha 

"     WilterH, 

"     Catherine 

(t 

Julius  H. 

Gillett,  Mary 

»     V.  illiam 

« 

Anna  S. 

(I 

Ellen  E. 
H. 

Glazier,  Hannah 

Hotchkiss,  Kliz.  M. 

Ilurd, 

Marcus  A.  ) 
Eunice  M.  \ 

Hurd,  Sally 

(( 

"     L  'onard  L. 

[ 

u 

Eva  J. 

"     Albert  D.  ) 
"     Mary  E.     j" 

"     Louisa  M, 

(( 

Minnie  C. 

"     Hdbbard  A 

"     Grace  L. 

(( 

Truman 

"     Anna 

Hard,  Ho' ice      ) 

"    CiiiiMda   i" 

,, 

Albert  S. 

"     Minnie  J. 

(( 

Asahel  T. 

«    Frederick  S 

<( 

Harriet  C. 

Hurd,  Sarah 
"     Elliot 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Hogan,  Henry  Hatch,  Mark 

"     Josie 


1593 


Hitchcock,  George 

"  Jane  A. 

"  Margaret  J 

"  Emily  E. 

"  Howard  L. 

"  Susan  M. 

"  Julia 

"  Mary  C. 


"  Floyd  F.  I 
"  Eliza  A.  j 
"       Charlotte 

Hail,  John  T.  ) 
"  Harriet  f 
"     John  S. 

"     Charles 
Hylan,  John  ) 

"         Catherine     ) 
"         William 
"         Thomas  F. 

Harrison,  Mary 

Higgins,  Ed  ward  ) 
"  Mary  ) 
"  Catherine 
"       Richard  T. 

HoUister,  Seth  ) 
"  Wealthy  R.j 
"     Lora 

"     Julia 

Hogan,  John 
"     Johanna 
"     Ellen 


Isbell,  Sally 

"       Charles 
'*       Harriet  J. 


Harvey,  Robert    ) 
"       Louisa    ) 
"       Charles  M. 
"       Caroline  F. 
"       George  W. 
"       Remus  F. 

Harwood,  Andrew 

Hart,  Charles     | 
"     Lucy         \ 

Harrison,  Sarah  J. 

Hoyt,  John  R.  ) 

'*      Caroline  ) 
"      Wm.  N. 
"      Clara  E. 
"      John  H. 

Hubbard  Cyrus 

Hard,  Lucius  } 
"  Lucinda  [ 
'      Lydia  A. 

Hill,  Emma 
"    Charles 

Hayes,   Jeriel 

John  S. 


"        Emily     J 

Howe,  Sarah 

Houston,  Martha 

Holmes,  Miles  ) 
"  Lucinda  \ 
"      Mary 


homas  ) 
lora      ) 


Ephrainj 
Eliza  J. 
Plenry  N, 
Mary  L. 


"         Hezekiah  C. 

"         Susan 

I. 

Isbell,  Willard  A. 
"       Irene 


Holdworth,  Thomas 
Fl( 
"  Ella 

"  Charles 

"  George 

"  Frederick 

Hazen,  Catherine 

"  Eliazur 

"  Sarah 

"  Charles  H. 

"  Minnie 

Hurlbut,  Seth 

Hull,  Bradford  J. 
"     Catherine 

"  Ammi  F.  ) 
"  Augusta  M.  f 
•'     Wriliam  P. 

"     John 

Hennessey,  Mary 
Charles 
Otta 
Pau 

Hodges  Mary  B. 


Isbell,  George    ) 
"       Mary        j" 


1504 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY, 


Isbell, 


Jared  S. 
Polly  A. 
Betsey  L. 


Isbell,  George  L. 

"       William  S. 
"       Mary  P. 


Isbell,  Mary  S. 
"        Ernest  L. 


Judson,  George  N. 

"  Caroline  E. 

'♦  Margaret  C. 

'«  Susan  L. 

"  Sarah  M. 

"  Roderick  B. 

"  Sarah  A. 

"  Carrie  M. 

"  Tracey  B. 

"  Ackerman  E. 

'*  Margaret 

.      "  Sally 

"  Silas  C. 

"  John  W.   ) 

"  Betsey  T.  f 

"  Nellie  M. 

"  Fletcher  W. 

*'  Hermon  W. 

"  Eliza  J. 

*'  Emma 

"  Charles 

♦'  Frank 


Judson,  Ida 

"  Burton 

"  Polley  L. 

"  Henry  C. 

»  Ralph  N. 

"  Willis  W. 

"  Mary  M. 

"     Albert  N. 
"     Harriet 

Jones,  Robert    ) 
"      Eliza        [ 
"     Sarah 
"     Harvey 

"     Charles 

"     Royal  D. 
"     Eniily 
Susan 


1  Ju 


dson,  Elijah  D. 
Minerva  F. 
Vincent  D. 
Isabel  C. 


Judson,  Olive  C. 

"       Henry     j 
"       Nancy     [ 

"       Noah, 
"       Ruth  P. 

"       Theodore  ) 
"      Julia  M.    \ 

"       Martha  E. 
"       Frank 

Nathan  S,) 
"       Flora  A.    | 

"       Truman  H.  ) 
"       Sarah  P.      f 

Jeffrey  Henry  L. 

Jabut  Samuel, 

Judd,  Emily. 


K. 


Kirtland,  Chas.  W.   )  Knowles,  David  W 


Elizabeth  j 


Cur  ranee 
E.lith 
Leman  B 


l\ 


Knox,  Anson  S.    , 
"       Sarah  A.     ' 
"       George  A. 
"       Frederick 


Lambert,  Willys  Lambert,  Hnry  ' 

"       Charlotte  M.         "       Aurelia 


Maria  J. 


Margaret  E. 
'^^harles 


Linsley,  Mary 

"  James  H 

"  Harriet  M 

'«  Sarah  M 

"  Wilbur 


.} 


HISTORY 

Linsley,  Wilbur  C. 

Lounsbury,  Luc's  J.  ) 
Esther    f 
"  Harriet 

"  Franklin 

I^emmon,  Daniel  S.  ) 
"  Charlotte  ]" 

Charles 


OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


1595 


Lathrop,  Gcorire     }     Lewi^,  George  B.      ) 
"     ""^  '     '  "     Charlotte  L.   f 


Emily  J.   f 
Ellen  C. 


Edwin  S. 

Leavenworth,  Alma 
"  x\lmira 


"       Erastus  ) 
"       Fanny     ) 

Leach,  Alva  ) 

"  Betsey  A.   j" 


Alva  A, 
Lucy  A 


"     Daniel  E. 
"     Sarah 


Minor,  Judaon 

"  Erastus 

"  Melinda 

"  Susan 

"  Jane 

"  Horace 

"  Charlotte 

''  Maria 

"  William 

"  Josiah  G. 

"  Mary 


Henry  ) 
Air,  ha    \ 
Miry  J. 
Emily  L. 
Julia  B. 

Frederick  M, 
Samantha  C. 
Ellen  F. 
Seth 

Sarah 

Wesley    ) 
DoraE.  [ 


M. 

Minor,  Nellie 

"  Charles  D. 

"  Lillie  A. 

"  Wm.  E. 

<•  Howard  S. 


larles  J.   ) 
larissaT.]" 


Charles  J. 
Ch 
David  S. 


"  Harriet 

"  Truman  S.  | 

"  Margaret     j 

"  Arthur  T. 

"  Altlica 

"  Solomon  B. 

"  Frances  A. 

'  Fannie  J. 

"  Jesse 

"  Cornelius  J. 

"  Mary 

"  Fanny 

"  Albert 

48 


"     Betsey 

"     John 

"     Emma 
"     Flora 

Agur  B. 

Luddington,  Anna 

Lomber,  Chester 

Lavou,  Lydia 


Mitchell,  Charles  C.  ) 
Louisa  M.  ) 

"      Wallace 

"      William 
"       Ellen 

"      Asahel  W 
"       Harriet  S 
"      Asahel  W.Jr 

Martin,  Mar    Ann 
"       Caroline  E. 
"      MarvO. 
"       llarriet  E. 
"       John  (). 
"      Frederick  S. 


"  R  uben  B.  ) 

"  Susan  W.    f 

"  Susan  W.  Jr. 

"  Wm.  B. 

Markham,  Sylvia  A.    I 
"        Alvira  M.  f 
''         SvlvanusA. 
jr. 
Wm.  W. 
Elvira  J. 
"         Julia 


1596 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 


Monroe,  Admir  H.  )    McKay,  Carrie  Maxfield,  William     ) 

"       Susan         f  "       Infant  "         Rosetta    j" 


"     Chauncey  J. (Millard,  Charles ) 
"     Mary  j  "      Abigail) 

"     Susan  "      Charles  A. 

"      Sophia 
"      Emma  E. 


Marshall,  Julia 
"         Julia  P. 

*'        Jerusha 

Mimson,  Reuben 

"       Charles      t 
"       Charlotte  j" 

"       John  N. 

'•      Abner 

Morriss,  Ann 

"      Jerusha 

"       Hobart  H.  ) 
Sarah  M.    j 


Mansfield,  Chas.  M. 

•'  Alma 

"  George 

"  Nancy 

'♦  Nellie 

"  Infant 

"  Ann 


"        Emma  J. 

Munger,  Nelson  B.  } 
"  Abigail  f 
"       Nathan  B. 

"       Abram 

Mallory,  Fannie 

"       Willis  J. 

Manvill,  Henry 
"       Horace 


Maher,  Patrick 
argaret 
iam 
"     James 


McCaffrey,  Nancy 
David  S, 
Eliza  M. 
Serino  P. 
Walter  E. 
Ralph 

Wilbur  D.    McDivit,  Abigail 
Isabella  E. 

Murray,  Silas  H.    ) 


Munn,  Nathaniel 
Polly 
"         Myron  B. 


Frank  )         "     Marga 

Sophronia  f        "     Willif 
"     James 

Miramble,  John 


Mary 
Kate 

McKay,  Wm.  C.       )  "         Caroline  j 

"       Rosamond  j 
"       Ann  Eliza      Manchester,  Alice 


Wm.  H. 

Sarah 


Mack,  Ellen 


Sylvia  A. 
"      Eva  M. 
"     Lula  A. 
"     Ida  J. 

Miller,  Mary 
"       Eliza    J. 
"       Maria 
"       John 
"       Rosanna 
"       Joseph 


N. 


Nichols,  Philander   (  Nichols,  Florence  H.  Nichols,  Edward  F. 

"     Esther  E. 
"     Edward 


Philander   ) 
Philinda      i 
"     Martha  J. 


"  John  W  ) 
"  Mary  M.  ) 
"     Clara  M. 


"     Edward 
"     Matthew 


"     Charles 


HISTORY     OP      ANCIE  XT  WO  OD  BUR  Y  .  \oQl 

Noyes,  Gurdon  W.  )  Noyes,  Mary  Nettleton,  Auc^usta 

"       Agnes  f        '♦       Charles  J. 

"       Louisa  K 


Carrie  G.        Northrup,  F.  B.    ^  i 
Herbert  L.  "         ^'^^ea 


«*      Edward  M. 


Sarah  C. 


"  Jernsha 

"  Sarah 

"  Nancy 

"  Lanison 

Agnes  L..        Nettleton,  Eugusta  E-  "  John 

Sarah  B.  "  Scovill 

HezekiahC.  |  "         Mary  J.        Norton,  Omar  E. 

Harriet         ) 

Sarah  M.         Nettleton,  Chas.  C.    ) 
Sally  R.     \ 

O. 


Mai-garet  H.  f 
"      Fred.  A. 


Orton,  Truman      ) 
"       Martha  M.  \ 

'«       Fred.  C. 

"       Betsey 

"       Sarah 

Osborn,  James  M. 
"         Nellie 
"         Frederick  M, 

"         Benjamin 

•'         Al  mon     } 
"         Salina      f 


Osborn,  Juliette 
"         Newell 

"         Charles 


Oelsmar,  Gustavus 
Oakley  Loretta 
Oliver,  Adeline     | 


William  ) 

>( 

Emma      j 

Mary  0.  j 

John  M. 

Osbea 

,  Jeremiah  ) 

a 

Catherine  j 

Lucinda 

ii 

John 

a 

Edward 

Aaron  > 

Polly    j- 

(( 

Mary 

Sidney  E. 

Frances 

u 

Constantine 

Lucy 

Daniel 

(< 

Jeremiah 

Preston,  James 
"       Eliza 

"       Wm.  L. 

Palford,  Verona 
Page,  Mary  B. 


Purdy,  Daniel 
"      p:ilen 
*'      Fannie 


Pierson,  Wm. 

Ponell,  Betsey 
"      Walter 


Peck,  Caroline 

Patterson,  Samuel 
"  Harriot 

Mary  K. 

Wm.  B. 
"         Mary 

Peck,  Johnson  A. 


"     Isnac 
"     Anna 


Nancy  M. 


Peck,  Henry  H.  , 
''  Abigail  j 
"     Frank  B. 


"     Albert  C 
"     Grace  A 


:} 


Parmelee,  Edwin  S.  \ 

"  Mai-y         ) 

"  Jennie 

"  Harriet 

•'  Mary,  Jr, 

"  Bruce  L. 

"  Martha  J. 


1598 


HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


Parmelee,  Fanny  A.    Potter,  Charles 


Parker,  Daniel  S. 

"         Eunice 
"  Helen 

"         Jason 

'•        Harriet  S.    f 

"         Orley  M.  ) 
"        Maria  A.  j 
"         Catherine  M. 
"         Elizabeth  M, 
"         Edwin  P. 
Sally 

"         James  E. 

Porter,  David  C. 
"       Mary  E. 

Potter,  Edwin   ) 
"         Annis    f 
"         Frank 
"         William 


Quick,  Michael 
•'  Bridget 
"  Mary  E, 
"       Julia  E. 


Rogers,  John  J. 
"     Jerusha 

liodniau,  James  [ 
"  Lucy  ) 
'         James  D. 

Root,  Thomas) 

-    Polly    ; 

"      Homer  A. 

Robinson, Lewis  W. 
"     Ruth  Ella 
"     Infant 


Bela  ) 

Rhoda       J 
"        Alice 

Partree,  Robert  C. 

"  Sarah  J. 

"  Mary  J. 

"  Frederick 

"  Samnel 

"  Julia 

"  Homer 

Proctor,  Alza 

"    Nathani'lC. 
"     Elizabeth 
"     Geo,  N. 


Perkins,  John 

Percy,  Chas.  PL 
"        Mary  A. 


"      Clement 
"      Louisa 


3nt  ) 
a     \ 


Quid 


Q. 

,  Michael 
Thomas 
William 
Anna  M. 

E. 


"■  Harriet  J. 

"  Julia  E. 

"  Samuel  B. 

"  George  W. 

Post  Edgar 

Pangman,  Susan 

Pierce,  Nathan  j 

'\      Susan  E.         j 

"       Susan  Esther 

"       Mary  D. 

Peet,  Eli  S.  ) 

"     Abigail  L.  J 
"     Harriet  E. 
"     Julia  A. 


Pitt  John 
"  An 


m  ) 


Quick,  William 
"  Bridget 
"       Anna 


Rolinson  Rodney  G  ) 
"       Maria  j 

"       Carrie 

Randall,  Robert  T.  ) 

"    Henrietta W.  f 
"     Columbus  W. 

Reynolds,  Betsey 

Wm.  H. 

Russell,  Barlow 
"       Caroline 


Russell,  Benjamin  S. 
«'      Sarah  H. 
"     Dwight  B. 
"     Stiles  C. 

"  John  B.  ) 
"  Anna  M,  ) 
"      Infant 

Roswell,  John       } 
"       Eraeline  ) 
"       Mary  E. 
"       George  E. 
"      Sarah  E, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     \A'OODBURY 


1599 


Koswell,  Emory  J.  )  Richards,  Mavcena 
"       T.anva  ]■  "      John  T. 

"      Charles 


Laura 
Lottie 


Kichards,  Wm.  G,    )  Reeder,  John 
"      CelestiaM.  \ 

Roberts,  Edwin  ) 
"  Jane  A.  \ 
"     Nellie 


Electa 
William 
Mary 
D  wight 
Edith 


"     Frederick 


Roberts,  James     ) 
"     Maria  A.  \ 
"     Ella  M. 
"     William  J. 
"     Sarah  J. 
"     Charles  H. 

Rowley,  Chas.  M. 
"      Margaret  L. 

Riggs,  Fred 


Sherman,  Cyrus 
"         Mary 


S. 

Seeley,  Florence  A. 
"      Mary  A. 


Seymour,  Mary 
Bennet  A.  ) 
Emily  M.   \  Strong,  Stoddard 


"  John 

"  Roger 

"  Joseph  R 

"  Lucretia  M 


I,) 
Lf 


Stoddard,  Cyrus  A.  ) 

"  Maria  H.  f 

"  Wealthy  A, 

"  George  A. 

"  Eliza 

"  Charles 

"  Martin  ) 

"  Eliza     \ 

"  Edward  C.  ) 

"  Ellen  S.       j 

Seeley,  Walker  S.     ) 

"  Mary  A.        J 

"  Delia 

"  Eliza  M. 

"  Martha  J. 


"  Solomon 

»  Eliza 

"  Seth 

"  Harriet  A. 

"  Anthony  C  ) 

"  Julia  f 

"  Willis  A. 

"  Fred  T, 

"  Isaac  ) 

"  Maria  S.     f 

'*  Nathaniel  L.  ) 

"  Mary  B.  j" 

"  Nathaniel  M. 

"  Flora 

"  William 

"  Charles  P.       ) 

"  Elizabeth  A.   ) 

"  Charles  E. 


Seeley,  Eli 
''      Mary 


Sherwood,  Henry 

Short,  Jonathan 

Sanford,  Spencer  B.  ) 
"       Adeline  J.  ) 
"       Frank  S. 
"       Ellen  L, 
"       Edith  J. 

Satchwell,  Charles  ) 
"  Mary      J 

"         Elizabeth 
"         Ellen 

Stewart,  Margaret 
"       William 
"       Henry 
"       Celia 

Schaffer,  Adam  } 
"  Henrieta  J 
"       Wm.  H. 

Senior,  Arthur 
"  Charles 

"         Catherine 
"         Clarence 

"        Emma 


1600 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 


Smith,  Nathaniel  B. 

"  Mary  Ann  W. 

"  Nathaniel     } 

"  Emily  G.      f 

"  Mary 

"  Dudley 

'*  Cornelia 

"  William  P. 

"  Charles  K. 

'*  Lyman      ) 

"  Caroline  ) 

"  Sarah  E. 

"  Minnie  A. 

"  Moses  C. 

"  Charlotte 

"  Frederick  A. 

"  Samantha 

"  Alonzo  A. 

"  Fanny  L. 

"  Frank  B. 

"  Sarah  R. 

"  Mark 

"  Marcus  D.  ) 

"  C^'arlotte    j" 

♦'  Herbert  B. 

''  Frank 

"  Mary  J. 

"  Percy  L.  ) 

"  Sarah  A.  j" 

"  Henry  C. 

"  Horatio  N,  ) 

"  Ellen  M.      \ 

"  Elijah  F. 

"  George  F. 

"  Elizabeth  R. 

"  Willie 

"  Charles 


)  Smith,  George  G.   ) 
i"      "      Betsey  A.     j" 

"      Mary  E. 

"      Julia 

"      George  S. 
"     Cornelia 

Scovill,  Sydney  ) 
"  Lucretia  M.  j" 
"         Margaret 

William 
"  Edward 
"         Alice 

Walter 
"         Emma 
"         Anna 
"         William 
"        Mary  Eliza 


Shelton,  Wm.  N 
"      Frances 
"     Millie  A, 


'8    I 


Stone,  Abernethy  B, 
"      Frances  A. 
"     Ella  M. 
"     Nettie  P. 


James  S. 
Cai'oline 
Mary  E. 
Nellie  L. 
Fanny  M, 
Ursula 


Stevens,  John  M.      ) 
"      Antoinette  ) 
"      Justus  N. 
"      John  J. 

Scott,  Samuel  B,   ) 
"      Mary  E.       j 
«      Mary  E. 
"      Ida  M. 

Stocks,  Wm. 

Sperry,  Eli 
"         Marilla  L. 
"         Anna  J. 


Sperry,  Anna  A. 
Alfred  B. 
Frank  D. 
Chauncy  P. 
Emily  M. 

Summers,  Eli         ) 
"        Amelia  f 

"         Henry  P.  > 
Mary  Z.    j" 

Shelden ) 
Mary      f 

"  George  M.    / 

"  ParthenaE.  f 

"  Abby  G. 

."  John  E. 

"  Auer 

*'     Nancy 

"  David  C.     I 

"  Minerva  B.  | 

"  Marion  D. 

"  David  L. 

Skelley,  Miehael  F.  ) 

"  Esther  J 

"  John  P. 

"  Edwin  T. 

"  Mai-y  A. 

"  George  M. 

"  Hugh  T. 

Salmon,  John  \ 
"  Augusta  ) 
"      Henry  A, 

Saxton,  George      ) 
"     Caroline    J 

"  Sereno      ) 

"  Julia  A.    \ 

"  Lawrence 

"  Elizabeth 

Squires  Jo.  W.         \ 
"       Elizabeth  P-i 
"       Eliza 
"       Harriet  E. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT    WOODBURY. 


1601 


Terrill,  Daniel       > 

"  Lucy  E.    j 

"  Anna 

"  Catherine 

"  Margaret  A. 

"  Caroline 

"  Susan  a  E. 

"  Laura  W. 

'^  Catharine  C 

"  Ellen  A. 

"  Bartlett 

"  Nathan 

"  George  D. 

"  Mary, 

"  Charles  T. 

"  George 

"  Nathan  S. 

"  Cornelia  S. 

"  Mary  B. 

"  Martha  F, 

"  Dolly 

"  Eli  B.        ) 

"  Esther  J.  \ 

'*  Andrew 

"  Harriet 

"  Henry 

"  Lillie 

Tomlinson,  Jennette 
"  Homer  S, 

Tyler,  Josephine 

"  George  ) 
"  Maria  A.  \ 
"      Mary 

"      Charles 
*'      James 
"      Harriet 

"      Mary 

Tierney,  Andrew 


T. 

Trowbridge,  Edm'd  I  Thomas,  Nelson 
"       ^Esther  L.  f 
"         Fanny  C. 


Philo  M. 
"       Sarah  E.  A. 

Turney,  Abel  ) 

I        "         Sarah  A.   f 

Teeple,  George  L. 

"      Ophelia 
Town,  Mary  T. 

"       EliM  ) 
"       Mary    \ 

Tuttle,  Wm.  R.     ) 
I      "       Sarah  E.     f 
\     "       Polly 
"       David 


Martha  P. 
Marvin  E. 


Almira    ) 
George 
"       Martin 
"       Emily 
«       Julia 
"       Flora 
"       Elizabeth 
"       William 
"       Mary 
"       Herbert 

Tabor,  Daniel    > 
"     Fanny     ) 

Tucker,  Charles  ) 
"  Harriet  ) 
"         Edwin 

Treat,  Bryan  A.  ) 
"       Sarah        f 
"       Charles  C. 
"       Emma  A. 
"       Stephen  A. 


"       Caroline  Todd,  Dwight      ) 

"       Abby  G.    \ 
Thomas,  Ira 

"       Betsey  M.  "       Robert  S. 

HortensiaM  Thompson,  Tho.M.  ) 


Sabrina  F. 
Sherman  L. 

James  R. ) 

Margaret  > 

William 

Edward 

Alice 

Walter 

Berlin  ) 
Polly    [ 
Frank 
Janet 


Sarah 

"  Ellen 

"  James  ) 

"  Laura    [ 

"  Susan 

"  Mary  E. 

"  F   re  A. 

"  Celia  E. 

"  Augusta 

"  Lewis  L. 


1602 

HISTORY 

OF 

ANCIENT     WOODBUEY. 

Thompson,  Wm. 

P. 

■ 

Tayloi 

■,  William  S.    [  Taylor 
Sally              f       " 

,  Sidney  F. 

a 

Mary  J. 

u 

Daniel 

(( 

Maria  J, 

ii 

Hester  Ann          " 

Arthur 

« 

Charles  T. 

Frederick 

<( 

Fred.  W. 

(I 

Charles     ) 
Finetta     \            " 

. 

ti 

Clifford 

<( 

Lewis 

(( 

Ellen 

Harriet  A, 

(( 

Francis 

(1 

Esther                   " 

Wm  H. 

(( 

Sarah  A. 

a 

Edwin                   " 
Walter                 " 

Isabella 
Bernard 

tC 

Eliza  A. 

Emogene              *' 

Daniel  S.  ) 
Mary  J.    f 

Martha 

Ida 

» 

t( 

Carrie  J. 

(( 

(( 

Frank  D. 

4 


Taylor,  Immogene 


Upson,  Merlin ") 
"      Emily  I 


AValker,  Josph  F. 
"       Esther  R. 
"       Wra.  B. 


U. 

Upson,  Mary  C. 

W. 

)  Ward,  Thomas 


Frederick  A 
Fanny 
Harriet  C. 
Mary  M.  C- 

Nancy 

Edward 


Catherine  M, 
Henry 

Ellen 

Charles  N.    i 
Mary  i 

Wallace 

James         ) 
Eliza  I 

Ann  E. 


*'       Louisa 


Woodward,  Charles  I 

"         Maria  L.    )  Wheeler,  Ebenezer 


"         Charles  A. 
"         Andrew  J. 

Whittlesey,  Deming ) 
Huldah      j 
»         Chas-  T. 
•♦         Wilson  D. 

Ward,  John  T.) 
«       Mary  B.  j 


"  •  Harriet  E.  ^ 

"  Truman  E.  ) 

"  Ann  S.         f 

"  Sarah 

Woodruff,  Wm.  E.  ) 

"  Laura  S.  ) 

"  Catherine  M. 


Roderick  S 
Clara 


)   Warner,  Nathan      [ 

)  "  Jennette  M  \ 

"  Antoinette  H. 

"  Catherine  M, 

"  Morgan  F. 

"  Leonittie 

"  Clarence 

"  Sylvia  S. 

"  John  I 

"  Lillian         J 

"  George  B. 

I  «  Frank  P. 

"  Martha  N. 

[  "  Samuel  N.    > 

"  Sarah  Jane  j 

"  Anna  M. 

"  Elizabeth 

"  Elijah  B    ) 

"  Betsey  E.  f 


•[ 


niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


1603 


Warner,  Betsey  M.      Wheaton,  Sheldon  S.  (_  Welton,  Harriet 
•      Lillie  "         Jane 

"     Cora  "         Nellie 


Warner,  Sylvanus  A.  I^gll  William  J. 

ArthehaA.f       u  Louise  J. 

"  Carrie  J. 

"  Willie 


Harriet  M 
Elizabeth  A. 
William  N. 
Laura  J. 
Bertha  J 


"       Arthur  B. 

Wheeler,  Eben      > 
"       Lydia     | 
"       Lula 
"       John 
"       Jennie 

"       Bennet 
Woodworth,  George 


Young,  Jemima 


Y. 


i         "       Janet 
Way,  Isaac, 


Webb,  Charles  H.  ) 
"  Jennette  M.  j 
"      Caroline  L. 

Whitney,  Cornelia 

Wiltshire,  Charles 
Sarah 
"  Harriet 

Wooster,  John  B, 
Esther 


"     Fred.  A. 

Winton,  Czar      ) 
"       Ellen     \ 
"       Lillie 
"      Julia 
"       Frank 

Wilsey,  Ambrose  H.  | 

"  Harriet  L.     f 

"  William  E. 

"  Elsie 

"  Lucy 

"  Spencer 

"  Emeline 


Cam,  William 

"  Susan 

"  Hiram 

"  Hiram  Jr. 

"  Mary 

"  Martha 

"  Reuben 

"  Marshall  ) 

"  Amelia     j" 

"  Edward 

Cam,  Charles 

"  Betsey  Ann 

"  George 

*'  Emeline 


COLORED    PERSONS. 

Cam,  Mary  Jan 6 

"     Anna 

Chatfield,  George 

"         Charles     ) 
"         Mariette  f 

•'         Walter 
"         John 
Infant 
Chatfield,  liobert 

"         Charles,  Jr, 
"         Nathaniel 
"         William 


Freeman,  Roderick 
John 

Crosby  B.  [ 
"  IL'uinah  f 
"         Willis 

Walter 
"  Morriss 
"  Merritt 
"         Roderick 

Freeman,  William  C 
"         Elizabeth 
"         Edward  B. 
"         Harriet 


1604 


HISTORY     OP      ANCIEJfT     WOODBURY 


Hawley, 

Aaron 

\ 

Freeman,  Charles 

Jackson 

,  Adaline 

(( 

Ellis 

"         Aaron 

ii 

Julia 

"         Elizabeth 

u 

Mary  A. 

(C 

George 

"         Anna 

t( 

Andrew 

"         William 

Nichols, 

Edward 

u 

Orrin 

\ 

Freeman,  George 

Phillips, 

,  Leman 

C( 

Mary  A. 

(( 

Chloe 

(( 

John 

Jackson,  Julia 

(( 

Edward 

Freeman 

1,  Ella 

"       Henry  F.  ) 

a 

Harriet 

"      Eliza         i 

A..ppEnsrDix. 

A  few  articles  and  items  which  reached  the  author  too  late  for 
insertion  in  their  appropriate  places,  are  here  appended,  together 
with  a  table  of  errata. 

COLTON  FAMILY. 

[Additions.] 

The  name  of  Charles  Colton,  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  s.  of  Jo- 
seph Sen.,  appears  on  p.  1480.  He  ra.  1st,  Mary  Grant.  They  had 
one  child  ;  Homer  Grant.  She  d.  in  1835,  and  her  child  about  two 
months  later,  aged  two  months.  He  m.  2d  Ruth  Winship.  Chil- 
dren :  1.  Clarence  TF.,  b.  Dec.  29, 1839.  He  has  been  an  instructor 
of  youth  for  q-uite  a  number  of  years,  and  was,  for  about  a  yeai^ 
assistant  Principal  of  the  Parker  Academy,  Woodbury.  He  is  now 
preparing  for  the  ministry  at  tlie  Berkeley  Divinity  School  at  Mid- 
dletown.  Conn.  2.  Henry  K.,  b.  June  28,  1843.  He  m.  the  widow 
of  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Spartansburg,  S.  C,  about  a  year  and 
a  half  ago,  and  has  one  dau.  3.  Charles  R.,  b.  March  27,  1845. 
Now  resides  in  Germany. 


CURTISS  FAMILY. 

[Corrections.] 

The  description  of  the  "  coat  of  arms  "  of  this  family,  as  used 
in  this  country,  is  not  correctly  described  on  pages  531  and  1488. 
The  true  description  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Azure  a  fess  dancettee  between  three  crowns,  or — 

Crest — A  lion  in  his  proper  colors,  issuing  forth  of  his  colors  or 
and  azure,  supporting  in  his  right  paw  a  shield  azure,  thereon  a 
fess  dancettee  or,  mantled  gules,  doubled  argent. 

Motto — Saepere  aude. 


1606  HISTORY      OF      ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Page  1489,  Line  12,  "1713"  should  read  "1704.  Same  page. 
18th  line,  "1832"  should  read  "1823."  Same  page,  line  11  from 
the  bottom,  "July  10th"  should  read  "  Feb.  4th."  Page  1490, 
line  23,  "  Eugenia  "  should  read  "  Eunice." 


HON.  DAVID  F.  HOLLISTEK. 

Mr.  Hollister  was  born  in  Washington,  Conn.,  March  31,  1826. 
He  fitted  for  College  under  the  instruction  of  William  Cothren,  in 
Woodbury,  entered  Yale  College,  and  graduated  in  1851.  He 
immediately  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Mr.  Cothren's  office, 
was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  County  Bar  in  1862,  and  immedi- 
ately opened  an  office  at  Salisbury,  Conn.,  where  he  practiced  for 
a  time  with  good  success.  But  seeing  a  more  inviting  field  at 
Bridgeport,  he  removed  thither,  where  he  still  resides,  in  the  full 
practice  of  his  profession.  Soon  after  he  settled  at  Bridgeport,  he 
was  elected  Judge  of  Probate  for  that  District,  which  office  he 
held  for  several  years.  Upon  the  passage  of  the  U.  S.  Internal 
Revenue  law,  he  was  appointed  Collector  of  the^  4th  Collection 
District  of  the  State,  which  office  he  still  continues  to  fill. 


REV.  ALONZO  NORTON  LEWIS,  A.M.* 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  Sept.  3, 1831,  and  fit- 
ted for  College  in  Farniington,  at  the  celebrated  school  taught  by 
Dea.  Simeon  L.  Hart.  He  was  educated  at  Yale  College,  and  also 
studied  Law  at  the  Law  School  of  that  Institution.  He  was  succes- 
sively Principal  of  the  Litchfield  Academy,  New  Hartford  High 
School,  Naugatuck  High  School,  and  for  six  years  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools  and  Principal  of  the  High  School  in  the  City  of  Wa- 
terbury.  He  completed  his  Law  studies  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Charles  B.  Phelps,  and  was  admitted  to  tlie  Bar  in  Litchfield,  Oct. 
7,  18»V.  In  1858  he  went  South,  where  he  became  Principal  of 
the  Blind  Department  of  the  N.  C.  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb,  and  the  Blind,  in  Raleigh.  Just  before  the  tide  of  Seces- 
sion swept  over  the  South,  he  returned  to  Conn.,  where  he  again 
engaged   in  Teaching,  and  in  the  study  of  Theology.     April  14, 

*  Received  too  late  for  insertion  in  proper  place. 


> 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  1607 

I 

1866,  he  was  ordained  Deacon,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury, 
and  Priest  in  St.  John's  Church,  North  Haven,  March  7,  1868. 
From  1866  to  1870,  he  was  minister  and  Rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Bethlehem,  and  Principal  of  the  Parker  Academy,  in  Woodbury, 
a  Boarding  School  for  Boys.  1870  to  1872,  he  was  Rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Messiah,  Dexter,  Maine.  He  now  (1872)  resides 
in  New  Haven,  where  he  is  temporarily  engaged  in  literary  pur- 
suits. 

POETICAL  ADDRESS* 

TO    THE    RETURNED  SOLDIERS,  AT  TOWN  HALL,  WOODBURY,  WEDNES- 
DAY   EVENING,  AUG.  16,   1865, 


BY  ALONZO  NORTON   LEWIS. 
»-«-» 

King  Solomon,  known  as  tlie  wisest  of  men, 
Found  "  three  tilings,"  nay  "four,"  too  deep  for  his  ken. 
Without  stopping:  to  name  them,  (you  know  what  tliey  were,) 
There  is  one  thing,  to-night,  I  can't  g6t  thro'  my  hair ! 
It  is  this  :  why  a  man,  without  laurels  and  scars 
Was  chosen  to  welcome  you  home  from  the  wars. 
(Or  rather  receive,  in  behalf  of  the  fair 
These  guests,  who,  to-night,  are  our  pris'ners  of  war.) 
It  should  have  been  one,  who,  in  Freedom's  dread  van, 
Has  stood  up  at  the  front,  and  not  "  sent  a  man  !  " 
It  should  have  heen  one,  who,  in  Battle's  fierce  ire 
Himself  has  received  the  baptism  of  fire  ! 
Such  an  one  am  not  1 : — the  rod's  peaceful  whack, 
Not  the  cannon's  d'^ep  boom  and  rifle's  shrill  crack, 
Has  rung  on  my  ear  thro'  the  four  weary  years 
That  have  shrouded  the  Nation  in  mourning  and  tears  I 
To  "  teach  young  ideas,"  not  soldiers,  to  "  shoot," 
Has  been  my  employ — I  ought,  then,  to  be  mute. 
While  you,  whose  grim  faces  are  bronzed  by  the  sun 
Of  the  South,  where  battles  and  forts  have  been  won, 
Describe  what  you've  seen — tell  what  you  have  done  ! 

But  why  was  /chosen  to  welcome  you  here 

To  all  these  fair  faces,  to  all  this  good  cheer  ? 

I  have  it — 'tis  this!  Since  the  sex  men  call  "  weak," 

In  public,  by  Paul,  are  forbidden  to  speak. 

They  have  hit  upon  me,  not  for  my  heroism. 

But  because,  when  you  went,  I — staid  at  home  with  'em ! 

*  An  extract  from  this  Address  was  given  on  p.  1286.    By  request  we  give 
it  entire  in  the  Appendix. 


1608  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    W  O  O  DB  TJRY. 

4 

I  envy  you,  soldiers,  your  welcome  to-niglit ; — 

Fair  cheeks  have  grown  fairer ;  eyes  dimmed  have  grown  bright 

At  your  coming — yes !  one  and  all  welcome  you  here, 

And  would  (if  'twere  proper,)  most  heartily  cheer 

In  tlie  midst  of  my  speech — 7iot  at  what  I'm  reciting, 

But  for  you — your  bold  deeds — your  marching,  and  fighting  ; 

Of  which  we,  your  admirers,  are  proud,  and  delight  in  ! 

Yes !  soldiers — brave  veterans  of  "  Company  I ; " 

I  dare  to  assert,  (what  none  can  deny,) 

Of  all  the  battalions  that  rushed  to  the  fray, 

There  were  none  that  knew  better  to  fight  and  obey, 

There  were  none  that  loved  better  the  Battle's  dread  noise, 

Than  the  "  Second  " — especially  Woodbury  Boys  ! 

'Tis  well,  on  a  festive  occasion  like  this 

To  tliink  of  the  loved  ones  whose  faces  we  miss. 

Black  bonnets  and  dresses  are  worn  here  to-night 

For  those  who  went  in,  bnt  came  not  from  the  fight ! 

Tall  pine-trees  are  rustling,  magnolias  wave 

Over  many  a  hero  and  soldier-boy's  grave  ! 

From  the  "  Father  of  Waters  "  to  Potomac's  strand, 

Ay  !  down  to  the  banks  of  the  far  Rio  Grande, 

The  soil  of  the  South  is  dotted  with  graves 

Of  nameless,  yet  noble  and  canonized  braves  ! 

0  Liberty  !  throned  in  thy  temple  on  high, 

Say — is  it  not  sweet  for  one's  country  to  die  1* 

Say — PoLLYf  and  Orton:j: — (if  spirits  can  hear,) 

Was  the  gift  that  ye  laid  on  the  Altar,  too  dear  ? 

Is  a  land  like  our  own  snatched  from  ruin's  abyss 

No  joy  to  your  souls  in  the  region  of  bliss  ? 

And  say,  0  Columbia  !  canst  thou  forget 

Till  the  sun  in  the  West  forever  shall  set. 

The  brave  "boys  in  blue"  who  fell  in  the  strife 

Where  a  Nation  in  arms  was  struggling  for  life  ? 

No !  Justice  forbids  it — a  thousand  times  No ! 

While  grass  shall  grow  green,  and  water  shall  flow, 

We'll  cherish,  brave  martyrs,  your  glorious  names, 

And  your  story  shall  ever  be  Freedom's  and  Fame's  ! 

*  "  Dulce  et  decorom  est  pro  patria  mori !  " 

f  Died  at  Alexandria. 

I  Died  of  wounds  received  at  the  Battle  of  Winchester. 


HISTORY      OP      A  X  C  [  E  X  T      AV  O  O  H  R  U  R  Y  .  1  GOO 

The  following  lines,  recited  by  Rev.  Wni.  T.  Bacon,  editor  ot 
the  Derby  Transcript,  at  the  dedication  of  th<^  Soldier's  Monu- 
ment, Sept.  ISVl,  were  received  too  late  to  appear  in  the  appro- 
priate place : 


At  my  desk,  'mid  a.  pother  of  things  of  all  kinds, 
Democratic,  Republican,  all  sorts  of  minds  ; 
Books,  papers,  types,  devils,  all  the  people  are  muss'd  with, 
And  everything  else  that  an  editor's  curs'd  with — 
Came  this  note  from  your  President,  reading —  ' '  So,  so, 
Mr.  Poet,  we  want  you  to  '  hoe  out  a  row  ! '  " 

"  To  hoe  out  a  row  " — in  this  beautiful  place  ?— 
These  vallies,  these  hills,  all  this  grandeur  and  grace  ? 
This  sky  looking  down  here,  as  no  where  on  earth  ? — 
And  all  the  swift  thoughts  that  the  picture  gives  forth  V — 
To  hoe  out  a  row  here  1  Methinks,  then  t'were  well 
It  be  well  hoe'd.     How  well  hoe'd,  that  others  must  tell. 

To  "  hoe  out  a  row  ?  "  Methinks  some  here  have  stood, 

And  "  hoe'd  out  a  row,"  where  the  harvest  was  Uood  ! 

Clouds  gather,  war  thunders,  the  fife-wake  and  drum, 

And  pale — quivering  lips  whisper  "  foe,"  and  "  they  come  ; " 

The  onset,  the  grapple,  the  shout,  and  the  yell, 

The  rattle  of  cannon  and  scream  of  the  shell ; 

And  all  the  mad  hell  of  such  horrible  fray — 

Stop,  boys,  we'll  not  dwell  on  such  theme  here  to  day. 

But  we'll  speak  of  their  memories  softened  by  time, 
We'll  speak  of  our  brave,  and  for  them  weave  the  rhyme  ; 
Of  those  brows,  glory  wreath'd,  where  light  never  shall  fade, 
But  shine  on,  like  the  stars,  on  that  flag  they  obeyed 

Ah,  the  mother's  fond  thought  of  her  long-absent  boy, 
The  father's  proud  hope,  and  the  young  maiden's  joy  ; 
The  picture  she  bears  througli  the  wearisome  day. 
And  her  dream,  through  the  night,  of  her  lad  far  away. 
O,  how  hallow'd  that  image  that  memory  keeps. 
Of  her  Jt£ro,  she  thinks  of  with  pride  ichile  she  weeps ! 


1610 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 


When  History  shall  write  of  those  names,  which,  like  stars, 
Shine  oat  on  the  world  from  its  holiest  wars ; 
When  a  just  fame  shall  trumpet  their  memories  forth, 
Who  have  lived,  and  have  died,  as  the  salt  of  the  earth  ; 
Then  our  dead  shall  be  treasured  on  scroll  and  in  lay. 
Till  earth's  last  sun  has  set,  and  the  stars  fade  away ! 


[Fern  Rock  at  Nonnewaug  Palls.] 


INDEX    OF   NAMES. 


A. 
Abenietliy,    Doct.    Roswell, 

345,  m>,  479. 
Abernetliy,  J.  J..  466,  477. 
Allen  Family,  1469.    - 
Allen,  Gen.  Ethan,    183,   273, 

412,  506. 
Allen,  Col.  Ira,  475. 
Ambler  Family,  501. 
Andrew,   Kev.    Samuel   R., 

305,  466,  478,  1354. 
Anilrew.    Samuel    W.,  Esq., 

466,  478. 
Andrew,  Cliarlotte  R.,  1075. 
Andrews,  Dr.  Sam.  A..  466. 
Androsp,  Sir  Edmoiul,  76. 
Atwood  Family,  490,  1471. 
"       Dr.  Jonathan,  66.35, 
466,  490. 
Atwood,  Rev.  Anson  S.,  466, 
477,  495. 
1  Atwood.    Dr.    Garwood    H., 
323,  m.  466,  477,  499,  597. 
Atwood,  i).  S.,  Esq.,  495. 
"        Curtiss,  477. 
Henrv  C,  466. 
Burr  B.,  1281, 1390. 
At  water,  Rev.  Jason,  1400. 
AverillFajuly,  484. 

"        Auguslin,  Esq.,  487. 

B. 

Bacon  Family,  516,  1471. 
Jabez.  351. 
"      Daniel,  Esq.,  328,  427. 
Uacon,  Rev.  AVin.  T.,  354,  466. 
477,  518,  965,  969,  1019,  1046, 
1609. 
Backus,  Rev.  Azel,  253,  478, 

466.  ■ 

Backus  Fred  P.,  477. 
Babbitt,  Rev.  P.  T.,  292,  467, 

478. 
Baker  Famu-y",  .502. 

Reuieniber,  156. 

'■        Capt.  Kemeinber,  183, 

273,  427,  1471. 
Baker,  LaFayette  C,  1373. 
Battell  FAMTL-t,  .508. 
Baldwin,  Dr.  N.  C,  467. 

Rev.  Wm.,  467,  478. 
Bankf^,  Rev.  Geo.  W.,  1404. 
Bellamy  Family'.  507. 

Rev.    Joseph,   241, 

245.  249,  467,  478,  1059. 
Bellamy,  Jonathan,  Esq.,  467, 

474. 
Bellamy,  Hon.  Joseph  H.,  355, 

467,  477. 

Bellamy,  Rev.  David,  568. 


Bei\edict,  Rev.  Noah. 301,. 303, 

466,  1033. 

Benedict,  Hon.  Noah  B..  306, 

357,  466,  478.  486. 
Benedict.  Col  Thus.,  46(i. 

Bennett,  M,D..  475. 
Beaumont,  Petre,  165. 
Bee  rs  FAMiLy.  513. 

"     Hon.  S.  P.,  426,  466,  973, 

1423. 
Beers,   Zechariah,   286,   3.59, 

466. 
Bedient,  Dr.  Butler,  74,  466. 
Beecher,  Rev.  J.  W.  598. 
Berry,  Rev.  J.  D.,  297,  467. 
Bishop,  Dr.  Reuben.  466. 
Bis.sell,  Dr.  G.  G.,  4(iT,  479. 
Blakeley'  Family,  .504. 
BlakeSley,  Sanniiis,  E^q.,  466. 
Blakeirian,  Dr.  W.  N.,  467. 

"  Rev.  Adam,  903. 

Botsfprd,  Chas.,  M.D.,  466. 
Boardman,  Rev  Dan.,  105. 

Rev.  Charles  A. ,270, 

466. 
Booth  Famu.t,'.508,  1474. 

Henry,  Esq.,  467,  477. 

"        Harvey  M.,  468. 
Bostwick,  Hon.  Isaac  \V..467. 
Bradley,  Maj.  James  M.,  1276. 

Edward  E..  1392. 
Brinsmade  Family,  511, 1474. 
Rev.   Daniel.   262, 

467,  478. 

Brinsmade,  Zechariah,  166. 
Hon.  Daniel  N., 

322,  354,  467,  476. 
Brinsmade,  \Vm.  B..  477. 
Bronson  Family,  504. 

Dr.  Abraham,  137. 
'•       Rev.  Tillotson,  291, 

467,  478,  732. 
Biownson,  Dr.  Ira  Y.,  467. 

Dr. .  467. 

Brown,  Rev.  Garret  G.,  467, 

477. 
Brown,  Garret  G.,  1422. 
Browiiell,  Rev.  Grove  L.,  314, 

467,  478. 
BuciviNGiiAM  Family,  1472. 
Bull  Family-,  511. 

•*      Dea.  Samuel,  78 

"      IMaj.  Thomas,   187,  204, 
'    207,  466. 
Bull,  Hon.  Thomas,  467. 

"    Rev.  Edniond  C,    292, 

467. 
Burhans,   Rev.    Daniel,    292, 

467. 
Burnham,  Maj.  Walter,  12.37. 

4'J 


BuRKiTT  Family,  510. 

Dr.  Anthony,  358, 

467. 
Burritt,  Dr.  Anthony  B.,  359. 

467. 
Bulkley,  Rev.  Peter,  120. 
Buttertiekl,   Rev.  O.  B..    236. 

466. 
Bushnell,  Rev.   Horace,  467, 

478. 
Bushnell,  Rev.    George,  467. 
Butler  Family,  1473. 

C. 
Calhoun,  Rev.  Geo.  A.,  467. 
'•        Rev.  Henry,  467. 
"        Dr.   John.    187,  363. 
467. 
Campfield,   Rev.  Robert  B., 

271,  468.  . 
Camp,  Rev.  Joseph,  467,  476. 
Canfield  Family,  529,  1490. 
"  Rev.  Thomas,  276, 

280,  467,  476,  478. 
Canfield.  Orlando,  477. 
Castle  Family,  528.  1486. 

Dr.  Silas,  467. 
Catlin,  Dr.  Conant,  361,   467 

479. 
Catlin,  Dr.  Lyman,  467,  479 

"        Dr.  Wm.   C,  467,  479. 
Capewell  Family,  1475. 
Cazier,  Kev.  Matthias,  467. 
Chittenden,  Fred.,  Esq.,  467. 
Churchill,  Kev.  John.  315  467 

479,  1020,  1067. 
Chitrch  Family'.  526. 

"      Hon.    Samuel,    475, 
527. 
Church,  Hon.  John  R.,  4T5. 
"        Leman,  Esq.,  475. 
"       Nathaniel,  527. 
Clark,  Rev.  Daniel  A.,  230,  467 
"      Rev.  John.  467, 
"      Rev.  Jehu,  467. 
"      Amos,  187. 
"      Dr.  Ileman,  467 
"      Geo.  H.,  982. 
Chauncey,  Rev.  Israel,  32  33 

129,  124,  133. 
Cheravoy,  Philemon,  165. 
Cheesbrough,  Dr.  R.  M.,  467. 
Cochrane  Family,  519. 1482. 
Wm.  Sen.,  521. 
"  Wm.  Jr.,  .521. 

"  Samuel,  ,525. 

OOLTON  Family-,  1478.  1605. 
Rev.  Willis   8.  1062. 
140T. 
Cothren,  David.  523. 


I.VDKX    OF    X.\>rKS. 


Cothreu,  Cipt.  Win.,  5-io. 

William.  E-^q.,  ;«y. 
:MS,  :«.».  34'i,  341,  3()1,  478, 
479,  .')-i4.  058,  9H0,  973,  1011, 
1037,  1040.  104i,  1048,  138:i, 
1284,  12ST.  1294,  1300,  1308 
1348,  1305.  1374,  1335,  1420, 
1446. 
Cotnren,  Hon.  M.  M.,  525. 
Couch,  Re\.  Paul,    250,  467, 

478. 
Cogswell,  Wm.,  E<q.,  467. 

Yvcd.  W.,   467,  473. 
Covell,  Rev.  J.  S.,  297,  468.  . 
Cotton,  Rev.  Josiali,  478. 
Coxe,  Rev.  Richiird.  292.  468. 
Crane  Family.  1483. 
Crane,  Dr.  Rob't,  467.  4.9. 

Dr.  Joel,  468.  ^ 
Crafts  Family,  526.  1476. 

"        Gen.  ChaiuK-ey,  527. 
CuKTiss  Fabuly,    5:J1,   1486, 

1605. 
Curtiss,  Capt.  Wm.,  35,  60. 
'^      AgU! ,  187. 
'^      Lt.  Israel,  61,  77. 119. 
'•      Rev.  Luciu.*,  306,  323, 
4(57,  479.  131(). 
Ciirtlss,  i!on.  Daniel,  1398. 
Curtis,  Hon.   Holbrook,  534, 

543. 
Curtis,  Wm.  E.,  Esq.,  .5:J4. 
Chapman.  Hon.  Asa,  515,  6(i7. 
Hon.  Charles,  515, 
667,  978,  1423. 
Cramer,  Moll,  159,  i:i81. 

D. 
Da\ies.  Rev.   Thomas,  293, 

395,  433.  468,  4:5. 
Da  vies.  Thomas,  J.,  468. 
••     Prof.  Chas.  J.,  468. 
'•     John,  468. 
'■'     Dr.  Thomas,  468. 
Day,  Rev.  Jeremiah.  270,  468, 

478, 
Day,  Rev.  Jeremiah,   D.D., 

270,  429.  4(56.  468. 
Day,  Thomas,  LL.D.,  270,  4:i0, 

468,  476. 
Day,.  Tut.  Mills,  468,  476. 
"    Prof.  Henry  N..  468,  477. 
■■    Charles,  477. 
Downs.  Dr.  Myron,  468. 
David,  282. 
"■        Captain  Ebenezer. 
174,  187. 
Doolittle.  Benjamin,  1007. 
Dean.  Rev.  Oliver  S.,  1413. 
Dowtlney,  Rev.    John,  292, 
■     297,  4()8. 
Davidson,  Rev.  David  B.,  468, 

478. 
Dffoiest,  Dr.  Marcus,  Jr.,  468. 
Dundonald,  Earl  of,  .520. 
Duiinin:;,  Capt.  Elis,  476. 
Duttoii.  Hon.  Henry,  988. 
'•     Lt.  Henry  M..  1311. 

l>n.\KELEY  F.VMri.Y,  539. 

Dutchers,  HulofT,  158. 
Deforest  Family,  1491. 

E. 
Ra.^t.man  Family,  .541. 

Dr.    .A''in-ili,  ;'.»;:: 
364,  4ii8. 


K.stmaii,  Dr.  Josiah  U..  32.5. 

36.J,  46S,  542. 

Eastman,  Dr.  John  R..  4ti8. 

Richard  H..  468. 
E.Lston,  Hon.  Rufus,  468. 
Ed.mo.nus  Family,  542. 
'•         Kobert,  187. 

Hon.  Wm.,  201, 434, 
468,  476. 
Edmonds,   David,    Esq.,  468, 

476.      • 
Everitt,  Hon.  Daniel,  174, 176, 
187.  4:J4,  4(J8. 

F. 
Farrand  Family,  .544. 

"         Capt .    Nathaniel, 
326. 
Farrand.  Jonathan,  176,  187. 

Wm.  P.,  46,  476. 
Fairchild,  Dr.  S.  B.,  366,  468. 
Fansher,  Dr.    Sylvanus,  304, 

468. 
Fenn,  Dr.  Aaron  W.,  468. 
"    Fred.  J.,  Esq.,  468. 
Flint.  Rev.  Seth,  291,  468. 
Foote,  Rev.  George    L.,  293, 
468. 

Foote,  Dr. .  468. 

Dr.  E.  T..  614. 
Lucius  H.,  1392. 
Fo.x,  Harry  H.,  1218. 
Fo.ster.  Dr.  Isaac,  321. 
Ford,  Dr.  Seth  P..  4(58. 
Fowler.    Dr.   Parmelon  B., 

365,  468. 
Fowler.  Dr.  Warren  R.,  365, 

468,  479. 
Fowler,  Dr.  Ronuis  M.,  365. 

4()8,  479. 
Fowler.  Dr.  rienr.v,  468.        ^ 
FuAsEK  Family,  1494.  - 
'^      Wm.  A.,  Esq.,   468, 
733. 
Fraser,  Hugh,  7.32. 
'"    Simon,  732.:, 
Frisbie,  Rev.  Wnt.  Henry, 
297.  468. 
I  Fuller.  Rev.  Samuel,  292,  468. 
;  Fulford.  Abnihain,  T3. 
I  Feun,  Col.  A.  H.,  1304. 
I 

(}. 
OALPijf  Family,  541. 

'•      Rev.  Samuel,  469. 

••      Dr.  Leman,  469. 

Gilbert,   Rev.   Sturgcs.   291, 

297.  469. 
GiH)ert,   Rev.  Raphael.  299, 

469. 
Glover,  Rev.  Bennet,291,  469. 
Goodenough,  Rev.  A.,  1405, 

1414. 
Goodricli,Hon.  Sam.  G..  1427. 
Goodsell,  Dr.  Thomus,  469, 

479. 
Goodsell,  Dr.  Isaac,  469,  479. 
Gr..vn.\M  Family,  .545.       "* 
Rev.  John,  222.  223, 

46H.  476.  mi. 
(Jraham,  Rev.  J.,  Jr.,  478. 
Griswoli)  Family,  1497. 
Gordon  F.vmily.  1498. 
Grant.  I'l.vsses  S.,  126(i.        * 
I :■:-,,,,  Yrt-a   W.,  1410. 


I  (Jrahani.Dr.  Andrew,  176,187. 
I      226,  306,  468,  547. 
Graham.  Hon.  John  A.,  226. 

441,  469,  .'>49. 
Graham,  Rev.  Chauncey,  469, 
475. 
I  Graham,  Dr.  Isaac  Gilbert, 
441,  .548. 
Graham,  Col.  John  L.,  226, 
.553,  475. 
I  Graham,  Capt.  John  Hodges, 
I      5.52. 
Graham,  John  Lorinier,  Jr., 
5,54. 
I  Graham,  Nathan  B.,  Esq. ,.554. 
I         "     James  Lorinier,  Esq.. 
I      555. 

I  Gray,  Rev.  Cvrus  W..  207,469. 
Gunn,  Fred.  W.,  272,  477. 
(iarrow.  Dr.  .John  L..  469. 
Gridley,  Dr.  Horatio,  4(i9. 
Guthrie,   Hon.  Warren  W., 
1466. 

I  H. 

Hannah,  James,  176,  187. 
Hall,  Dr.  ChAs.  A.,  732. 
'•    Hon.  Hiland,  1373. 
"    Rev.  Wm.  K.,  10:«.  1052. 
Harriman,  Rev.  Fred.  D.,  292, 
I      470. 
Harrison,  Rev.  Fosdick,  256, 
281,  470,  478. 
i  Hastings,  Dr.  Seth.  .385.  409. 
I  "         Prof.   Thomas,  469. 

j  "         Dr.  Seth,  Jr.,  470. 

"         Orlando,  Esq..  470. 
]  "         Eurotas,  Esq.  470. 

i  Hartwell.  Sam.  E.,  Esq.,  :Mu. 
4t0. 
Hart,  Rev.  Seth,  478. 
'  Hawley,  Dr.  Ben.iamin,   188, 
I      368,  470. 
Hawley.  Wm.  Esq.,  .368.  470. 
476. 
I  Hawlev,  Moses,  Esq..  322. 
I  Hard.  Dr.  David  B.  W.,  469. 
479. 
Hayes,  Rev.  Goidon,  267,  469. 
;      478. 

'  Hayes,  Charles  G.,  478. 
HicocK  Family.  564,  1.505. 
"'     Lvman.  477. 
'■     Ca'pt.Nathair.  176, 187 
!         "    Simeon,  476. 
I  Hinman  Family,  5.56,  1502. 
!  "      Noah,  Esq.,  469. 

''      Sergt.  Edward,  .556. 
"      Edward,   Esq..   176, 
187,  369,  469. 
Hinman,   Hon.  Edward,  370, 
469. 
!  Hinman,  Hon.  Timothy,  476, 
j      479. 
Hinman.  Gen.  Ephraini,  367, 

469. 
Hinman,  Hon.  Royal  R.,  370, 

469,  476. 
Hinman,  Col.  Joel,  442. 

Hon.  Joel,  442,  469. 
1430. 
Hinman,  Capt.  E..  442,  469. 
Hon.  Curtis,  469. 
Hon.  W  m.,  469. 
"       Col.  Benjamin,  166. 
I(i9.  174,  183,  237,  371,  469. 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


Ill 


Hinman,  Gen.  Robinson  S., 

373,  469. 
Hinman,   Simeon,  Esq.,  373, 

476,  479. 
Hinman,  Simeon,  476. 

"        Sherman,  Esq.,  476, 
479. 
Hinman,  Capt.  Wait,  150. 
"        Capt.  Adam,  166 
Elijah,  187. 
Titus,  561. 
Cyrus,  476. 
Hitchcock,  lion.  Sam.  J,,  444, 

469,  477. 

Hitchcock,  Rev.  Solomon  G., 

287,  291,  i'.i-i,  469,  478. 
Honor,  Roll  oi;  1313. 
HooKEi;  Family,  569. 
Asaliel,  476. 
Hill  Family,  567,  1505. 

■■     Ilun.  Charles  J.,  470. 
HoLLisTER  Family,  583, 1.506. 
••     Lt.  John,  583, 
'•      Gideon  H.,  Esq.,  369. 

470,  477 

HoUister,  David  F.,  470,  478, 

1606. 
HoTCHKiss  Family,  579. 

Dr. ,470. 

John,  332. 
Hubbell,  Peter,  150,  167. 

"        Comfort,  187. 

Hull  Family,  577,  1509.    — 

E))euezer,  187. 

"      Hon.   Andrew  C,  444, 

469. 
Hull,  Rev.  Le\erett,  444,  469. 
Hull,  Gen.  Elias,  444,  469. 

•'    Dr.  Zeph.,  366,  469. 

•'    Dr.  Titus,  367,  469. 

"    Dr.  Laurens,  433,  469. 

"     Rev.  Charles,  469. 
Hul)ban!,  Ed«  ard  J.,  1432. 
HuBU  Family.  570,  1509. 

•'     Joliii,  66. 

"      C'apl.  David,  176. 

"      Saiuuei,  187. 

"     David,  18T. 

"      Dr.  Curtis,  469. 

'■      Dr.  Nelson  L.,  469. 

••     Dr.  Theodore  C,  469. 

"      Dr.  Fred.  W.,  469. 

"      Monroe.  Esq.,  469. 
HuRLBUT  Family,  580. 

"        Joseph,  259. 
HuTiiwiTT  Famu.y,  568. 
HuNTiNGioN  Family,  1508. 
"        ilou.  James,  1433. 
Dr.  Daniel,  368,  470. 
Huxley,  Dr.  Asahel  M.,  368, 

470. 

I. 
Ishiiui.  Rev.  Austin,  281,  470, 

1049.  1413. 
Infrer-i..l,  David  B.,  Esq.,  47. 
Iiidiai;  I-ielu-s,  978. 
Ives,  Rev.  Reuben,  291,  478. 


Jen^er  1' a.mily,  602,  1511. 
JouN  . ,..  Family,  600,  1510. 
John  J.,  80. 
"         AniosM.,  Esq.,  470. 
JoDit-       .   v.  Isaac,  297,  470, 

478 
Jiidd.         .  Reuben,  261,  470, 
478. 


Judd,  Bethel,  D.D.,  291,  470, 

478. 
Judd,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,  292,  470. 

"     E.  A.,  1018. 
JuDsoN  Family,  587,  1510. 
"      Lt.  Joseph,  :35, 54.  61, 
74,  116,  128,  588 
Judson,  John,  61. 
"      William,  587. 
"      Gen.  David,  470,  476, 
595. 
Judson,  Rev.  Adoniram,  448, 

470,  476,  596. 
Judson,  Rev.  Adoniram,  D.D. 

575.  590. 
Judson,   Rev.   Ephraim,  448, 

470,  476,  595. 
Judson,  Rev.  Philo,  445,  470, 

478,  597.  992. 
Judson,  Rev.  Albert,  446,  470, 

477.  598. 
Judson,  Rev.  Gould  C,  470, 

598. 
Judson,  Rev.  Everton,    447, 

470,  477,  599. 
Judson,  Rev.  Samuel,  445, 470. 
•'     Rev.  Ben.  B.,  470, 599. 
'•      Philo  M.,  Esq.,  475. 
"      Dr.  Elnathan,  596. 
"      Isaac  E.,  476. 
'•      Gen.  Herbert,  598. 
"     Dr.  Oliver  A.,  600. 
"      William  F.,  600. 
"     Dr.  Frederick  J.,  470, 
477. 
Judson,  Charles  A.,  470. 
'•      Charles  G.  1190. 
"      David,  Jr.,  470. 
"      Curtiss,  476. 
"      George  H.,  470. 
"     Israel,  476. 

I  K. 

j  Kasson  Fasoly,  603,  1512. 
I  Keese,   James  D.,  Esq.,   385, 
1      470. 

Kellogg,  Col.  Elisha  S.,  1213. 

Kirby.   Hon.    Ephraim,    332, 
'      450,  470,  479. 

Knowles  Family,  604,  1511. 
Dr.   Thomas,  385, 
470. 

Kiktland,  P'amily,  1512. 

L. 
Lacey,  Capt.  Tliaddeus,  176. 
LaFayette,  (Jen.,  213. 
La.mbkkt  Family,  607,  1512. 
Wii.i-,  ]4:i3. 
I  Lanr^don,  Re\.  John,  256,  470, 
478. 
Langdon,  D.-.     laioihy,  470, 
Liiwrence,  Rev.  .■Vmo^E., 236, 

1401. 
LEAVKNwoj.Tii  Family,  612, 

1518. 
Leaven  wort  11,    Capt.    David, 

19<i. 
Leavenwortli,    Isaac,     Esq., 

470. 
LeavenworUi,  Dr.  Alston,  470. 
Dr.  Tb<'Mas.  470. 
'■        Rev,     •;  Haddetis, 
2;j2.  471. 
Lkavitt  Fa 

ii'  .  (114. 

"         H  :,  614. 

H.    .  \:,. 


Leavitt.  Sheldon,  615. 

Sheldon  C,  476,  615. 
Lemmon,  Dr.   Sheldon,  470, 

477. 
Lewis,  Rev.  Alonzo  N.,  1000, 

1007,  1286. 
LiNSLEY  F'amily.  605. 
'Little,    Rev.    Charles,    1072, 

1352. 
Logan,  Rhoda,  272. 
Loomis,  Rev.  Aretus  Q..  257, 

471. 
Loomis,  Lt.  Henry  W.,  1188. 
Lyman,  Rev.   Ephraim,  267, 

470,  1406. 

Lyon,    Hon.    Matliew,    320. 

471. 
Lucas,  Rev.  William,  292, 471. 

M. 

Marshall  Family,  631, 

1515. 
Marsliull,    Rev.   John    K., 

184,  288,   289,    291,   387, 

471,  478. 

Martin  Fasiily,620,  1513. 
•'     Wm.  Seaboru,  621, 
622. 
Martin,  Samnel.  623. 
"    E.  T.  Throo}>,  680. 
"    Henry,  Esq.,  630. 
"    Henry  Hull,  475,630. 
Martin,  Capt.  Andrew,  I'jS. 

"       Caleb,  99. 
Mallory    Family,    Cl."., 

1514. 
.Mallory,      Hon.      Can     k, 

471,  477. 
Mason    Rev.  Si ei. lien,  267, 
!      471. 

I  Ma.son,  Ebeue/.cr   P..   471, 
!      477. 

;  Masters,  Nicholas  iji.,  Esqr. 
4.52,  471. 
Musters,    l)r     .-.aniuel    S., 
38a,  471. 
',  Meigs  Family,  1516. 
I  Meigs,  Dr.  J.  ;,  .,  386,  471. 
I      "     Dr.  Flu,        ,387,471. 
I  Meigs,  l»i.  A  ,  471 

1      '■        Kev.   .       j:.  .,i,.  J., 
471,  477    IK.        .44. 
Merwih,   R.  :,      -^qo 

:      471,478. 

j  Mi.NOK  Family,  ri4'2,  1533. 
"       •'  f>i    j'-v    •.  St,  36, 
37,  50      14,         .       ,7, 
79,  64.'! 
Minoi,    C    .  ,    98, 

139,  644. 
1  Minor,    i*'.  ",3j 

I       154. 
I  Minor,  Oi'.|'i 

I  "  Kov.  .,■ 
I  471,476,6:- 
I  Minor,  ;i(i:i.  ' 
389.  4:.,.' 
M.n..r,  .  .  V 
I      479,  6  : 


V,     .74. 

i87. 

233,  234, 


:'  H.,  471. 


IV 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


Miaor,  Samuel,  Esq.,  390, 

471,  478,  988. 
Minor,    Charles   S.,    Esq., 

471,  4  8,  652. 
Minor,    Israel.   Esq.,    471, 

657. 
Minor,   H.   J.,    Esq.,   475, 

655. 
Minor,  Kev,  Sheroian,  645, 
"      Hon.  Joel,  648. 
•'       Ecv.  Lainnon,  648. 
''    Josiah  H.,  Esq.,  477, 
649. 
Minor,  Rev.  Timothy,  650. 
"       William,  Esq.,  653. 
"       Wm.  T.,  Esq.,  475, 
975,  1444. 
Minor,    Hon.   Simeon    H., 

1443. 
Minor,  Hunry,  1434. 

"      Dea.  iVlatthew,  1364. 
•'       Kev.  Thomas,  476, 
653. 
Minor,   Dr.   Thomas,    475, 

653. 
Mitchell  Family,  633,1517 
"         Rev.    Jonathan, 
633. 
Milcliell,  Abijah,  187. 

"        Eleazur,  94,  176, 
'•         Rev.  Elisha,  452, 
471,477,  641,  1435. 
Mitchell,  John  Esq.,    471, 

470. 
Mitchell,  Kev.  Justus,  452, 

471,  476,  641. 
Mitchell,   John    G.,    Esq., 

471. 
Mitchell,  Hon.  Henry,  471. 
"        Enos  G.,  471. 
"         Dr.  Henry,  635. 
"        Gapt.    Garwood, 
637. 
Mitchell,  Mitchell  S.,  639. 
"        MourdantS.,  639. 
"        Miuot,  Esq.,  641. 
'•      t'hauncev  K.,  Esq. 
641. 
MosELBY  Family,  619,1516. 
"  Hon.     Inctrease, 

174,176,  187. 
Moselev,  Col.  Increase,  Jr., 

174,  176,  187.209. 
Moseley,  Dr.  John,  471. 
Montrose,  Duke  of,  545. 
Mouell,  John  J.  Esq.,  677. 

"       Mary  E.,  471. 
Moody,  Kev.   Martin,  292, 

471." 
Morris,  Dr.  John  E.,  479. 
MiiNN  Family,  618. 
"       Dr.  Samuel,  72. 
"      Dr.  Uuniel,  389,  471. 
"       ];r.  Nathan,  389,.471. 
Murray.  Kev.   Kulus,  2»2, 

453,471. 
Murray,  Philo,  Esq.,  388. 


Murray,  Rev.  "William  H. 

H.,  1406. 
Munson,    Rev.  Tred.    E., 

453,  471. 
Munson,    Hon.  Harris   B., 

471. 
McEwen,  Rev.  Abel,  677. 

N. 
Nichols  Family,  657,  1537. 
North,    Dr.    Loomis,    390, 

471. 
Noyes,   Rev.  Gurdon  W., 

1027,1029,  1038. 
Newcomb,  Kev.  H.  S.,  10S6, 

1401. 

O. 
Orton  Family,  658. 

"■      Dr.  Samuel,  321,392, 

471,  476,  660. 
Orton,  Hon.  PhMo,  660. 

Dr.  John,  392,  471, 

661. 
Orion,  Dr.  Samuel,  Jr., 392, 

471,  061. 

Orton,  Dr.  Henry  T.,  392, 

472,  661. 

Orton,  Dr.  David  J.,  392, 

472,  661. 
Orton,  Dr.  James,  392, 472, 

661. 
Orton,  Rev.Samuel  G.,  661. 

"       Samuel  D.  Esq.,  661. 

"       Walter  J.,  125it. 
OsBORN  Family,  658. 

"      Shadraeh,  36,   193, 

390,  472. 
Osborn,  Timothy,  187. 


Palmer,  Jo.  M.,  Esq.,  395, 

472. 
Pakker  Family,  1538. 
Parker,  Rev.    Daniel,  472, 

478. 
Parker,  Dr.  Joseph,  472. 
"        Col.    Auiasa,   453, 
472,  477. 
Parker,   Hon.    Amasa    J., 

475.. 
Parsons,    Rev.    Beniamiu. 

271,472. 
Parmelv.  J.   K-,   Esq.,  472. 

lo42." 
I'reston  Family,  062, 1542. 
'•         Hod.  John,  662. 

Rev.  Wm.,  D.  D., 
662. 
Preston,  Hon.  William,  62, 

292,  472,  662. 
Preston,  Hackaliah,  62. 
*'         Hon.  Nathan,  155, 
332,  393,  472,  476,  664. 
Prepton,  Jehiel,  78. 
t        "       Rev.  William,  472, 
j      477,  605. 
!  Percy  F.\MiLY,  674. 


Perry  Family,  666,    1543. 

"      Rev.   Joseph,    475, 

667, 
Perry,    Dr.    Joseph,     321, 

332,  392,  472,  478,  666. 
Perry,  Dr.  Nathaniel,  392. 

472,  479,  668. 

'•      Nathaniel  P.,  475. 

"      Col.     Henry,     454. 

472,  667. 
Perry,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  393, 

472,  668. 
Perry,    Rev.     Philo,     292, 

472,  660. 
Perry,  Rev.   Phillips,  292, 

472. 
Perry,    Rev.   Bennet,  472. 

66t. 
Pettigree,  Alexandre,  165. 
Phelps,   Hon.  Charles   B.. 

286,    312,  394,  472,    632. 

1005,  1445. 
Peet,  Harvey  P.,  LL.   D  . 

472,  477. 
Peck,  Dr.  John,  472. 
Pierce  Family,  099. 
"       Joseph,  176. 

"  Justus,  170. 
"  Amos,  476. 
"       Dea.  John,  174. 

"       John,  476. 

"    Rev.  George  E.,  455, 

477,  472,  670. 
Pierce,  Cyrus,  476. 
Pitcher,    Hon.    Nathaniel. 

472. 
Porter  Family,  068. 

"      Kev.  Ebenezer,  263, 

478. 
Prindle,    Rev.    Chauiiccv, 

472,  47  S. 
Pond,  Kev.  Sam.  W.,  472. 

"      Kev.  Gideon,  472. 
Powell,  Dr.  William,  472. 
Powers,  Dr.  I'ctor,  472. 
Prime  Family,  674. 

"      Kev.  Benjamin,  47"J, 

476,  674. 
Prkntick  Family,  672. 

"     Dr.  Curtiss,  472,  673. 
Prentice,  Rev.  Thonjas  H., 

472,  673. 
Prentice,     Kev.      Charles, 

455,  472,  470,  673. 
Prentice,  Rev.  Charles  T.. 

475. 
I'rentiee,  Prof.  David,  472. 

477,  673. 

Prudden,  Kev.  George  P., 

231,  472,  479. 
Putnam,  Kev.  Charles    S.. 

292,  472. 
Purves,  Kev.  John,  1450. 

R. 

Raymond,  Rev.  Moses,  47'2. 
477, 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


Read,  Dr  ,  472. 

"      Rev.  Hollis,  271,  472. 
Richmoud,  Edmuud,  Esq., 

472. 
Robiuson,  Rev.  Charles  E., 

1071. 
Rogers,   Rev.    Robert    C, 

292,  472. 
Root  Family,  674,  1543. 

"     Rev,  .ludson  A.,  472, 

477. 

S. 
Sauford,  Hon.  John,  473. 
"        Henry     Shelton, 

473,  4"y,  1450. 
Sauford,   Rev.    David    P., 

292. 
Sigouruev,  Mrs.  Lvdia  11. , 

981. 
Swan,  Rev.  Beu.i.  S.,  892. 
Stewart,    Hou.    Isaac    W., 

897,  y«o. 
Suvre,    Rfv.    .James,    289, 

291,  473 
Sackett,  Dr.  -r— ,  473. 
Seott,    Rev.    Joseph,    292 

297,  473,  47«. 
Scott,  Rev.  James  L.,  293, 

473. 
Scoville,    Joseph    A,    473, 

665. 
Seisecaii,  Heiirie,  16o. 
Seelye,  Dr.  Thomas  T.,  397. 
Sliove,    L)i".    Harmon     W. 

398,  473,  479. 
Shelton,  Gcu.  Geo.  1'.,  473. 
Sheldon,  Ds.  Daniel,  896, 

472,  475. 
Smkkma.n  Family,  679,1544. 
"        ll'>n.  Samuel,  35, 

6o,  679,  682. 
SheruKiii,   H'>ii.   John,   61, 


Shipman  Family,  1551. 

"     Dr.  Azariah  B.,  1455. 

"    Dr.  Parson  G.,  1458. 
Skeel  Family,  709. 

"      Sergt.  Thomas,  80. 
Skilton  Family,  711. 

"         Dr.    Houry,   396, 

473,  711. 
Skiltou,  Dr.  Avery  J.,  473. 

712.  1450. 
Smith  Family,  677. 

"      Hon.  Nathaniel,  155, 

327,  398,  473,    477,    479, 

677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Nathaniel  B., 

405,  473,  677. 
Smith,  Hon-  Nathan,  461, 

473,  479,  677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Truman,  463, 

473,  477,  592. 
Smith,    Hon.    Ferry,    461, 

473.  ^ 

Smith,  Phineas,  Esq.,  473, 

477,  677. 
Smitli,  Hou.  Kalph  D.,  473. 

"     Dr.  Abraham  L.,  473. 

'•    Rev.        Deliverance, 

473,  475. 
Smith,  Rev.   A.    B.,    ]<t56, 

1 400. 
Smith,  Emily  G.,  1221 

"     Mary  Ann    W.,  1459. 

"     Rev.  Noah,  236,  473, 

678. 
Smith,  Rev.  Sylvester,  300. 

"     Rev.  Levi,  478. 

"     Rev.    Zephaniiih    II., 

567. 
Smith,  Ebenezer  C.  477. 

'•     Eliini,  187. 

"     Wi.ltjr,  Esq.,  475. 

Snow,  Rev.  T.  W.,  297,  473. 

Spnigae,    lion.   Leman  B., 

'98,  473, 


79,  155,  683. 
Sherman,  Matthew,  61 

"       Hon.  Daniel,  151-7-j^QuiRK  F''amily.  709. 
176,   187,   190,   213,    821,  ,  Stanton,  Rev.  Ben.  F.,  256, 
"■"  '      473. 

Stmjlon,  Rev.  Thonuu*,  5i). 
Sedgwick  F.^mii-V,  1557. 


473,  685. 
Sherman,  "Father"  Elijah, 

290,  299. 
Siiennan,  Rev.  Henuy  B.,  ;  Steki.e  Fa.mily,  688,  1.559 


29  ,  292,  473,  687. 

Siierman,  Taylor, Esq., 473. 

"       Rev.  Ciiarle>,  473, 

686. 
Sherman,     Hon.     Cliarics, 

475,   6s.-,. 
Sherman,  Rev.  J.isiah,  680, 

681. 
Sherman,  Hon.  Roger,  680, 

682. 
Siierman,   lion.  R'iger  M., 

681. 
Sherman,  Rev.  John,  679. 
"  (Japt.  John,  680, 

681. 
Shipman,  Rev.  Thomas  L.. 

231,  473,478,  lg4:,  1070. 


Hon.  John,  688. 
Dr.  Samuel,  69; 
"       Rev.    Julius,    473, 
477. 
Steele,  Rev.  Nathaiiiel,  473, 

476. 
Stephens,  .Vim  S.,  473,  977, 

990. 
Stewart,    Rev.    Philander, 

473. 
Stiles  Family,  693,  1549. 
"      Rev.    Ezra,    D.    D., 
693,  ()95,  69.S. 
Stiles,  Benjamin,  Esq.,  322, 

395,  473,  47.'.,  699. 
Stiles,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Esq., 
395,  473,"  699.  475, 


Stiles,  David  J.,  18,  37. 

"      Nathan,  476. 
Stoudauu     Family,      713. 
1553. 

"         Rev.    Anthony, 

66,  79,  103,  135,  137,  140, 

157,  472,  47S,  714,  1032, 

1275,  1279. 

Stotldard,  Maj.  Amos.  456, 

472,714. 
Stoddard,  Col.  Henry,  459, 
^  473,  714. 

Stoddard,  Dr.   Israel,  459, 
^  473,  475. 
Stoddard,  Jonathan,  Esq., 

719. 
Stoddard,    Capt.    Gideon, 

176,  187. 
.Stotldartl,  Rev.  Jiulfon  \i., 

719. 
Stoddard,    Capt.    Nathan, 

205. 
Stoddard,  Thomas,  720. 
"  William,  720. 

"  Rev.  Elijah  W., 

^717. 

Stoddard,  Dr.  AbiraiB,7l7. 

j  "        Dr.  William,  717. 

"        Rev.      Goodwin, 

I      717. 

I  Stoddard,    Rev.     Eliukim, 

716. 
I  Stoddard,    Rev.    Solomon, 
713. 
Stro.ng  Family,  701,  1552. 
\        "       Elder  John,  701. 

"       Rev.  Nathan,  473, 
I      475,  "03. 
Stn.ng,  Rev.  Joseph,  475, 
703. 
.  Strong,    Hon.    John,    Jr., 
!      397;  473,  477,  71  »7. 
[  Strong,  Rev.    .Mithan,  Jr., 
I      475,  7<)3. 
Strong,  Rev.  lienrv  P.,  .304, 
473,  47. s. 
!  Strong,  Timotliy,  l.s7. 
j         "        Hon.  Henry,  475. 
Swift,      Rev.      Zephaniah. 
281,  473. 
I  Slade,  Hon.  Willi.-.m,  47-". 

T. 
Taylor,  Jonathai',  78. 
Tekkill  Family,  721. 
[         •'        Hon.  ILiz.iid  B.ti 
ley,  475,  72:i. 
Terrill,  Hon.  T.  Lee,    47." 

722. 
Tiio.MPsoN      Family,      7'_7 

Tlioinpson,  Hezekiali,Esq., 
1  155,  174,  176,  232,  405, 
\      473,  730. 

Thompson,  Hon.  WjlJinm 
;      A.,  463,  473,  476,  73.;. 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


Thompson,  Charles,  Esq., 

473,  735. 
Thompson,    Rev.     James, 

292,  474,  476,  734. 
Thompson,     Dr.     Samuel, 

474,  476,  73.i. 
Thompson,  Dr.  Ebenezer, 

40.5,  474,  737. 
Thompson,  Charles  C,  518, 

736. 
Thompson,  Egbert  A.,  478. 
"        Thomas  M.,  478. 
"        Hon.  Smith,  730. 
"         Anthony,  728. 
"         Rev.  Caleb,  740. 
Tiiayer,  Dr.  Nathiiuiel,474. 
Thomas  Family,  722, 1561. 
Throop,  Enos  T.,  730. 
Toucev,  Hon.  Isaac,  1464. 

"   ■    Thomas,  178. 
TftMLiNSON  Family,  1.570. 
"  Dr.    Abraham, 

406,  474,  476. 
To'mliuson,  Dr.  Jos.,  474. 
"        Rev.  George,  474, 
477. 
Tkowbridge   Family,  737, 

1565. 
Trowbridge,    Dr.    Joseph, 

474,  744. 
Trowbridge,   Dr.  Thomas, 

739. 
Trowbridge,    Dr.     Josiah, 

740. 
Trowbridge,     Otis,     Esq., 

740. 
Trowbridge,  Dr.  Israel  L., 

741. 
Trowbridge,  Samuel,  Esq., 

741. 
Trowbriilge,  Fhilo  M.,1285. 
TuTTLE  Family,  723,  1566. 
"       Nathan,  724. 
*'       Rev.  Isaac  H.,  297, 
474. 
Tyler,   Rev.    Bennet,   235, 
474,  476,  1461. 


Viirce,  Rev.  J.  11.,  1414. 

W. 
Walkek  Fa.uily,  744,  1031. 
1576. 

"        Rev.     Zechariali, 
33,   4s,  ;-)!,  66,   121,   124, 
130,    131,   133,    134,  474, 
744,  1383. 
Walker.  Sarah,  9  0. 

"       Gideon,  E-q.,  174, 
176,  187. 
Walker,  Reuben,  312. 
Wakkley  Family,  754. 
"         Abel,  209. 


Wadhams,  Rev.  Noah,  269, 

270,  475. 
Watson,    Rev.    Wm.,    297, 

475. 
Watson,  Hon.  James,  463, 

475,  476. 
Washington,  Gen.  George, 
.-.1.50,  324. 

Warner  Family,  752, 1576. 
"         Dr.  Ebenezer,  1st, 

74,  294,  406,  474,  753. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  2d, 

474. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  3d, 

474. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  4th, 

474. 
Warner,      Dr.     Benjamin, 

474,  753. 
Warner,  Dr.  Benjamin,  Jr., 

753. 
Warner,  L*-.  Ebenezer,  99. 

"     Dr.  Reuben,  474,  753. 

"     Dr.  Abucr,  474. 

"     Dr.  John,  474. 

"    Col.    Seth,    183,    201, 

273,    287,   407,  474,   7.53, 

1373,  1465. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ephraim,  474. 

"     Curtiss,  476. 
,    "     Arthur  B.,  1465. 
Wliitloek.    Lt.    Frederick, 

1214. 
Wellman,  Benj.,  1239. 
Williams,  Gen.   Win.,  990. 
"        Rev.   Rubert  G., 

1348. 
Winslow,     Rev.      Horace, 

1051,  1353. 
Wolcott,    Rev.    Jolui    M., 

1401. 
Wright,     Rev.     Ephraim, 

1404. 
Woodrutf,  Rev.  Curtiss  T., 

1008. 
Warner,  George  W.,  Esq., 

474,  478. 
Warner,  Lyman,  Esq.,  474. 

''     Tiiou'ia-,    Esq.,    174, 

176,  187. 
Wahi)  Family,  755. 

"  Hon.  Levi,  474. 
Waller  Fa.mily,  754. 
Weeks,  Rev.  Dr.  314. 
Webb,   Dr.  Chas.   11.,  406, 

474,  479. 
Weller,  Lt.  Thomas.  283. 
Welton,  Rev.  Jos.  D.,  291, 

474, 
Welton,  Rev.  Willard,  297, 

474. 
WiiEELEU     Family,     747, 

1.576. 


Wheeler,  Benjamin,  Esq., 

474. 
Wheeler,  Rev.  Ulys.ses  M., 

292,  474. 
Wheeler,  Dr.  Lemuel,  406, 

474. 
Wheeler,  Rev.  Russel,  297, 

474. 
Wheeler,  Lt.  Tliom:is,  22. 

"         Dr.Obadiah,  186. 
Whittlesey  Family,  756. 
"  Rev.   Samu  el, 

270,  474. 
Whittlesey,    Hon.    Eliaha, 

465,  474'  476. 
Whittlesey,    Elisha,    Esq., 

474,  75s; 
Whittlesey,    Hon.   Freder- 
ick, 474;  477,  759. 
Whittlesey,     Charles     C., 

Esq.,  474,  477. 
Whittlesey,  Dr.  Henry  N., 

474. 
Whittlesev,  Rev.  Wiiliani, 

762. 
Whittlesey,  Rev.  John, 762. 
"      '     Frederick  A., 

Esq.,  763. 
Whittlesev,  Stephen,  Esq., 

7.56. 
Whitilesev,   Rev.    Samuel, 

756. 
Whittlesev.  Ambrose, Esq., 

756. 
Whittlesey,    Rev.    Chaan- 

eey,  757". 
Whittlesev,   Rev.    Samuel, 

757. 
Wliitilescv,   Rev.    Joseph, 

474,  4T:'. 
Whittlesev.  Lumau,  477. 
"        ■  John,  Esq.,  322. 
"  Luinan,  760. 

Whitteinore,      Kcv.      Wil- 
liams H.,  231,  474,  479. 
Wildman,   Kev.  Benjamin, 

199,  227,  ■^■^i,  474,  478. 
Willimns.  D'r.  William  C, 

474. 
Wigdon,  Rev.  Samuel,  298, 

475. 
Wyatt  Family,  754. 
Woodward,  Kev.  Fred.  B.. 

474. 
Wood,    Rev.     Elijah,    230, 

474. 
Wright,  Rev.  Worthington, 

303,  474. 
WooJburv,    detinition    of, 

45. 
Whoaton,    R'3v.   Nuthiiniel 

S.,  474,  477. 
Wheaton,      Kev.     &>almon, 

474,  477. 


LEJa'l3 


ERRATA  AND  ADDITION?. 


A  few  errors  which  escaped  attention  while  the  work  was  passing  tlirougli 
the  press  are  !iere  corrected,  and  a  few  additional  facts  presented,  which  in 
these  chising  hours  of  the  work  have  been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the 
author.     There  are  some  minor  errors  in  orthography,  &c.,  which  the  reader 
will  easily  correct  for  himself.     If  he  will  take  a  pencil  and  note  the  follow- 
i:ig  corrections  rn  the  ai)propriate  pages,  he  will  not  be  incommoded  further. 
Page  883,  tenth  line  from  the  top,  for  "  Harle,"  road  "  Hazle"  Plain. 
Page  900,  eiglith  lint?  from  bott(mi,  for  '  18()C,"  read  "    606." 
Page  9S3,  seventeenth  line  from  top,  for  "  no,"  read  "  not." 
Page  983,  nineteenth  line  from  top,  for  "  the,"  read  "  these." 
Page  119-1,  nineteenth  line  from  the  bottom,  for  "where,"  read"  wIkmi." 
Page  1335,  fourteenth  line  from  top,  for  '  18G3,"  read  "  1868." 
Page  1332,  tenth  line  from  the  bottom,  for  '•  Hardor,"  read  "  Harbor." 
Page  1280,  in  foot  note,  for  "  Brofut,"  read  "  Crofut." 
Page  1395,  two  lines  from  the  bottom,  for  "  Ilurd,"  read  "  Hard." 
Page  lolo.  first  line  at  top,  for  "  Krauk  G.,"  read  "  Frank  J." 
Page  1310,  twenty-first  line  fnmi  bottom,  for  "  Fnglish,"  read  "  English  '' 
Page  lolo.  ninth  line  from  the  bottom,  for  "  Harry,"  read  "  Harvey." 
Page  1314.  sixteenth  line  Irom  top,  for  "  Ahim,"  read  "  Abram." 
Page  1315,  seventh  line  from  toj),  for  "  Brasl)ear,"  read   'Brashear." 
Page    1319.  fourteenth  line  from   top.  for  "cKplanation,"  read   "(ixclama- 
tiou." 

Page    840, -eleventh  line  from  toj),  for  "  Hatchet's,"  read  "  Hatcher's." 
Page  1373,  tenth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Hilard,"  read  "  Hiland." 
Page  13:4,  tenth  line  from  top,  the  same  correction  is  to  be  made. 
Page  1376,  line  sixth  from  top,  for  '  width."  read  "length." 
The  cut  on  page  1375  is  that  of  the  Stoddaid  Parsonage,  built  in  1700. 
Page  1419,  twenty  second  line  from  top,  take  out  words  "  and  one  "  where 
they  are  repeated.     Same  page,  twenty  fourth  line  from  top,  for  "  Martin," 
read  "  Mountain." 

Page  1419,  tenth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Bulser,  '  read  "  Bubser." 
Page  ^433 — The  cut  is  a  representation  of  the  "amalgamated  hickory  and 
white  oak  tree"  mentioned  on  page  1383. 

Page  1432,  ninth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Bethlehem,"  read  "  Morris." 
Page  1443,  seventeenth  line  from  top,  the  name  shoitld  be  "  Hon.  Simeon 
H.  Minor,"  instead  of  "  Simeon  H."  simply. 
Page  1445,  eighth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Butler,"  read  "Barth^tt." 
Page  1469,  ninth  line  from  top,  for  "  nearly,"  read  "  near." 


11  KUUATA    AND    AI'DITIONS. 

Page  1470,  tliirtenitli  line  from  top.  for  "  Zinizi,"  read  "  Zimri." 
Same  correction  in  the  IHtli  line. 

Same  page,  I9th  line,  for  "i)ervere,"  read  "perverse."' 
Pag-e  1743,  ninth  line  from  top,  for  "  1700,"  read  1703." 
Page  1475,  third  line,  for  "  Sarah,"  read  "  Samuel." 
Same  page,  ninth  line  from  top,  for  "  Norwich."  read  "  Norvvalk." 
Same  page,  fifteenth  line  from  top,  for  "  Oct.,  read  "  aged." 
Page  1480,  twelftli  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Wilaur,"  read  "  Wilbur." 
Page  14S1,  line   L:]tli  from  bottom,  for  "184:3,"  road  "1848."     For  "84," 
read  "  34." 

Same  page,  ninth  line  from  the  bottom,  for  "  Mass.,"  read  "  Wisconsin." 
Same  page,  sixth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  N.  H.,"  read  "  N.  Y."     Ftn-  "  Rec- 
tor," read  "  Tutor." 

Same  page,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Wallingford,"  read  "  Wetherslield." 
For,  "  27,"  read  "  17." 
Page  1484,  line  15th  from  top,  for  "1662,"  read  "1672.;' 
Page  14S5,  line  19th  from  top,  for  1748,"  read  "  1747." 
Same  page.  23d  line  from  bottom,  for  "  1832,"  read  "  1732. 
Page  1487,  sixth  line  from  top,  for  "  when,"  read  "  whom.' 
Page  1489,  eighteenth  line  from  toj),  for  "  1833,"  read  "  1822." 
Next  line,  for  "  354,"  read  "  554." 
Page  1497,  line  6tli  from  bottom,  for  "  N.,"  read  "  H." 
Same  page,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  '  26,"  read  "  16." 
Page  1498.  line  14th  from  top,  for  "  28,"  read  "  29." 
Page  1499,  line  28th  from  top,  for  "  Marien,"  read  "  Martin." 
Same  page,  9th  line  from  bottom,  take  out  "  and  still  survives  him." 
Page  1501,  line  17th  from  top,  for  "  Eewin,  read  "  Edwin." 
Same  page,  19th  line,  for  "  Smeath,"  read  "  Sneath." 
Same  correction  three  lines  further  down. 

Page  1502,  first  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Fnoch,"  read  "  Enoch." 
Page  1503,  line  18th  fnmi  bottom,  for  "  1738,"  read  "1788." 
Same  page,  6th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  599,"  read  "  597." 
Page  1504,  lines  12  and  13,  transpose  the  dates  of  death. 
Same  page,  17th  line,  for  "  19,"  read  "  10." 
Page  1508,  9th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  S,"  read  "E." 
Page  1509,  2d  line  from  top,  for  "  Meriden,"  read  "  Windsor." 
Same  page,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Fairchild,"  read  "  Fairfield." 
Page  1510,  3d  line  from  top,  for  "  Calsa,"  read  "  Caleb." 
Same  page,  17th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  J.  J.,"  read,"  T.  F." 
Page  1512,  line  13th  from  bottom,  for  "  Hiram,"  read  "Niram." 
Page  1514,  line  19th  from  bottom,  for  "  1673,"  read  "  1653." 
Page  1515,  line  22d  from  top,  for  "  Hermann,"  read  "  Hermanns."     Take 
out,  same  page  3  lines  lower  down,  the  "d,"  and  in  the  next  line  put  the 
words  "  Buried  there,"  after  the  words  "  51st  year." 

Page  1516,  tenth  line  from  top,  for  "  Blackman,"  read  "  Blakeman." 
Same  page.  21st  line,  take  out  "  died  then-  in  1830."     He  died  in  11th  street 
New  York  City  a  few  years  ago. 

Page  1518.     Later  information  makes  the  following  corrections  necessary. 


ERRATA    AND    ADDITIONS.  Ill 

viz:  "2  Nathan,"  mentioned  on  the  2otli  line,  was  not  the  son  of  David, 
mentioned  on  tlie  15th  line,  but  was  the  son  of  "  3  Abraham,"  mentioned  on 
the  27th  line,  and  so  all  the  words  after  "  Davd  Mitchell,"  on  the  15th 
line,  to  the  words  "  of  Milford,"  belong  to  "  3  Abraham,"  (27th  line.) 

Page  1519.     "  John  Mitchell,  Sen.,"  mentioned  in  the  13th  line,  was  son  of 
"  David  Mitchell  "  mentioned  on  the  15th  line  of  page  1518. 

Page    1520,  foi;rth  line  from   bottom,  insert  the  word  "  eight,"  after  the 
word  "  eleven." 
Page  1527,  18th  line  from  top,  for  "  1566,"  read  "  1866." 
Same  page,  two  lines  below  take  out  "  b." 
Same  page,  line  10th  from  bottom,  for  "  1847,"  read  "  1857." 
Same  page,  two  lines  from  the  bottom,  for  "  David,"  read  "  Daniel." 
Page  1528,  14th  line  from  the  top,  for  "  Dept.,"  read  "  Sept." 
Same  page,  tenth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  20th,"  read  "  2d." 
Same  page,  5th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Jarnes,"  read  "  James." 
Page  1543,  line  15th  from  bottom,  for  "  1604,"  read  "  1694." 
Same  page,  12th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Jxine  1,"  read  "  June  6." 
Same  page,  1st  line  from  bottom,  for  "  W."  read  "  M." 
Page  1529,  12th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Anson,"  read  "  Amos." 
Page  1530,  line 21  from  top,  for  "Nov.  19,"  read  "March  19." 
Page  1543,  line  5th  from  bottom,  for  "  1604,"  read  "  1694." 
Page  1545,  eleventh  line  from  top.  for  "  Stratford,"  read  "  Stamford." 
Same  page,  21st  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Litchfield,"  read  "  Stratfield." 
Page  1546,  twelfth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  John,"  read  "  James." 
Page  1549,  third  line  from  top,  for  ','  1844,"  read  "  1848." 
Same  page,  tenth  line,  insert  "  June  "  before  "  3." 
Same  page,  16th  line,  for  "  1833,"  read'"  1823." 
Page  1550,  seventh  line  from  bottom,  for  "  1618,"  read  "  1718." 
Page  1553, 1st  line  from  bottom,  for  "  He  d.,"  read  "  married." 
Page  1554,  fifteenth  line,  for  "  Stoddard,"  read  "  Woodward." 
Page  1558,  eighteenth  line  from  top,  for  "  Harry,"  read  "  Harvey." 
Page  1561,  third  line  from  bottom,  for  "Joshua,"  read  "  Jerusha." 
Page  1575,  12th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  1898,"  read  "  1798." 
Page  1567,  27th  line  from  top,  for  "  Sept.  3,  1811,"  read  "  Dec.  1,  1818." 


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